To ask if you make money from writing?

[MrsDeaconClaybourne]

If so, what do you do and how did you get into it?

I'm sure this has been a topic before but thought I'd ask! I'm going to have some extra free time from September and I've always wondered if I'd be able to make any extra cash from writing. I've studied English language andil literature in the past, taught English for a few years and done bits and bobs of writing for work but never really done anything as myself, if that makes sense

I have no illusions that I have a great novel in me and not even sure I could manage short stories as I'm not that imaginative! I'm not expecting to make a fortune but any extra cash would be welcome.

Thanks in advance

I'm not creative or organised enough.

That might be a hurdle. I've always been a writer - initially in journalism/comms type jobs and now in scripted/drama - and am doing well but it's tough out there and the main things needed are being organised and creative, as well being slightly mad to spend so much time with arse-to-chair writing when everyone else is living their lives. My experience is that you have to really want it and be wired that way, but maybe you're just very early stages, dipping your toe in and it'll grow. Maybe try a local writing course or do some copywriting gigs for friends (probably free until you know if you're any good at it). And write every day, that's the main thing - if you want to be a writer, write - and rewrite, and keep learning. The money might come but it's a secondary thing to the impulse and ability (which you could also call being organised and creative - maybe you're just being self-effacing when you say you're not. If so, that'll take time to get past.)

In a way, yes. My job involves reading large volumes of paperwork and writing summaries of it. I also then proofread what my boss writes. So it suits my skillset as I am strongest in written work (as opposed to say public facing / speaking roles).

I think you need to think through what type of writing you would like to do and what market there is for that writing. You say you don't think you have a novel or even a short story in you- I don't either- which is why I don't write those. None of my journalist/writer friends make their money this way, most do copy-writing/editing/write non-fiction books. All would say, though, that taking on part-time and smaller contracts is not as lucrative as it used to be, there's a huge amount of competition from writing websites where contracts are posted, because lots of people can do this from home and so getting a stable and ongoing gig paying ok money is quite a difficult thing to do from scratch. AI is a competitor at the boring end of the marketplace (e.g, some website content).

If you want a full-time job that involves writing, then that's a bit different and I know people in publishing, commissioning, editing and copy-editing who do just fine, but I don't think that's what you are getting at- there's also comms jobs.

Working with English as a Foreign Language students on their dissertations or Masters/PhD thesis is another way to make money, as they often need help not only with the grammatical stuff but making it all make sense in another language, depends if you would find this interesting.

As for self-publishing, I wouldn't self-publish a novel but I would self-publish in other genres, if you want a small or even moderate income in a niche area of writing you know a lot about and others will pay for. Your memoirs, unless you are brilliant, less so.

Last- I agree with the person who said if you want to write, just get on with writing. The thought of writing, sitting alone and bashing out words, is appealing for people as a fantasy but the reality is that it can be lonely and a bit boring (if you don't love the subject matter) and the psychological struggle is real. If you want to write for money, start writing for free now- write anything you can, a blog, reviews, content for your friend's website, or try for that novel and see how it feels. Otherwise I'm not sure you will hit September and start writing; get some practice in now.

I love actually writing if I've got a purpose or a task to complete. When I say I'm not creative or organised what I mean is I don't think I could come up with a plot for a novel or create characters over 1000s of words and keep track of a story arc. If someone said, do 500 words on x subject, I could do a good job, I think. I suppose that's copy-writing but I don't know where to get started with something like that. Perhaps I need to start with a blog and give myself a daily task to do. I can be organised and disciplined with my time etc and I hope, creative with ideas and language, I just mean I don't have the kind of imagination that could create a whole world, even a realistic, contemporary one.

I'm on a three book a year deal over three years. Still have a day job. More than twenty five published novels and the money isn't regular enough to give it up! But then I don't do research (I just make it all up and nobody's caught me yet).

OP, don't give up the day job is the first thing. Get your words out there, your idea of having a blog is a good one. Start small, try to build a readership and then see how it goes from there. You will never know unless you start.

@juniorspesh "but the upfront payment from a £30k advance (which is great in my field) is more like £8000"

does this mean the advance is paid in stages?

@EmeraldRoulette Yeah usually in quarters or thirds. E.g. 25% on delivery, 25% when you hand it in, 25% when final edit approved, 25% on publication. All minus agent's fees (c15%).

In my field anyway - not sure about fiction.

That makes a lot of sense really - much easier than trying to claw it back if someone doesn't deliver. Thanks for clarifying.

@EmeraldRoulette Puts headlines like "hot young novelist's £100k three book deal" into perspective. Something like that would be more like 3 x 28k deals, each payable in instalments over several years. Obviously I would still love a £100k three book deal!

I would say the process would be (at least the way I do it 😀)
Title
Synopsis
Scene breakdown
Dialogue.

Think about what sort of theatre you're aiming to have it performed in - fringe/regional/200 seats/ 600 seats etc because this will factor into if it is produceable. Most small scale touring plays right now have 3-7 actors. The less actors, the easier it is to produce.
Go see as much theatre as possible so you can see what to do (and not to do!).

Do not start sending it out until it is it's final draft. If you have friends who act have them sit and read it together so you can hear it. Then maybe a staged reading for an invited audience to get their reaction. THEN you can send it out!

Try and get interest from professional companies first. You receive 10% of the box office. After its had some professional interest you may want to open up rights to amateur groups. You would get around 80/100 quid per performance. It adds up if there's 4 or 5 companies a month doing your play in various parts of the world! (To that end if you want to sell it in the States, Australia etc make it non geographically specific - so it can easily be 'adapted' to be set there.)

Don't feel you have to write in a linear fashion, beginning to end. I write/scribble 'material' - one liners, conversations, observations etc about the topic of the play, wherever and whenever I get a moment or a hit of inspiration. Notebook or dictaphone by the bed! Sit in a restaurant for lunch by yourself without your phone and just write, inspired by the people around you.

Everything you write will serve its purpose eventually - so just get writing :)

"but the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of self-published novels are semi-literate drivel that sell a few copies. "

I have a self published book that has sold few copies, it is most certainly not semi-literate - could be seen as drivel depending on your interest.

I did to prove I could (write a novel, not self publish) so haven't promoted it at all.

Some people do things just for the challenge...