Every week I take time out of writing about social media, cloud computing and credit cards to write about church suppers, choir concerts and Bible Studies. I spend a few hours talking to interesting people and thinking about new ideas. And even though my hourly rate is abysmal (I could make more serving fries at the drive-thru), writing my Faith in Focus column that is published in the local newspaper is honestly one of my favorite parts of the week.

My Favorite Moment as a Writer

Several years ago, I found myself standing in a dirt parking lot in front our local community center the day before Thanksgiving. Tears were running down my face as I watched families carry their free turkeys out to their car. I had written a story for the local paper that ended up getting on the front page above the fold about a local turkey drive by the police department. The PD ended up getting triple the number of donated turkeys than the year before so they were able to help a record numbers of people. I honestly can’t describe the feeling that I felt at the moment I realized that families were going to have a hot meal on the holiday simply because of something that I wrote.

It’s Not All About the Money

For all my talk and advice about earning a high hourly rate, I realized that I had forgotten to write about a very important point. Sometimes taking a writing job isn’t about the money. However, there is a huge difference in settling for a low rate on a project and taking a project at a lower rate because you believe in the company or cause. When I am faced with an opportunity like this, I always ask myself if I would take the project for free. For me this is a revealing answer because I will only work for free on something that I strongly care about and believe in. So, if I answer yes, then I will take the project, regardless of the pay. From that point forward I then consider the project as volunteer work, which makes me not resentful of the rate and reminds me that I am doing it for reasons other than money.

Many writers went into journalism and writing so that we could make a difference in the world by using our words. I have heard from other writers that one of their reasons they aren’t as excited about content marketing writing is that there is less opportunity to expose injustices or make positive changes in the world. And yes, this is a valid point about content marketing. But just because you are doing content marketing writing, doesn’t limit yourself from specifically seeking out gigs where you feel you are making a difference. It just may take a little more effort and a little more conscious planning.

Ways to Give Back Through Writing

Here are a few types of projects that I have heard other writers taking for reasons other than money, but to “feed their soul”:

• Offer to writer content marketing deliverables for a nonprofit organization that you care about. Often providing a service is even more important than money. Nonprofits can benefit from personal profiles, newsletters and even blogs. Many times writing the stories of those who benefit from the organization helps raise additional funds which enables the group to help even more people. If you have experience with grant writing, you can also volunteer to help them earn grants needed for funding.
• Help a friend or family member who is starting a business create effective content. Now that you understand the value of content marketing writing and how it can help a business, use your skills to help a company that you believe in grow their business. Yes, it is still helping a business, but if it is for a person you care about or a product you believe in, then it can still a project you feel passionate about.
• Freelance at the local newspaper to spread the word about positive things in the community. More than anything I have done, I feel that I have made more a difference during my articles for the newspaper, both features and my church column. I have helped raise money for a police memorial with a story on fallen officers, written about a group helping grieving widows and found homes for a dying woman’s pets. And several of the businesses I wrote about were close to closing when the story was published and they ended up surviving due to the publicity.
• Mentor a newer writer. Yes, it’s not the same as investigative journalism, but helping someone else get started is hugely gratifying. One of my surprises since I became a freelancer is how generous other writers are.  I have been on the receiving end more time than I can count and find helping other writers to bring a satisfaction that writing about technology just doesn’t have.
• Start a blog about a topic that you care about. Many writers have told me that writing for themselves is the most fulfilling thing that they do. If there is a topic that you feel passionate about and audience that needs your information and perspective, start it yourself. It doesn’t have to be something that helps grow your business, but something that gets you excited. It could be about animal rescue or ADHD or organic gardening. While this blog is about content marketing, I honestly enjoy every minute I spend writing it and often put it over paying work because I love helping other writers.

What projects give you personal satisfaction? Do you have other ideas of ways that writers can give back or write topics that they care about?