writing for a living

[souperjumble]

Does anyone write?  What do you write about?  Just curious.

 

[ramblingvanman]

Blogging is writing. Many people blog as part of their income production.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I sold two firearm related pieces to Concealed Carry Magazine about a decade ago.  They paid me $150 for each piece.  So I am a Published Author.  But frankly, I can't imagine trying to make a living doing it.  At those rates, you'd be better off with almost any kind of real job.  I would view it as more of a hobby that occasionally pays a little than as a career.

Still, I had an itch I needed to scratch.  I wanted to see if I could actually get published, so I'm glad I did.  BTW, if you're curious, one of the articles is online here:

http://neshooters.com/resources/JohnPerzHowToGetTheMostOutOfTraining.pdf

I'm actually currently blocking out a short piece on the Hanoverian Army and the King's German Legion that I might try to sell to one of the military history magazines.  It's mostly because I'm fascinated by the subject itself and am already researching it for my own interest.  I've no idea what I might get paid for it if I do sell it.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have had articles published in specialty magazines on automotive restoration and customization.  Similar to Optimistic Paranoid I got about $3.00/hour.  Not going to get rich at that rate.

 -- Spiff

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm a non-fiction writer. I write copiously and tend to receive a lot of positive responses when I put effort into it.

Getting paid to write is another story LOL.

A few of my writings were published as a teenager in small blogs and online magazines that probably aren't even around anymore.

I like writing pieces on the human experience; relationship connections and the raw depth and beauty of living. Minimalistic poetry, some songs. Autobiographical short stories totally slaying myself in self-deprecation and laughing about it so others can relate and don't feel so bad.

It always felt weird to actively attempt to make any of my writings monetarily successful. I excel most at what's deeply personal; is making income from that even ethical? Failure also felt like too much emotional risk. Yet, success had other risks; past blogs of mine would begin gaining serious momentum and I'd suddenly be paralyzed from writing further due to fear of losing my anonymity.

I decided about a month ago to make a career out of it, with my actual name. It isn't going to happen anytime fast, and the accident put a serious dent in that timeline, but one thing I do know is I'm going to be writing my whole life whether I plan to or not so it's a smart direction.

 

[WriterMs]

My career was being a PR director and a marketing/PR writer. Until about 5 years ago when I finally made good on a promise to myself to try my hand at fiction. I could never make myself get started on the "big novel" I had in my head for years, so a thought occurred to me while watching a news piece about people evacuating from a CA wildfire -- I wondered why people were not more organized and logical about what few items they took when they had only a few minutes to evacuate.

My idea for writing a short story about "running for your life" turned into a post-apocalyptic novel about "ordinary" people. I was encouraged by my boyfriend and my best friend to further polish it and put it up on Amazon. It costs nothing to publish a novel digitally on Amazon (and very little for a print proof of a paperback version).

I was delighted to be able to check on it after a week and see that I sold a few copies. A few days later I had sold several copies. After about 6 weeks on Amazon, the niche market of post-apocalyptic readers had found me. I was selling hundreds a week for a good long while. Several readers were asking within their reviews for a sequel,etc. So now I have completed the series of 3. And you will get "some" amount of income for years as new readers discover you.

Basically, in that niche market, I was able to get rid of my freelance writing business (and clients) and simply write fiction. I was not getting wealthy, but I made a living even while being in s&b. Not everyone does this, of course. I recently read a blog by one of the best writing bloggers around (Molly Greene). I was shocked at how low her income was from her novels. BUT, she was writing in what may be the largest genre -- romance and mystery.

In my opinion, the nomadic life and especially boondocking are PERFECT for a fiction writer. You have alone time without distractions if you want it. Your imagination can soar. You may need to do some research online but that is what public wifi or hotspots are for.

My recommendation is to find a niche market where you have some indepth knowledge (I used to tent camp and backpack for years living in Montana so I had some "survival" knowledge which I supplemented with research).

There is another woman novelist on here.. I can't remember her handle now. My new series is about a woman novelist who travels in a Tiger (that part is definitely fiction for me LOL).

 

[Cheli]

I only blog but have always wanted to write a book. Like WritersMs mentioned, I think being a nomad gives the perfect opportunity to write. So maybe when I finally hit the road I'll have the time and creativity from experiences on the road to finally write something.

 

[squatting dog2]

I've had a very interesting life, (moving across country 6 times in school busses, cheating the devil in a gas fire, living in my 49 Pontiac hearse, converting a greyhound bus, The vietnam years, dirt racing all around America, etc.) but, I don't have the ability to put most of it into words, so, I guess I'll always be the poor slub with the cool stories.   I can live with that.

 

[SoulRaven]

I've had a very interesting life, (moving across country 6 times in school busses, cheating the devil in a gas fire, living in my 49 Pontiac hearse, converting a greyhound bus, The vietnam years, dirt racing all around America, etc.) but, I don't have the ability to put most of it into words, so, I guess I'll always be the poor slub with the cool stories.   I can live with that.

Or you could get a good writer hooked on your story and collect royalties on the book for the rest of your life!

 

[Cheli]

I've had a very interesting life, (moving across country 6 times in school busses, cheating the devil in a gas fire, living in my 49 Pontiac hearse, converting a greyhound bus, The vietnam years, dirt racing all around America, etc.) but, I don't have the ability to put most of it into words, so, I guess I'll always be the poor slub with the cool stories.   I can live with that.

Or you could hook up with a ghost writer.  You share your stories with them, they write it and you are the noted Author.

 

[Cheli]

Sounds like it would be a book full of great stories.....something you should think about.

 

[squatting dog2]

Sounds like it would be a book full of great stories.....something you should think about.

Now you've got me thinking. 

 

[Cheli]

Now you've got me thinking. 

Good, that was my point.  hahaha

 

[squatting dog2]

[font=Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]A small sample of just one  experience that taught me life is short, If you want to do something... do it... never let others sway your decisions. [/font]

[font=Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]The job at the gas station went along fine till one day, while working on a car on the hyd. lift, I needed a drop light. Next to the lift was the grease pit and the drop lights were usually hung on the edge of the pit. Well , while pushing a car over the pit to repair a leaking gas tank, the drop lights were knocked down to the pit floor. No problem, I just squirmed down under and picked up the light. I turned the light toward me and flicked the switch. there was a flash of fire from the light, then a tremendous explosion. Somehow, I was blown out from under the car and was completely engulfed in flames. when I awoke again, it was 2 weeks later in intensive care. 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body.  The wife now knows what burned beyond recognition means. There was a time there where nobody thought I could survive since there was no way to determine how badly my lungs were charred. For once, I was grateful for military training for the possibility of napalm attacks that beat into your head, if in fire, quit breathing right away.  I surprised the doctors by healing quite rapidly and they couldn't keep me in the hospital. Granted, I had to return twice a day for out patient skin grafts and wear protective gloves. Also had to be super aware of any infections. A side note was they told me I probably would never grow hair on my face again. They were wrong. Hard to find a picture of me without a beard.  [/font]
[font=Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]I have a pic taken after some of the swelling went down and I was finally able to open my eyes.[/font]

 

[Rugster]

My idea for writing a short story about "running for your life" turned into a post-apocalyptic novel about "ordinary" people. I was encouraged by my boyfriend and my best friend to further polish it and put it up on Amazon. It costs nothing to publish a novel digitally on Amazon (and very little for a print proof of a paperback version).

I was delighted to be able to check on it after a week and see that I sold a few copies. A few days later I had sold several copies. After about 6 weeks on Amazon, the niche market of post-apocalyptic readers had found me. I was selling hundreds a week for a good long while. Several readers were asking within their reviews for a sequel,etc.  So now I have completed the series of 3. And you will get "some" amount of income for years as new readers discover you.

How did I miss this? I love the apocalyptic fiction genre but it is hard for me to find good books. I'll definitely download your series!


I was a Realtor and wrote a book for people selling their home. My thinking was to give them advice on selling their home and if it sold, good for them, glad to help. But, as was the case, some Sellers ended up calling me and listing their home with me to sell. So, according to Stephen King, who says you are a professional Author if you make money off something you write, I guess I'm a professional Author.
I'm working on a book for new Realtors to show them a proven way to get listings. I am very interested to see how it does.

 

[lterry]

I write. Though it's a nice income, I don't depend on it solely. I'm in that bigger genre that WriterMs speaks of where the market is flooded, so it's hard to stand out. But mystery and romance is what's fun for me. It has to be fun - pandering to what the newest trend is will only make you quit before you've really started.

 

[WriterMs]

I write. Though it's a nice income, I don't depend on it solely. I'm in that bigger genre that WriterMs speaks of where the market is flooded, so it's hard to stand out. But mystery and romance is what's fun for me. It has to be fun - pandering to what the newest trend is will only make you quit before you've really started.

Hey, Lisa.... it was your handle I could not call to mind (my mind has had some rough going in the last few months).

I stumbled into the niche I did sort of by accident but it was not nearly as overpopulated as it is now. I was not trying then to determine the best niche for earnings, but my observations of why I've been as lucky as I have been lead me to think that being in a more uncommon genre can make a difference. I do switch my genre categories a bit within Amazon's available ones.

The main thing I think is to enjoy what you write -- like you do -- and your product should always come out better. If you are not enjoying the content yourself, it is much more difficult to make yourself write.

 

[Zak]

Does anyone write?  What do you write about?  Just curious.

Non-fiction and fiction:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/586397

I am working on a book about traveling the deserts west of the Rockies, but that will take a few years to complete all the trips and research. The fiction I write is Transgressive Fiction along the lines of Fight Club or American Psycho. Love writing, seriously an amazing thing, have yet to make any money off it but I will keep plugging away. Good to see other writers out in Van World. Maybe an idea for making money is an editor for other writers. I would guess, though, you would need to prove your *bona fides.*

 

[gcal]

Technical writers make good bucks. However, much of that takes special knowledge or training. Not sure if there is a freelance market for that or not.