So you want to write a book?

You want to make Money from your fiction writing?

What are the chances you will?

What percentage of authors become successful? I’m going to be mean and throw some stuff at you – in the vain hope you won’t take up the ‘profession’ and leave more readers for me!!!

‘0025% of authors are successful (sell at least 1000 copies). 21 Apr 2016.’ https://www.creativindie.com

‘Just over 77% of self-published writers make $1,000 or less a year…’ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014

Unless you are incredibly multi-talented, then you’re going to have to pay for:

• Editing: £300
• Proofreading: £500
• Book cover: £320 (ebook and print)
• Printing cost (per book): £3.70

‘The total cost to hold your finished book in your hand would be £1123.70’ https://www.bookbeaver.co.uk/blog/cost-to-self-publish-a-book

Let’s imagine you worked 5 days a week, 8 hours a day on your novel, for 12 months. That’s a very generous estimate – as any writer will tell you it can take years for a book to reach fruition. And you worked all the Bank Holidays too, (my word, aren’t you dedicated?!) – There are 52 weeks in a year and 5 working days in each which comes to 260.

260 days x 8 hours = 2,080 hours writing. Assuming the above total cost (it could be higher or lower!), *Cue annoying clown voice* – “Congratulations! You were paid 0.54p per hour!“

**Disclaimer: If my maths is incorrect at this point, please don’t bother to correct me. I’m not a mathmetician or statestician, I’m a writer and have no skill with numbers.

Let’s compare that to some ‘regular’ jobs. What do others make per hour, average?

Plumbers – £13.50

Nurses – £18

Teachers – £15.73

Train Drivers – £26.49

Bricklayer – £19

Solicitors – £23.08

Shop Assistant – £9.46

MacDonalds Server – £7.25

So, if you want to make money, go get a job as a train driver!

P.S: You can feel warm and fuzzy if you support my writing at

ko-fi.com/alexandrapeel