The truth about publishing is, it’s not going to make you rich or famous. Well, maybe. Publishing isn’t something everyone can do or wants to do. But most people struggle to make anything over $500 a month. And I’m not going to be the kind of person to tell you NOT to write in hopes of making money.
If you want to write to the market, do it. If not, still write.
Everyone has a voice and it deserves to be heard. Regardless of their reasons to write.
You’ll hear a lot of people say “You shouldn’t write for money”.
The truth is, if you weren’t expecting some kind of compensation for your talent then why not just give your stories away for free?
See? Because no matter what a person tells you, deep down, they all want a slice of that pie. Some are honest about it, and others just hope that someday they can post on social media: “Oh my God. I never expected this!” While simultaneously claiming “I don’t write for money.”
It is possible (and okay!) to write what you love and still want to be paid for it. There’s no shame in it. Don’t allow others to shame you for it.
And let’s face it, everyone deserves to be compensated for their time writing. Not only are the readers paying for the story, but they’re also paying for your time/money spent editing, marketing, formatting, writing, designing ect.
If you’re going to be doing all of that then you earned it. Don’t listen to those who tell you otherwise.
Also, don’t be discouraged if you still come up short after all of that. It’s a part of writing. Just write the next book, and don’t stop writing. Some hit it big after 1 book then vanish. Others, usually around book 10 or book 20. Don’t stop. And remember: what works for one person may not work for you. Find your own path and mend it to your will.
Most will also say to not publish until you have money saved back enough to do so. And honestly, if I would have waited then I wouldn’t have published a dang thing!
I tried that, until one day when I finally said “Enough!” I couldn’t wait any longer. I have stories I want to tell, and I’m not letting anything stop me from doing so. And neither should you!
Lack of money shouldn’t be the only thing holding you back from your dreams.
Sometimes, as a self-published author, you have to be able to learn the various trades needed to be successful.
I’ve spent roughly 357 hours writing/rewriting my novel. And that’s not including time spent on studying different editing styles/requirements, marketing, and cover designs. And there’s a lot to consider when designing a cover. Such as color psychology, marketability, and branding. If I had to total the entire time spent, it’d be roughly over 1000 hours.
Would I recommend that path? No. But if it’s all you can afford, then do it. Just do it well. Give it your best shot. You might surprise yourself in the long run.
There’s no shame in asking for money for your time spent creating something great. You wouldn’t open a muffin shop just to only give out free muffins. Your time is valuable!
