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Q&A

Can I make a living as a novelist?

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I enjoy writing, I really do. And also, I don't want to kill my time to make a living. I want to enjoy earning money. I don't wanna be rich, I just don't want to be poor. Can I make a living as a novelist? I live alone. Do I need to be a really good writer to make a living from it? Thanks.

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Is it possible to make a living as a novelist? Yes, a few people do.

Is it sensible to plan on making a living as a novelist, the way you might plan on making a living as a dentist or an accountant? Absolutely not. Very few of those who try ever make even pocket money from writing fiction.

A realistic approach is to plan on making your living doing something else and write novels on the side. If you ever make enough to live on, quit your day job.

You can, of course, make your living writing, perhaps as a journalist, copy writer, or technical writer. These are careers you can plan for and work towards with a reasonable hope of success.

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Yes, authors can make very good livings. I personally know a number of self-published fiction authors who earn well into six figures a year. Quite a few of them earn seven figures a year. This year will be my first year to earn six figures. I'm a self-published romance author, and I publish 2 full-length novels a year. So, yes, it's possible. Will every author succeed at that? Unfortunately no. It depends on the skill of the author, the quality of the book cover, and how effectively the author promotes/markets his or her own books to the targeted audience. Best of luck to you!!

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