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How to Make Money as a Fiction Author

 

I don’t know why I feel awkward saying this, but…

I want to make it as an author.

To have my words shared all over the world.

It’s kind of scary saying this out loud—almost revealing in a way, like a plumber’s butt crack peeking out mid-job.

But for me, it’s true.

It’s what I want most.

So lately, I’ve been looking up advice on how to make it happen, doing what anyone with a vague sense of direction does: I Googled it.

And instantly, I was bombarded with promises:

  • “How to easily make $10,000 a month with your words!”
    (Wouldn’t that be nice?)
  • “How to trade words for dollars!”
  • “How to sip piña coladas and write on the beach!”

Sounds great, right? But when you read the fine print, something sticks out like a wart on an ass: it’s all advice for nonfiction writers. You know, the how-to crew. (“How to get organized,” “How to meal prep,” “How to dominate your morning routine.”)

…And yes, the irony of this last paragraph wasn’t lost on me.

Sure, that advice works if you’re writing a guide on keto-friendly crockpot recipes. But if you’re writing to entertain— you know, something with talking trees,—it doesn’t really hold up.

So, feeling slightly annoyed, I thought, Why don’t I just make my own guide for fiction writers?
And here we are:

 

The Goal of Fiction

Let’s start with the basics. Have you ever thought about why people read fiction?

It’s one of those things you intuitively know but might not have had to articulate. At least, that’s how it was for me.

For me, it boils down to this: People read fiction for the same reason they watch movies or binge Netflix: to be entertained.

They’re not reading fiction to solve problems or improve productivity. They’re reading to escape from their boss, their in-laws, and that mountain of laundry sitting on the couch just waiting to be folded.

And who can blame them?

Since money from fiction ultimately comes from your writing, it’s important to keep the purpose of fiction front and center: Be entertaining.

Your job is to distract, delight, and drag your reader to another world—even if it’s just for a little while.

It’s not about how many writing techniques you master or how big your vocabulary is.

It’s about holding your reader’s attention.

 

Put Yourself Out There

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

When I worked in outside sales, I had a mantra I’d repeat to myself:
“No one is waking up thinking about me.”

It sounds harsh, it is harsh, and it’s reality.

No one is lying in bed wondering how your book is coming along or when your next story will drop. They’re too busy worrying about their own lives and their own mountain of laundry to fold.

So, whose job is it to get their attention?

Yours.

As a fiction author, this means one thing: you need to put yourself out there. Writing a great book is important, but it’s not enough. You have to engage with people so they can connect with your work.

The good news? It’s easier than ever before. Social media has leveled the playing field, making the challenge of meeting new people and putting it in the palm of your hand.

And this gets easier when you realize the secret of audience building:

People aren’t just looking for content—they’re looking for connection.

Think about the creators you follow.

Why do you keep coming back? Probably because you don’t just like their work—you feel like you know them.

In fact, you like them. Their quirks, their humor, their honesty—that’s what keeps you hooked.

So how can you apply this as a writer? Show up as yourself.

Film videos, post about your creative process, and share the weird, wonderful things that inspire you.

Bring the real you into your writing and become authentic.

The more people see the person behind the words, the more they’ll want to support you.

Does it feel awkward at first? Absolutely.

But it’s worth it.

Never forget, the more noise you make, the more people will take notice.

 

Write Consistently

Writing consistently can be a pain in the ass. Let’s just get that out of the way.

Life happens. You get busy. Scrolling TikTok suddenly seems like a more appealing option. But here’s the thing: Consistency is the key to growth.

We live in a binge society. Nobody watches one Netflix episode and calls it a night—we devour entire seasons.

We’re Americans, dammit!

It’s the same with authors. When people discover someone they like,  they want more.

That’s where consistency comes in.

The more you write, the more you build your catalog. And when a new fan stumbles across your work, they’ll have plenty to dive into.

Does this mean you need to churn out daily content?

 Not at all.

Quality always trumps quantity.

But it does mean you need to show up regularly, whether it’s publishing short stories, blogging, or sharing snippets of your work-in-progress.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about creating a habit that helps you write more.

The more you write, the better you’ll get, and the more your audience will grow.

 

Have Something to Sell

If you want to make money as a fiction writer, here’s the not-so-shocking truth: You need to offer something people can buy.

(Who would have thought?)

Luckily, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Here are a few ideas:

  • Write a book (obviously).
  • Offer a paid newsletter (hello, Substack!).
  • Create exclusive content on Patreon.
  • Sell themed merchandise (bookish T-shirts, anyone?).

The key is to offer something your audience values and let go of perfection.

To me, getting into business seemed daunting. But you know what? It’s not like someone is paying us to put a rocket on the moon.

We’re selling stories.

Something people and campfires have consumed for centuries.

Don’t overthink it.

 

Enjoy the Ride

This is the most important part.

The truth is, the path to making it as a fiction writer can feel foggy. You don’t know if or when things will click, and that uncertainty can be scary.

But here’s the thing: you don’t know if anything will work out. So why not enjoy the process?

Have fun writing.

Have fun connecting with readers.

Have fun making videos and laughing at your own awkwardness.

Remember: every writer you admire started where you are.

Stephen King pushed a broom.

J.K. Rowling had rejection letters thicker than her first novel.

They faced doubt—and so will you.

The next time you ask yourself, “Can I do this?” try saying it with a little more excitement.

“Can I do this?!”

Yes. Yes, you can.

Making money as a fiction writer isn’t easy, but it’s possible.

Focus on entertaining your readers, showing up authentically, writing consistently, and offering value. And most importantly, enjoy the ride.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about making money—it’s about sharing your stories with the world.

And that’s pretty damn amazing.

 

Please like, comment, share and tell me what you think! Do you agree? If I offer writing coaching/mentorship, would you be interested?

 

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37 thoughts on “How to Make Money as a Fiction Author”

  1. I too dream and aspire to sell fiction books. Reading your post helped to reinforce my approach and encourage my writing journey. I’m having a blast 💥 so I must be doing something right!

    Reply

  3. I’m enjoying myself tremendously and finding readers just by publishing my own stuff on WordPress. I enjoy being able to format it the way I want to, and it’s rekindled my writing productivity for sure. I’m also thinking about going back in and reviewing Letters from Jasper if it’s still available on your site. I’ve decided not to worry about making money from writing anymore, but that’s my own choice and doesn’t need to influence anyone else. I have found that it’s immensely freeing though! Good article, Anthony!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! The chapters are scattered! But you can find my opening in my homepage pinned up top!

      I currently have a few agents reviewing it, hopefully they give me the green light so I can start selling this thing! Thank you so much for reading

      Reply

      1. I don’t mind searching! In fact, that’s one of the only things I don’t like about the blog system-you’re only as fresh as your last post. So I recommend to all readers: if you have an author you like, explore their blog-there’s probably a ton of good stuff in there that’s been buried for too long!

      2. Thanks so much for the kind words! Yeah I didn’t label them as chapters in my book, but to help you out, gas station confessions is chapter 3 and the rest is some random title.

        I wanted to share it out of order and not like a book just to see if people would like it- but reading your encouragement makes it all worth it.

        And I totally agree -that’s the pain in the ass about blogs, but I guess if you ever do a newsletter, it makes sharing content much easier

      3. And good luck with shopping your novel! That is a daunting task, but don’t let it break your will. I loved what I’ve read of it so far 😜🕴

  4. I love this! Thank you for sharing. I’m a Content Writer and I also occasionally write fiction, and this is sound advice for both. I find that businesses are starting to employ creative writing techniques like you’ve outlined to engage with their audience because lets be honest we all value connection especially through the content we consume whether for business or pleasure.

    Reply

      1. Absolutely, I’m in the middle of writing a post about connecting with audiences and I hope you don’t mind if I reference this post?

  6. This is so beautifully written with so many things to take from here.
    As a growing blogger who is now just understanding the importance of community, and a Fiction writer who has amazing returning clients who keep her in business. This advice hit the nail of the head.

    Sure the process might be a little slow, but what great thing isn’t?
    And the end goal is fulfillment we feel when we walk into a room to hear like minds speak so fascinatingly about something we created even while afraid.

    Reply

  7. This is very informative and engaging Tony. I agreed with a lot of it and learnt from what I didn’t know. Fantastic post and good luck on your book getting picked up from the agents.

    Reply

  8. Good stuff, Tony, and thanks for posting. I don’t quite agree about the first point, however. I don’t bother about the people behind the work and their personal lives – that goes for writers, actors, athletes, composers, painters, etc etc. I just like their work. Some of them I don’t like at all, from what I hear about their private lives. If I based my likes on the private lives I probably would read/listen/watch a lot less. Dickens wasn’t very kind to his wife, Paul Scott was accused of domestic abuse, Wagner was anti-semitic etc – you get what I’m saying – but their work is good. There are others whose work I’ve discovered and found I liked, but I know nothing about their private lives and have no desire to find out. I realise I’m atypical in this, and as I too would like to make it as an author I do what I can to show myself–within the boundaries of my comfort zone–as well as my work. So far it’s only working to a minor extent, but I like my small readership and hope they’ll grow, if I keep feeding them. It’s a long and hard road though. Good luck with your own journey. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for reading – and I agree, I def don’t like every famous person or care about their personal life, but I do sometimes think sharing yourself can help — a little peek behind the curtain. Cheers to making 2025 the best year yet

      Reply

  11. I like your advice about showing up as yourself. That’s seems to be the kicker. A lot of people don’t know who they are. It takes some practice and insight to discover that.

    Reply
  16. Pingback: How to Make Money as a Fiction Author – Hilspicturetv

  17. Loved reading this post. Stumbled across it and found it a good read. Fiction writer here… always looking for tips on getting my books out there… thanks

    Reply

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