There’s a romanticized idea of being a writer—the image of someone lost in the creative process, pouring their soul onto the page, and magically finding an audience that appreciates their work. But the reality? Writing isn’t just an art. It’s a business.
The long and often unpredictable road of publishing has been on my mind lately. After self-publishing my debut novel in June 2024, I moved on to querying my second book while diving deep into writing the sequel. The process has been a constant reminder that creative success doesn’t happen overnight.
The truth is, success in writing—like any business—requires endurance, strategy, and a willingness to keep going even when the returns feel small.
The Myth of Overnight Success
It’s easy to look at bestselling authors and assume they found instant success, but behind every “breakout” story is often years (or decades) of work. The publishing industry moves slowly, and even self-publishing—where authors have more control—requires long-term effort to gain visibility.
Most writers won’t make a living from their first book, or even their fifth. That doesn’t mean the work isn’t valuable. It means the business of writing is a long game, built on persistence rather than quick wins.
The Money Factor: Passion vs. Profit
Then there’s the financial side of writing, which can feel at odds with the creative process. Writing requires an investment—time, emotional energy, and often money. Whether it’s paying for editing, cover design, advertising, or even just the cost of maintaining a website, there’s a financial reality to pursuing a creative career.
I’ve had to examine my own relationship with money when it comes to writing. It’s easy to fall into the trap of equating financial success with creative success—especially when book sales and website traffic feel discouraging. But the truth is, not every form of success shows up as a number.
Redefining Creative Success
So, if success isn’t just about sales or landing a book deal, what is it?
For me, success means:
• Finishing books I’m proud of.
• Growing as a writer, even through rejection.
• Connecting with readers, even if it’s a small audience.
• Having the freedom to keep creating.
I won’t pretend I don’t want bigger milestones—an agent, wider readership, financial stability through my writing. But I’m also learning to appreciate the path I’m on, even when it feels slow.
Staying the Course
The truth about writing as a business is that it requires both patience and resilience. Some days, it feels like shouting into the void. For others, the words come easily. Then, there are those days when the doubt creeps in.
But what keeps me going is remembering why I started—because writing is what I do. Telling stories is part of who I am. And no matter what happens next, I’m not done yet.
If you’re a writer on this journey, too, know that you’re not alone. The work matters, even on the days when it feels like no one is watching. Keep going.
Further Reading
Interested in reading more about the business side of writing? Here are a couple of articles I found valuable:
• An Author’s Guide to the Business of Writing – A breakdown of income streams, marketing strategies, and sustaining a writing career.
• The Business of Writing – Writer’s Digest – Practical advice on managing the financial and professional side of being a writer.
© K.T. George 2024 | This post was first seen on ktgeorge.com | Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash