As a writer, I'm going to be completely honest. I write because I LOVE it. Using words through storytelling is therapeutic, calming, healing, and maybe most of all, freeing. I didn't start writing with the intent of making money. But the truth is, of course writers WANT to make money. If a writer says they don't care about the money, they're lying.
Writing itself is an investment, even for those who sign with traditional publishers and don't pay anything out of pocket. It takes time and energy to pour words onto paper, and it's an emotional experience once those words are out there, and we sit back and hope people like what we wrote. Again, this all goes back to. . . if you're a writer, you really better love it, because none of it is easy.
If you've stumbled across this blog or my website, perhaps you're a writer yourself, or someone who loves to read books. Either way, I want to throw some stats your way.
The majority of self-published authors will sell less than 250 books or less in a lifetime and earn less than $500. (Not quite enough for retirement, am I right?)
The average annual salary for a fiction writer is $11,670. You'd think it would be much higher for those traditionally published, but it's about the same for successful self-published authors.
Selling over 1,000 books in a lifetime is considered not so bad.
The average US book is selling less than 200 annually, or around 1,000 for the lifetime of the book.
In the US, approximately 4 million books are published annually. That is nearly 11,000 books a day. To say there is competition is an understatement.
The thing about writing is it's a passion. So even though there is little money to be had by the majority of authors, most (present company included) would do it for free. And although these stats are daunting, there are things that authors can keep doing.
Keep writing and publishing novels. Do you know how many times I've gone back and read an author's first book because I loved the 2nd or 3rd novel so much? Maybe it will take a few novels to make a name for yourself.
Continue to market yourself. Whether that's locally, or via social media. Get your name out there. Leave your comfort zone. Once you've written a book, it's out there forever. Perhaps YOU will be the exception. Your book may not have sold great at first, but maybe five years later, it explodes.
Above all, remember why you write in the first place. If it's a passion, if it improves the quality of your life by telling stories, keep telling them. Your name will forever be etched in history as a writer.
Keep reading and writing friends. Life wouldn't be as exciting without all of the stories that connect us.
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