Controversy Creates Cash

Controversy creates cash!

Have you ever heard that saying? It's the name of a book written about/by former WCW promoter and Executive VP, Eric Bischoff. If you've never heard the name, you have likely been living under a rock. But, you probably have heard of one of his creations.

He was the guy who started the Monday Night Wars with WWE, then known as the World Wrestling Federation. He went to war with Vince McMahons production, and famously debuted the evil character of HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN, and the New World Order.

One thing that some people might have learned from Eric Bischoff was the theory about controversy creating cash. And, that's a lesson that many people who stretch their writing wings can learn. Because, it's true. Controversy does create cash.

Take a look at the mainstream media. Do you recall the last time they did a fluff piece about a 15 year old boy diving into a lake to save some girls in a car, then going back to help the exhausted officer? It happened, but it didn't catch national or mainstream news. Why, because controversy creates cash, and there's no controversy about a hero kid saving some young people from drowning, then helping an officer. Being a hero isn't controversial.

How does it really work? It just does, for whatever reasons. But, there are some likely things that explain the fact that it works, and is unlikely to be changed by any successful writer.

So, we'll start with yours truly.

What is more controversial than a conspiracy about a murder/suicide? This might be something people are getting used to, but when you factor in the oddities about the case, it becomes interesting.

Phillip Marshall was a writer, who covered government stories and had some success in getting his books published and into the minds of readers. Covering things like the truth behind the Iran-Contra affair, CIA dealings with the cocaine cartels, and eventually planning on releasing one about the 9/11 events, made him a controversial writer. However, by all accounts, he appeared to be successful. As a book writer, that means sales and cash.

So, when he was found dead, after allegedly shooting his two children, and the dog, questions arose. Why were the police there? There appeared to be no witnesses, nobody in the small gated community reporting shots, and no reason to think that Marshall would do such a deplorable thing.

And, what locals reported after the crime, well....that left questions. Plain, black, suburbans with antenae all over their tops pulled into the neighborhood and spent three days or more searching his residence, digging up the yard, and removing things from the residence. And these were after the crime scene techs had done their job, and ruled it a muder suicide in near record time.

Perhaps people need the edginess to hold their interest, to garner their attentions, or to satiate some need for dark and evil stories. But, it works. And the more controversial the better.

It works for social media as well.

But, take a look at the media. Right now, the media is all abuzz about the attempt on Donald Trump's life. Yet again, it's another year and someone is trying to kill President Trump. There isn't a single reporter or news agency that's quiet today, as the world clamors for news about shooter, people attempt to claim online that it was a set up, and everybody for today is forgetting about the war in IRAN, and has seemingly forgotten about the War in UKRAINE.

Things are only controversial until we get used to them, and then, they are no longer a big deal.

What does it take to be controversial?

1. Recognize the subjects for what they are.
2. Explore questions others are unwilling to explore.
3. Be willing to face the criticisms of the masses, because they'll come after you online, just for telling your story.
4. Stick to your beliefs.
5. Perceverance.

Takeaways

Unless you're only going to do fiction, or poetry, you're writing can be as bland as you want, or as intriguing, shocking, disturbing, and dark as you want. It depends on whether you're going to tackle controversial issues and be ready to reap a whirlwind of grief from half, and praise from the other half.

Controversy does create cash, but it can bring you grief. As you find more and more people interested in your stories, you find more success. But, that isn't without its problems. What are you going to do when something takes hold and runs wild? How will you top that? Because, much like my Philllip Marshall story has enjoyed over 20,000 reads on its own, it too ran until it was no longer controversial, as the story went dry.

The wettest controversy will excite your readers, for a while. Then it'll go dry.

-Jason Morton, writer on Vocal

And there's little controversy to all the poetry I've been enjoying writing. Oh well...