/lit/ - Literature

>>22977013
You have higher chances becoming a rich podcast grifter than a wealthy author. Even if you stuck with writing marketable slop, the market is too oversaturated and unless you're a trannie you'll have no luck.
Also, you should never write for financial incentive. Art is a form of expression, not a means of montisation. You'll always be a middle manager at heart.

>>22977013
You probably have a better chance buying lottery tickets everyday like one of those low class individuals and winning one day then getting rich as an author.

>>22977028
>you should never write for financial incentive. Art is a form of expression, not a means of montisation. You'll always be a middle manager at heart.
This is very wise anon but I can think of many examples of writers who wrote for financial incentive and were still remembered by posterity for possessing some literary merit, however little. I have too much self-worth to write marketable slop so it will have to be literary or at least an elevation of genreshit so it simultaneously has some artistic value while also having commercial potential.

>>22977039
Perhaps you’re right.

Bump

>>22977013
Most likely no.

>>22977013
>Could I write a fiction book and become independently wealthy?
writing genre low-brow shit == being a clown serving some faggots
writing pretentious high-brow shit == pretending to be a wise prophet/guru (which you most probably aren't)

>>22977013
Yes, but only if you write. Mulling shit over in your head, ya, probably need to stop that and start writing.

>>22977028
>>22977072
WRONG

>>22978407
this could be the road map (OP) needs?

>>22978407
Is there no middle ground?

>>22977013
>I still have two years of college left

You are way too young to realistically think you're going to write a book and be independently wealthy. But the earlier you start writing, the better so get to it.

>>22977013
I am in the same boat, I want to do it even as a side thing to a regular job. I just don't know anymore, I'm pressured by all ends to devote myself to slaving away but I've invested too much time into my passion (I love it regardless but you have to consider this) and I want to make something out of it.

>>22977013
>>22978977
Listen to this anon: >>22978882
What you need to do is write and complete a bunch of short stories. An unfinished novel is an unfinished piece of writing. Start with smaller pieces of writing and bring them to completion.

>>22977013
If your goal is to become wealthy there are far easier ways of achieving that. Writing is actually one the least likely ways of becoming rich.
Most writers still have day jobs and can't afford to quit them. I currently have 2 day jobs and am nowhere near being able to make a living off writing.

>>22977013
What kind of a book? Give us a rough outline of the story, characters etc

>>22979096
>your goal is to become wealthy there are far easier ways of achieving that.
That's assuming one is good at other things and is mediocre or terrible at writing.

>>22979096
>If your goal is to become wealthy there are far easier ways of achieving that.
Are there? I don’t see how.

>>22979107
I have a rough idea of themes and characters but I obviously won’t post what I’m thinking here just in case I actually realise it.

>>22979259
>I obviously won’t post what I’m thinking here just in case I actually realise it
In other words you don't have anything

>>22979131
You're a fucking idiot. You could be an amazing writer and get ignored for many reasons.

You could be a terrible writer but check off diversity boxes and write about pro-establishment shit and get highly paid for that.

If it’s aYA, fantasy, or science fiction novel that is an enormous commercial success then yeah, sure.

FWIW, Brandon Sanderson insists that it is viable to choose fiction writer as a profession, same as dentist or accountant or whatever, but with some caveats. Search his videos. Basically, you have to churn out a ton of YA, fantasy, and/or sci-fi that is at some point commercially successful. Once you have a name brand, your authorship does the sales for you. If that’s the kind of writer you want to be, go ahead but that’s a disservice to literature if you ask me.

>>22979367
I don’t want to do that.

>>22977013
>>22979013
You don’t have to rush you know? By all means, write and try to publish a bit but there is no rush to make this a career. If you have what it takes, it will always be an option and you take solace in the idea that having a bit of a life before writing can actually inform your writing. Go be an average Joe or a mercenary in Ukraine or something and you’ll have stuff to write about.

>>22977013
No.
Could you write a book more than 100 people will read?
Also probably no.

The meme authors of /lit/ have actually broken out and reached a few thousand. This is an achievement. They make no money at all of course.

The future for making money in publishing is some sort of mass produced AI slop for ultra niches. The trouble is thousands have already had that idea and are ahead of you setting up the pipeline.

>>22979402
>They make no money at all of course.
I make beer money and it pays for notebooks and ink for my faggy fountain pens. Not the pens themselves, those fuckers are expensive. Not /lit/ famous but close enough.

>>22977072
For every writer who is remembered, there are a thousand who are forgotten. If you want to make money either get a STEM job or socialize with rich people until they are willing to pay you for something. Writing stuff you think is deep and hoping for the best is hopeless, particularly if you have no social skills or fancy contacts.

>>22979259
>I don't see how

Study hard, get a job that pays over 100k a year, live below your means, marry someone wealthy or on their way to getting a highly paid profession. I don't think you understand how low your odds of making money with books are.

>>22979387
>You don’t have to rush you know?
I suppose. But I have a persistent, nagging feeling that I’m wasting my time.

>>22979402
>The future for making money in publishing is some sort of mass produced AI slop for ultra niches.
If you seriously think people are going to spend money on AI produced art, especially literature, then you are stupid.

>>22979423
>For every writer who is remembered, there are a thousand who are forgotten.
Indeed, but this was before the internet. Generally if your shit is good you will find an audience. Most people aren’t good enough even if they get published.
>Just work in STEM bro
Yeah, thanks, didn’t think of that.

>>22979438
>Just marry someone wealthy bro
Thanks for the advice. I jest but the book sales data you attached is a major blackpill. My cope will be that I’m simply a better writer than everyone else.

You have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do striking it rich in publishing. Because at least buying lottery tickets isnt gatekept.

>>22979612
Yeah, but you’re going to waste your time regardless. You basically have to learn what writing is to you, and what you want to do with it, if anything. If that’s contribute a single great novel at the ripe old age of 60 that’s fine. If it’s write a schlocky fantasy series every year until you retire to a big house in Florida and live like a boomer that’s also fine. If you want to do the latter and then the former. That’s also fine. The thing is though, that good things take time. So in my mind, the optimal strategy almost always is to write, early and often, publish, early and often, but be patient. Basically you want to figure out what you want your legacy to be as early as possible, but you don’t necessarily have to leave it right away.

>>22979648
>You have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do striking it rich in publishing. Because at least buying lottery tickets isnt gatekept.
Ding ding ding!

Possible, but unlikely. More likely if you're Jewish or Mormon.

>>22979612
Subzero IQ post

>>22977013
There are vastly quicker and easier ways to get rich than by pursuing a career as a novelist, and even pretty high level writers/artists/musicians usually supplement their income by teaching their craft to others via working as a college professor, workshops or private tutoring

>>22979612
>If you seriously think people are going to spend money on AI produced art, especially literature, then you are stupid.

>>22979348
Life isnt a total meritocracy but the better you are at doing anything the better your chances are

and the anon that said buying lottery tickets is a better path to success is a retard. Writing is a way more realistic idea than winning the lottery

>>22980258
>There are vastly quicker and easier ways to get rich than by pursuing a career as a novelist
like what?

Nobody reads anymore. I can’t name a single popular author today who didn’t publish their first book before 2010 (i. e. before the internet started kicking into gear). Even if you wanted to sell out and write YA/Fantasy/Sci-Fi slop you are going to find it difficult to break in (and you won’t become independently wealthy). I suppose the guy who wrote A Gentleman in Moscow fits the criteria actually (published his first book 2011, published the aforesaid 2016). But attention spans and readership levels have only declined precipitously since then. The only hope is that, after seeing how illiterate and retarded gen alpha are after spending all their time in front of ipads, there is a reading counterculture.

And fundamentally, while we lament the decline of readership levels, there hasn’t really been anything released to suggest that novels should survive as a distinct, valued art form. French authors have started emphasising style and releasing experimental novels which has allowed the literary scene to survive in a battered form. If your novel can be told better as a film or even a graphic novel then it isn’t distinct enough to be singled out and looked at, and the literature of the english-speaking world is fraught with journalistic, simple prose. Fundamentally there is nothing enticing there to make me want to read it. You need to make it cool, fun, and different. The only printed material which isn’t dying a painful death is manga which is being held up by anime.

>>22980322
The real money in writing fiction is to sell the TV/movie rights.

>>22980322
Not reading all that

>>22980401
>/lit/ - Literature

>>22980283
See
>>22979438

Or if by "quick" you mean "a way to become a multimillionaire overnight even if the odds of success are bad" and not "a way to become a multimillionaire with good odds of success" you could buy lottery tickets or buy Bitcoin, your odds of making money would probably be better than they would if you became a novelist.

>>22977013
I got a book published and I got such little return on investment on it it has disincentivized me from writing anything longform since unless I know I'm getting paid decently up-front.

Deal with the crippling isolation of post-college life and you will WISH you were a middle manager, fag.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93301-author-incomes-post-small-gains.html

>>22977013
Why not nonfiction?

>>22980844
Why does it have to be fiction or non-fiction? Why can't it be...a raspberry?

>>22980894
Tell me you haven't graduated high school without telling me

>>22980267
such a misleading headline. Also winning literary prizes has nothing to do with writing that sells.

>>22979367
What about horror?

>>22980571
like 3 people win the lottery every year

>>22980592
>I got a book published
Traditionally published?

>>22977013
Could you? Sure
Will you? Unlikely
>>22977028
You can start a podcast and then use it to market your shit, not a terrible idea

>>22977013
Just write the fucking book then get it published

>>22977013
Based on all your writing in this thread, OP, you come off as a try-hard pseud. So maybe you would sell a book since the public are all as atupid as you are.