You must be rich: Common misconceptions about authors

Last week at a family reunion, someone asked, “Are you rich now that you’re a famous author?” I laughed and answered his questions. Since then I’ve been thinking more about the question and how I would answer if asked again.

Yes, I’m rich:

I have freedom to make decisions about my daily life
I have enough money to do many of the things I want to do
I have a family who loves me
I have clothes to wear, food to eat, and a house to live in (unlike 1.4 billion people who live on $1.25/day or less)

Am I making hundreds or thousands of dollars from book sales? NO

Here are some facts about authors that may surprise you:

Many authors lose money or barely recover what it costs them to get a book published and distributed
Most authors have a “day job” because they don’t make enough from their writing to live on
Writing a book is the “easy” part. It’s a challenge to get books published, marketed, and sold

Authors wouldn’t bother to write if money was their only objective. There are many other ways to make money that are easier, faster, and more predictable. Authors write because:

It’s something they have to do, almost a compulsion
They enjoy the process of writing – it’s therapeutic for them
Writing enriches the author and those who read
Writing is art
Many writers see what they do as a ministry

I’m thankful I have the opportunity to be an author, but not for the reasons many people may think. Are you suprised?