Question from a reader:”Do writers make a lot of money?”
My answer is: No, most don’t. Some, if they are good, original and work very hard at it can make a living at it. Writing generally falls into two categories-non-fiction and fiction.
Fiction tends to be a popular market for aspiring writers and thanks to new technologies and the internet you can get your product out into the virtual ethers faster. The problem is so can anybody else. Unless you have something that you can market differently you will have a long haul on getting your fiction seen by anybody leave alone out there to be purchased or receive any cash for.
Non-fiction can sell but it usually is in a niche market. If you are lucky, you will write for a niche that is having a popular up cycle and your book will sell. Same problems apply as for fiction. You need to get your work out there so people will buy it.
What sells? Ahhh, that is up to you as the writer to figure out and trying to write for markets that are popular or hot is a tricky business. My advice to writers is to write what you know and what you like to write. It will be easier to sell if you believe in what you are writing.
A lot of excellent fiction writers pointed out to me that back in the 1980s, 1990s and in some markets, today, if you can write women’s romances you can make a lot of money. The reality is that even though they were good if not great writers, they couldn’t stomach writing that type of novel. In the cut-throat 2000′s, there are all sorts of people writing women’s romance stories and most of them are not selling. That should tell you something about markets changing and markets being glutted.
There are too many articles on writing, blogging, getting sponsors, etc and they are sending the wrong impression out into the universe. Books are a money losing business for most people.
If you want to write, you should write. Keep a day job and just write. I write because I am good at it and I have to. The same holds true for when I appear in videos. I am able to express myself through writing. I enjoy what I am doing and I have fun with it. If you stick with what you like to do and are patient, you can make money.
You shouldn’t plan on going into writing though with the thoughts of being a mega success story overnight. If it happens, you were at the right place, at the right time and got the right amount of luck. What happens to most of us is that if you stick with it and are patient, you can make a living at it. You will need to eat and pay bills in the meantime so make sure you have a good day job (or several day jobs).
If you are good, people like your style, are informative and entertaining, you can keep their attention and they might be inclined to actually buy something from you!
There are other easier ways to make money. If you are writing to try and get rich quick, I suggest trying to manufacture something instead. People will pay, regardless of the economy, for goods that they perceive they need or really want.
Speaking of right now, I want to get some sleep. Thanks for the question!
Kim Isaac Greenblatt
Most writers don’t make a lot of money. Some might make a living at it though.
