jeffreypg64

getting short stories published? not that you should write just for that... but just wondering.

Raging_Hopeful

Most people don't make much, if any, writing. Not to be horribly pessimistic but even good writers often have to work AND write until they become a serial novelist. Unless you're in the category of King, Rowling, or Steele, and churning out many many novels, don't plan on retirement. That said, it's not to say it CAN'T happen and many authors make decent money writing non-fiction, freelance and article pieces, rather than novels. But it's not a dependable income... writing should always be for the joy, rather than the fame and fortune.

Do what you love and the money will follow.

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Banzai

Yeah, if you think about the proportion of people who write, to people who are successful writers, then it becomes a little obvious. Just look in a bookshop and see how many authors of the books there you have heard of. You have to really get something for it to earn you the kind of millions Harry Potter has done for JK Rowling.

On the other hand, if you are a literary genius; hard luck. Most of the most famous writers of more serious literature became more famous after their deaths.

So Raging Hopeful is right; it's not something that can provide a stable income, since you aren't paid a regulary wage, but rather are paid when you get a story published or (if you are very lucky) when you sign a contract with a publisher. It's really best to just do it as a passtime, and if it earns you a bit of money on the side then all the better.

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mammamaia

ditto all of the above... in the past, short story writers could become famous and make a good living... washington irving, guy de maupassant, o. henry and mark twain are just a few examples...

nowadays, as noted above, renown and the biggest bucks are reserved for the non-stop novelists, though a rare few have made millions on one, thanks to modern hype techniques, and written few since... brett easton ellis is an example... he's published only 3 novels in the 14 years since his disgusting [my opinion] blockbuster 'american psycho' hit the streets...

so, today you can't make a lot of money writing short stories, though a few do make a good enough living at it...

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Redrust422

Hmm, well there is always freelance writing? Writing for magazines, web-sites, and technical writing will pull in some money if you are diligent.

http://freelancewrite.about.com/