I love the idea of being a full-time writer, but how viable is it in reality? I have had no idea, ever since I started going down this random rabbit hole of writing. This question has sat quietly, waiting for an answer.
At first, the big question overshadowing everything else was simply: could I even write anything? Then, I fumbled my way through the process and discovered all the hidden steps. I realized that writing a chapter, or even three, was far from the whole process. It quickly became a question of, okay, how do I actually do this?
I spent a load of time navigating that journey, which is still ongoing, which i’ve unpack in other blogs. There is learning a process, and then there is mastering it. I definitely have not done the latter. But I did learn it, so a new question popped up: can you write a whole book? And I did. Whispers from the Machine came together and is now published. It was a huge achievement because, honestly, until it was live, the nagging question of whether I would actually finish it never went away.
I am now 32 chapters into book two. Yes, there are still questions. I have a vision for a four-book series, and I wonder if I will see this through. But that doubt is not as loud now. I know I can do it, and I know how to do it. It is just a matter of whether life gets in the way. Life has a tendency to do that sometimes, but you cannot really do much about it. So, you plod forward until it is done or until something stops you.
The Reality of Writing Logistics and Output
So, that leaves the original question. I love the idea of being a full-time writer, but how viable is it in reality?
I really do love the idea. I was unsure if I would, and there have certainly been points where I did not. But I can write a cohesive story that, according to the most glowing feedback from one of my editors, is very readable. I have enough creative juice in the tank to come up with stories, ideas, and worlds. I also have the fortunate ability to get words on a page in a good volume. My consistently reliable output is a 2,000-word chapter in three to four hours. On my best days, that can translate to two chapters a day, though that is not a sustainble benchmark for a permanent routine.
By my best guess, if I were to work as a full-time writer, which I don’t currently, I could produce a first-draft manuscript every three to four months for a book about the same size as Whispers from the Machine. This would loosely translate to three drafts a year. Looking at my overall workflow, that would mean bringing two books to final publication each year.
Balancing the Business Model Against Market Risks
The question is, is that enough? Writing is not the issue here; selling is what matters for the buiness to be viable.
Volume helps. Having depth in terms of books readers can pick up from your collection helps, which I don’t have yet, but could produce relatively quickly. However, based on book one’s sales versus production costs, there is no profit.
Granted, it is book one from a debut author. It takes time to build an audience and find your feet. Perhaps with time and a higher volume of publications, the momentum would dovetail nicely into a viable business model.
Currently, that trajectory is quite unclear. With how competitive the market is, and the ever-growing risks created by AI to the creative industry, jumping into life as a full-time writer right now is likely a very bad business decision.
Moving Forward with the Stapledon Series
However much I love the idea of focusing entirely on writing and creating stories, the day job will have to remain for now.
I will continue to work on the Stapledon Series, use it to build a back catalogue, grow my skills, and hopefully foster a small, dedicated following. Then, perhaps at some point down the line, the business model will look a lot more viable, and I can finally take the plunge.
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