Can You Make Money Writing Novels?
The answer, of course, is yes. Not only can you make money writing novels, you can make quite a lot of it...
Just look at J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books. Or look at writers like Stephen King and John Grisham.
I have no idea how much these people earn from their fiction writing, but I'd be willing to bet they don't have to do their own housework. And there is no reason why anyone reading this couldn't become just as successful.
But here is the downside...
For every novelist who consistently hits the bestseller lists, there are hundreds and thousands whose novels earn them a much more modest income (they might make money writing novels, but not enough to quit the day job).
I think it is true to say that something like 95% of the money in writing is shared between the top 5% of authors, and vice versa.
Added to that, of course, are the thousands and thousands of people who write novels that are rejected by literary agents and publishers.
I always try to encourage people here at Novel Writing Help to believe in their talents, but even so the possibility is always there that your first novel might never be published.
Which is okay - so long as getting your first novel published doesn't constitute some kind of business plan!
Bottom line? All I'm saying is that the desire to become rich from your writing really isn't the best motivation for doing it...
For one thing, the odds really aren't in your favour, with 199 out of every 200 novel manuscripts submitted for publication being rejected. (Not that you should let this put you off writing - you simply have to be better than all those other novel writers.)
Second, there have got to be easier ways of earning some cash in a hurry than to try to make money from writing.
And third, unless your primary motive for wanting to write novels is the love of doing it for its own sake, your fiction is unlikely to be the best it can be.
Now, you mustn't let these depressing facts and figures put you off writing. The reason that most first novels aren't published is that most aren't fit to be published (ranging from those that just miss the grade to those that are truly terrible).
You simply have to believe that you will succeed where most fail because, unlike them, you have...
- A little raw talent
- A willingness to work at it
In fact, if you don't believe these things you should quit now.
Another thing that will set you apart is a strong knowledge of the art and craft of novel writing. You probably don't have that yet, but you will with the help of this website.
Something that is crucial to bear in mind during the months and years ahead is that, even if your first novel fails to find a publisher, there is always your second novel. And the odds of that one being accepted are much stronger (because the first book would have taught you so much).
Never allow the seemingly poor chances of success put you off writing.
Equally, don't let the possibility of success (and of making money writing novels) be your prime motivator.
Write fiction because you want to write fiction (here's what motivates me to write a novel).
If you happen to make money writing - maybe just a little, maybe quite a lot - then look on it as a great bonus.
Next Step: Keep reading to discover the importance of writing novels with honesty...
