Thank you for being honest and putting all this out there!! I think it’s incredibly helpful to see what is REAL and not just the plethora of “Grow your Substack to 487 zillion followers by doing my three steps” posts that I seem to get served. It’s important for wishful writers to understand that for every author who goes viral on Booktok or joins a stable with James Patterson, there are so many others who have to work incredibly hard on 6 different income streams to make it. So thank you, this is practical and helpful and brave all at once.
Thank you for not scrapping this!! This is so important, so helpful, so goddamn clarifying. I am trying to build a sustainable freelance/writing career and everything is murky and all conversations about money tend to go nowhere. Looking at Instagram and now, increasingly, Substack, depresses me as everyone seems to just "be" a working writer, living la vida artistique. Thank you for the truth of this (to me you are incredibly successful and not in any way a diminishing return)
That's really interesting Sophie. I'm always interested in other people's lives/finances/work so even though I'm not a writer, I'm still glad to read this. Don't put yourself down. Your work is great 💓
We were just chatting in my very international Amsterdam-based book club about why Ireland produces so many amazing writers per capita. Our two proud Irish members had a lot of (great) ideas, but they didn’t even mention the tax breaks and bursaries for artists. It warms my heart that there are countries out there making it just a bit easier for artists to survive and make the stuff that feeds our souls.
Hi Sophie, I am one of those debut authors whose advance has only two zeros, so I am very interested in this piece. As an unproven newbie, I didn't expect anything else. My book was picked up by a wonderful indie press, and I am excited by that, and looking forward to having my book out in the world (not till 2026), so yeah, this is not about the money. I love how much Ireland supports its artists, and have also benefitted from a literature bursary. I consider myself fortunate, but understand this is no way to make a guaranteed income. Thanks for sharing your experience here, I think it's really important that writers following behind you come into this business with their eyes fully opened. We can only do that if there is honesty and transparency. We write regardless, though, because it is who we are and what we do. 💕
Thank you for the transparency - and it's really heartening to be reminded that Ireland supports artists properly. (Apologies to the Irish passport office, you might be getting an uptick in requests after this article...). Knowing what your motivation is to write beyond money/being a chart topper etc feels so vital - what keeps you doing it when the external reasons aren't there.
Well I hope you continue to do as much of it as is possible because art needs you as much as you need art..and your listeners/readers delight in all of your work across the mediums..❤️
Thank you for being honest and putting all this out there!! I think it’s incredibly helpful to see what is REAL and not just the plethora of “Grow your Substack to 487 zillion followers by doing my three steps” posts that I seem to get served. It’s important for wishful writers to understand that for every author who goes viral on Booktok or joins a stable with James Patterson, there are so many others who have to work incredibly hard on 6 different income streams to make it. So thank you, this is practical and helpful and brave all at once.
Thank you for not scrapping this!! This is so important, so helpful, so goddamn clarifying. I am trying to build a sustainable freelance/writing career and everything is murky and all conversations about money tend to go nowhere. Looking at Instagram and now, increasingly, Substack, depresses me as everyone seems to just "be" a working writer, living la vida artistique. Thank you for the truth of this (to me you are incredibly successful and not in any way a diminishing return)
Love this. 💜
You are a brilliant writer and this is a brilliant piece
Why did you want to scrap it? I’m obsessed with these conversations
That's really interesting Sophie. I'm always interested in other people's lives/finances/work so even though I'm not a writer, I'm still glad to read this. Don't put yourself down. Your work is great 💓
Really thankful you wrote this piece. Transparency about how we’re surviving as writers is so sorely needed.
We were just chatting in my very international Amsterdam-based book club about why Ireland produces so many amazing writers per capita. Our two proud Irish members had a lot of (great) ideas, but they didn’t even mention the tax breaks and bursaries for artists. It warms my heart that there are countries out there making it just a bit easier for artists to survive and make the stuff that feeds our souls.
Hi Sophie, I am one of those debut authors whose advance has only two zeros, so I am very interested in this piece. As an unproven newbie, I didn't expect anything else. My book was picked up by a wonderful indie press, and I am excited by that, and looking forward to having my book out in the world (not till 2026), so yeah, this is not about the money. I love how much Ireland supports its artists, and have also benefitted from a literature bursary. I consider myself fortunate, but understand this is no way to make a guaranteed income. Thanks for sharing your experience here, I think it's really important that writers following behind you come into this business with their eyes fully opened. We can only do that if there is honesty and transparency. We write regardless, though, because it is who we are and what we do. 💕
Thank you for the transparency - and it's really heartening to be reminded that Ireland supports artists properly. (Apologies to the Irish passport office, you might be getting an uptick in requests after this article...). Knowing what your motivation is to write beyond money/being a chart topper etc feels so vital - what keeps you doing it when the external reasons aren't there.
Thank you for writing this wise, encouraging, honest thing 💚
You neglected to mention the millions in reliable income you make from Substack… can't believe your blatant obfuscation of the full picture.
It's a thank you from me for writing and publishing it... never published a thing. I write though... your wisdom is really helpful.
Brilliant piece. Loved reading it.
Well I hope you continue to do as much of it as is possible because art needs you as much as you need art..and your listeners/readers delight in all of your work across the mediums..❤️