create XML file using bash script

I want create simple xml file using bash script ( not with dom ) but when I set value in the line then **echo** print the $lorem word and not the val **lorem=LOL** echo '$lorem' >> $MY_XML I also try this echo '\$lorem' >> $MY_XML echo '"$lorem"' >> $MY_XML echo '\"$lorem\"' >> $MY_XML but all these print the exactly the line and not the val please advice how to print the val $lorem ? as the following example LOL