Can you earn a living from writing?

[Ursa major]

Make money writing??

Whassat mean?

From the look of the image in the post immediately above this one, it means taking (and/or making) plenty of notes, apparently.

 

[Phyrebrat]

After listening to a particularly motivational podcast today on the Calliope Writing Podcast (episode 112 - Beyond Ambition) I feel rather more positive about writers and success. Or, more accurately, success of any kind.

I suggest we all ignore the blonde behind Jim Carrey in that Gif

pH

 

[Vaz]

@Stephen Palmer - could you expand on the "Variety of voices" point? I'm intrigued because its rare to find an author whose voice changes from one book to the next (if you are referring to author voice, that is.) Isn't Voice part of the branding? When you pick up, say, a King or a Dan Brown, you know exactly how its going to read.

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

I switch voice depending on whose PoV we're in, but that's 'cause I write deep third.

 

[Steve Harrison]

My first (published) novel was written in a classic, seafaring adventure 'voice,' in which I consciously echoed the style of the Forrester and O'Brien novels. The second (unpublished) is a YA SF comedy novel which is closer to my real life broad humour voice, and my WIP is a contemporary hard boiled crime thriller in a very different voice.

The first novel didn't put me in the 'big time' so if one of the others hits the mark, I'm happy to continue on a more consistent voice to build an audience. However, I have eclectic tastes in reading and writing, so I'm not sure what it will be like to limit myself to one voice. I'm willing to sacrifice variety for cash, though

 

[Stephen Palmer]

@Stephen Palmer - could you expand on the "Variety of voices" point? I'm intrigued because its rare to find an author whose voice changes from one book to the next (if you are referring to author voice, that is.) Isn't Voice part of the branding? When you pick up, say, a King or a Dan Brown, you know exactly how its going to read.

There are some authors who have the same voice novel after novel - Jack Vance for instance, whose prose style (amongst other things) is instantly recognisable. But if an author is writing novels for a range of different reasons and through a range of different styles, then it would be a bit mad to have the same voice. My Factory Girl trilogy - alternate Edwardian England - does not have the same voice as Hairy London - "Monty Python meets Alice In Wonderland": G. Dalkin - which does not have the same voice as Beautiful Intelligence - near future AI. I'm very restless creatively, which many authors aren't, especially fantasy authors, who I find tend to have the same voice book after book. That's just me though.

Do you really think a new Stephen King novel is predictable in how it's going to read? That surprises me, and, actually, rather depresses me. I'd much rather be delighted by some new King direction...

 

[Stephen Palmer]

The first novel didn't put me in the 'big time' so if one of the others hits the mark, I'm happy to continue on a more consistent voice to build an audience. However, I have eclectic tastes in reading and writing, so I'm not sure what it will be like to limit myself to one voice. I'm willing to sacrifice variety for cash, though

I'm not sure having a consistent voice does anything for building your audience. It's all about the quality of the books, time after time. I want my fans to read my books then say, "I've never read anything like that before." If they read the same voice all the time, isn't that a tad boring?

 

[Steve Harrison]

I'm not sure having a consistent voice does anything for building your audience. It's all about the quality of the books, time after time. I want my fans to read my books then say, "I've never read anything like that before." If they read the same voice all the time, isn't that a tad boring?

While I know I would be bored writing in the same voice all the time, I do see the appeal for readers. I read all Lee Child's Jack Reacher books, even though each one is essentially the same novel. It's like eating comfort food and I have a few similarly familiar authors I can count on to supply a reliably entertaining story between all the 'new' authors I try.

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

If they read the same voice all the time, isn't that a tad boring?

I'd say it depends on whether the author's voice is boring though, surely? I mean, Terry Pratchett's books all had his very distinctive voice, and they weren't boring in the slightest.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I have to admit, after I went to work this morning and thought about all this, Terry Pratchett - brilliant though he was - was the first example I thought of for an author whose lack of voice variety really put me off. I read the first few, then got bored. That problem isn't likely to happen with, say, China Mieville...

 

[Stephen Palmer]

While I know I would be bored writing in the same voice all the time, I do see the appeal for readers. I read all Lee Child's Jack Reacher books, even though each one is essentially the same novel. It's like eating comfort food and I have a few similarly familiar authors I can count on to supply a reliably entertaining story between all the 'new' authors I try.

I don't have a problem with that, but personally I need more. Much more.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Here's my "summary" after much cogitation this morning:

Write glorious failures.
You only live once - you're only an author once.
Make art by being permanently just outside your comfort zone (David Bowie).
Perfection is not sexy (Gene Wolfe).
Variety is the spice of life.
Write glorious successes.

 

[Vaz]

Hey, thanks for replying Stephen.

It's an interesting discussion. To me, an authors recognisable voice is part of their brand. I just haven't read to many authors whose voice changes from one story to the next - I'd like to, as I think it must take more skill to constantly be re-inventing your "voice" and how you deliver a narrative.

Any recommendations for Authors who do this?

Thanks.

v

 

[Miranda Martin]

I think it's absolutely possible to make A LOT of money writing. It takes persistence and a willingness to keep trying new things until you find something that works and then keep doing LOTS of it. High production rate is the key to visibility when self-publishing.

 

[Brian G Turner]

It takes persistence and a willingness

By all accounts, many years of effort, too - but with no guarantees of success.

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

no guarantees of success.

Eh, if life had a guaranteed path to success, we'd all be billionaires

 

[EJDeBrun]

All I can contribute to this is the fact that people do manage to do it somehow. So I guess anything is possible. Personally I wouldn't bank on it, but I'm a glass half empty kind of guy.

 

[Steve Harrison]

Here's my "summary" after much cogitation this morning:

Write glorious failures.
You only live once - you're only an author once.
Make art by being permanently just outside your comfort zone (David Bowie).
Perfection is not sexy (Gene Wolfe).
Variety is the spice of life.
Write glorious successes.

I like this list and although I've been following these points (unconsciously) for many years, I have had limited time to write due to a busy full time non-writing job. I don't really care what I write about, such is the pleasure I get from writing, so I would happily provide a consistent voice and/or style to readers if that's what it took to allow me to write full time.

And then, so my theory goes, I would have the time to explore a lot more of my craft.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I know the question was can you earn a living from writing but it reminds me of a conversation that crops up between my friends frequently.

A lot are struggling choreographers trying to get funding and would rather create and showcase dance than teach it. I find myself thinking it's a bit like cart before the horse and ask them if they love choreographing. To put the end result as payment instead of creation is a strange mindset for me - admittedly I might be a bit of a tree hugger in that respect. Do we do this because we love it, because we have to, or because we want to live off it.

I understand these points are not mutually exclusive but imagine this: you get your dream publishing deal and financial rewards but writing then becomes a chore or at least a pressure. How would we react? I've seen many passionate and talented dancers drop out their dance qualifications because it became a job rather than a passion.

It's easy to say we'd love it, but when that opportunity comes knocking, you open a whole new can of worms: promotion, deadline, branding etc.

It's just a thought, but, I suppose it helps to be cautious or at least aware of.

pH

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

I would say that unless you can treat your passion like a job, it isn't a job, it's a hobby. And there is nothing wrong with that.