Ever wanted to write a novel?

In 2020 two of my friends each published their first story. That's actually a bigger thing than I first thought.

Eighty-one percent of people want to be an author. So how many actually do it? In any given year it's not even close to 1 percent.

So what happens to the other 80 percent?

Sometimes it's the confidence to go for it. Sometimes the right inspiration hasn't hit. Sometimes people need advice on story-writing or editing - or don't have the technical know-how. One way or another they find a reason not to do it.

One huge reason is "I just can't find the time" - and it's fairly valid. Writing a book is actually quite a lot of work.

Where to find the time?

Sure, if you're super-driven you could do it in your after-work time. But it takes severe dedication to punch out a novel after working a 40-hour week. Staying up late, or getting up early, or giving up weekends.

My two friends who published novels this year both took some time out of their work schedules - either via parental leave or switching to part-time work. I don't know if that's necessary, but I imagine it made it a lot easier.

Freedom and passion

Each has earned - and, more crucially, saved - enough so that they aren't forced into continuous full-time work. As such they could devote more energy to achieving their passion of publishing a novel.

Success?

Will they be success? The average writer sells less than 500 copies. So they'll be doing well if they get more than that.

But is income the measure of success? I've never heard a eulogy that details the person's lifetime earnings.

I have heard success described as "the progressive realisation of worthwhile goals". 

The default path - working five days a week for as long as physically possible - might bring in more cash. However, that money quickly finds its way to getting spent on things, or a bigger home to store those things.

A little less spending, maybe a little more investing, means a lot more freedom achieve our worthwhile goals and to spend time doing the things that bring joy (rather than more clutter).

So what are the books?

OK, you're probably wondering what these books are.

Surviving by Mark West - an apocalyptic adventure where people flee the city as a virus takes hold. Amazingly, Mark wrote this before Covid-19 was a thing.

The second is Eliva's Child by Laura Ziegler. This one's in the young-adult fantasy genre - with a princess, sorcerers, kingdoms, prophecies and the like.

Both authors are intending to publish more books in these series.

Update: Mark's book has now been picked up by bookstore chains and public libraries. His second book is coming out any day now.

Other options

This article is one in a series I'm doing about alternatives to full-time work.

See the previous ones about an unusual burger business and the not-for-profit initiative that's changing lives.

PS. After writing this, I heard the following quote on a podcast, from a guy who's just fulfilled his dream of recording an album. "It's a lot harder to be a creator than a consumer, but it's a lot more rewarding."