“Why This Aspiring Writer Chooses Passion Over Profit in a World Obsessed with Success”
Ah, the fantasy of being a wealthy writer — basking in the glow of creativity, penning bestsellers from a luxurious beach house without a care in the world. But let’s be honest here: that’s mostly a fairy tale, right? When people talk about being a “writer,” they’re not usually dreaming of a life where their biggest challenge is choosing between a piña colada or a margarita. More often, they’re grappling with a reality that includes penning articles or novels while juggling a 9-to-5 job and trying to figure out how to turn passion into profit.
In “The Short of It,” we dive into what it truly means to make a living as a writer in today’s hectic, ever-evolving literary landscape. Spoiler alert: it’s not all glitz and glamour, but it might just give you a fresh perspective on what success can look like beyond the bucks and baubles. Ready to unearth the truth? Let’s get started! LEARN MORE
The Short of It
An alternate goal in the literary world
Sure, I’d love to be a millionaire writer who could write whatever their heart desired, live comfortably on the profits, and never go to my 9 to 5 again. It is the same as how I would love to win the lottery (despite rarely ever buying tickets). That’s just the dream of financial freedom… but that’s not what most people mean when they talk about being a writer who makes their living writing.
What they mean
Let’s minus the millionaire authors right off the bat. And let’s clarify that “millionaire author” is hyperbole here. The famous, rare few who have movie deals and good lawyers who may not technically be millions but can live more than comfortably off their work — not who we’re talking about.
Let’s also minus the authors who do well enough but have to use their writing career to launch another career — teaching, editing, lecturing, selling courses, being an influencer — that is actually paying the bills. Or is paying the bills between book advances. I don’t think that counts as making a living “off your writing.” It’s more of an adjunct living off your writing, but it is good for them to make it work. (Except for selling courses because, in a lot of cases, that’s a bit…
