Writing is Work. Reading is Work as Well!
Everyone knows that writing takes a lot of work, particularly novel writing. When I think about writing, I think not only of the physical tolls of wittering at a desk for hours on end, but of the mental tolls: the doubt, the imposter syndrome, the writer's block, the ripping out of one's soul and pasting it to the prose. We as writers take relief in that after all our toil, we can recline and relax with someone else's words.
Or can we?
I am of the belief that reading is work as well as writing! Many readers today, it seems, expect authors to do all the work, catering to their every need; but this kind of world view can become detrimental to the reader. I can attest to this. For a time, I had no interest in reading anything—I couldn't find books that filled the myriad of expectations I had. The only good thing that came from this is that I wrote more so I could compensate for my disappointment in others. But even so, my writing withered from a lack of exposure to diversity.
I quickly learned my problem: the expectations I put on other authors did nothing to them and only robbed me of my joy. If I went into a story expecting one thing and got another, I would be filled with negative emotions: disappointment, irritation, and maybe a bit of condescension. I thought to myself, 'I could write something better than this!' But the problem was those negative feelings shuttered me from the true experiences of the book, experiences that—if I had not allowed my ego to get in the way—I would have enjoyed greatly. I might have appreciated the characters more, or the plot progression, or the message of the book, if I had slowed down and really tried to reach for what the author was saying. If I had considered why they had done something rather than writing it off as 'bad,' then I might not have lost interest in reading for so many years.
The way I see it, reading is a lot like having a conversation. It takes active listening and understanding. It's a relationship between author and reader, and a relationship requires effort on both sides. If the reader behaves as a house guest, expecting the author to cater to their every need, then they will be undoubtedly disappointed in areas; but if they treat the author as a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, then it becomes a symbiotic relationship where there may be struggles, but they are worked through. They are understood. A person who is chronically a guest without putting forth any effort into the relationship or their situation has a name—a moocher.
What does that mean for readers, then? Reading and writing are not merely crafts for entertainment. They are the vessels which carry information from one mind to another, which pass on experiences impossible and fantastic and allow us a temporary step out of our own shoes. In this age where instant gratification precedes hard work and diligence, reading and writing also find themselves victims of the convenience epidemic. We want something that will distract us. We want something that will entertain us. We want it now, now, now! But when it's given to us? We whine and complain.
Let me tell you this—there are better uses of time and energy than to hang upon how we think a book should have ended. There are better uses of headspace than to focus on a dislike of character, prose, or perhaps even an entire book. Of course, this is not to shut down genuine criticism—but so much criticism does not come from a place of genuineness. It comes from a place of bias, a place of taste, a place of expectations. It comes from a reader being a house guest and not a collaborator working to understand the author and the story.
It's tough to eliminate expectations. I'm not perfect at it. When I crack open a new book, whether I'm aware of it or not, there's always something invisible lurking in the back of my mind, waiting to spoil my enrichment. But when we as readers begin to remove ourselves from the expectation of what we think writing should be—when we step away from what is "current" or "popular" and think more deeply about the whys, the author's intentions, their hard work, their backgrounds, and their reasons for writing—then we shift into a more open mindset. We are more willing to listen to what the author is saying instead of what we think they should be saying. Because unless we've paid the author personally to write this story, they haven't written it for any of us. They've written it for themselves. A painter does not unpromptedly create a work of art found in the confines of another mind. If artists could do that, then they'd be telepaths, and they'd probably rule the world.
An author spends years on a book that may be read in only a half hour; as readers, it is our duty to honor that work. We must partake in their vision instead of mooching off of it. In doing so, the worlds of genre and literature become more than paltry boxes of entertainment—they become ships ready to chart the waters of human connection.
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Best Survey Sites, 10 Top Paid Surveys For Money
There are several websites that provide paid internet surveys. But regrettably, not all of them are trustworthy or worthwhile for your time.
Fortunately, I personally evaluated more than 50 different online survey platforms and whittled them down to the top 17. You needn’t do it that way.
1. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is my preferred website for paid internet surveys.
They are among the highest-paid online surveys, so they are number one on our list for a good reason.
In fact, if you stick to the higher-paying surveys, you can make between $1 and $50 for every survey at a rate of $12 to $18 per hour.
However, if you choose to participate in the lesser-paid surveys, you can reasonably expect to make just $5 to $10 each hour, which is still respectable for a survey site.
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2. Swagbucks
You may earn money with Swagbucks by doing online side jobs in addition to taking paid surveys.
You can earn points for other activities other than merely taking surveys online for cash, such as viewing videos, finishing free trial offers, doing web searches, buying online, clipping coupons, and more.
You acquire so-called Swagbucks after doing each activity.
Then you can convert these Swagbucks for a variety of rewards, including free gift cards to stores like Target or Amazon, money in the form of PayPal currency, and more.
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3. Branded Surveys
On our list of the top survey sites, Branded Surveys is ranked third.
The company still pays well, despite not being as established as some of the other top-paid survey sites on this list.
Gain points by participating in paid online surveys and offering your opinion.
Branded Surveys’ quick payout rate is one of my favorite features. You are paid in one to two days, and I can typically make $10 an hour.
Completing surveys can earn you as much as $2.50 after only 15 minutes of work.
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4. LifePoints
LifePoints (a division of the Global Test Market) is swiftly rising to the top of the list of online paid survey providers.
With members in more than 40 different nations, they are well-paying and assert to have paid more than $22 million dollars in the previous year alone.
As soon as you sign up on LifePoints, you may start earning points for giving your opinion on commonplace services and goods. You may exchange these points for PayPal cash or a free gift card of your choosing.
Every new sign-up receives an automatic 10-point welcome bonus.
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5. MobileXpression
One of the easiest survey applications on this list to get extra money is MobileXpression since once installed, you may start earning money right away.
Simply respond to a few questions regarding your typical phone usage when you first install MobileXpression. This covers how long you spend using it, which apps you utilize, and other straightforward inquiries.
After then, MobileXpression websites will run in the background on your phone as you earn free money.
Since you are not working to earn money, you are, in essence, getting a passive income. The only requirement is to keep the program installed.
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6. MySoapBox
They have a high payout percentage and even give you a $2 welcome bonus to get you started.
Each time you do a survey, you receive points that can be redeemed at a variety of stores, including Walmart, Amazon, iTunes, and many more.
For free Amazon gift cards and many other merchants, the minimum payout is $25. Even though it might seem like a lot, you should be able to accumulate this sum rather soon.
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7. InboxDollars
The best part about Inbox Dollars is that they give you a $5 registration bonus right away.
Online surveys alone can make you a lot of money, but you also get paid for completing other things. Play games, watch videos, and engage in other online activities to earn money.
This implies that you can take a break from surveys and earn money by viewing videos or performing other simple tasks.
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8. YouGov
YouGov conducts some of the more engaging online surveys out of all the ones on this list.
Take polls on current issues and express your ideas about current events in exchange for money. Additionally, you can view other people’s viewpoints.
YouGov offers a $2 welcome incentive, and some customers claim to earn $5 to $10 per hour completing paid market research surveys.
Each survey just takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and pays between $.50 and $1.
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9. Prize Rebel
Prize Rebel has recently grown on me as a reliable survey site, and I’m not the only one.
Due to their huge payouts and simplicity of use, Prize Rebel has recently received a lot of positive press.
With the correct surveys, you may easily make $10 per hour if you complete them. This compensates for the absence of a registration incentive.
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10. Pinecone Research
In comparison to the other survey websites on this list, Pinecone Research operates rather differently.
When paid surveys become available, they send you an email rather than requiring you to log in and check for them.
The biggest feature of this website for paid surveys is that you can see precisely how much money you make from each survey. You receive $3 for each survey, which lasts about 15 minutes.
You can therefore make up to $12 per hour.
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