You could have a book in your brain, or you might even have one open on your laptop in a Word file that isn't finished yet. People claim it's excellent. There are many conversation snippets in your notes app. You fantasize about signing books and getting checks from the royal family. But there's one thing that always stops you.
Let's not make something seem better than it is. It's hard work to write a book. Putting it out there is an investment. And how do you make money off of it? That's a good aim to have, but only if you know how to get there.
Fusion Book Publishing has helped hundreds of authors bring their stories to life in book form. This is what we've learnt about the business side of publishing. No extra stuff. No empty promises. Just what works, what doesn't, and how to make better decisions than 90% of new writers.
Before we go into the figures, let's make one thing clear. There are two kinds of writers:
Who do you think makes money?
Yes. The second group. It's not a lottery to be published. It's a plan. You need a strategy, whether you want to make five figures a year or leave your day job.
You don't have to sign a typical publishing deal to generate money. Most writers these days go it alone and retain a significantly larger portion of their earnings. Here are the most popular ways to make money:
Indie writers may publish paperbacks and hardcovers all around the globe using Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. You decide how much to charge. You are paid royalties. What are the average earnings? Depending on the number of pages, the cost of printing, and the price at which it is sold, each print copy costs $2 to $5.
Less money spent on making things, more money shared in royalties. You may get up to 70% of the funds from each ebook you sell on services like Kindle Direct Publishing. Many writers make a living by writing ebooks.
Audible has experienced significant growth over the last several years. You can publish your audiobook and earn money every time someone downloads it through ACX or Findaway Voices. Some writers claim that audio accounts for approximately 20-30% of their overall revenue.
You have complete control when you sell your book on your website. No one in the midst. No costs for the platform. Add autographed copies, extra chapters, or even book-related merchandise, and you've got a whole mini-store going.
This is where writers of nonfiction shine. Make your book into a paid course, workshop, or keynote address. It occurs more often than you think, and it pays handsomely.
Let's turn the coin over. You must spend money wisely to make a profit.
A wise self-publisher puts money into the following:
| Help | Estimated Cost Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | $800 to $4,000 | |
| Cover Design | $150 to $600 | |
| Interior Formatting | $100 to $400 | |
| ISBNs and Barcodes | $0 to $150 | |
| Printing and Proofs | $50 to $300 | |
| Ads and Marketing | $200 to $2,000 or more | |
A decent publishing setup may cost you between $1,500 and $6,000. Could you do it for less money? Of course. Do you need to? It depends on how much you value the quality of your book and the long-term outcomes.
Let's go over a simple example.
You write a book that is 250 pages long and sell it for $14.99. You sell:
That's $3,000 to $3,700 in sales from one book in a short amount of time, yet it didn't become viral. And that's just the beginning.
Now think about doing it with two books. Or a three-part series. Or with a nonfiction guide that remains in print for years.
You don't have to be Elon Musk, but if you want to make more than a bit of money, you need to behave like a creative entrepreneur. Set aside money for editing. Keep track of sales. Make plans. Check back on reviews. You're more than simply a writer; you're the brand.
A book may unlock the door. Two or three develop a career. Writers of series, particularly fiction, earn a lot more money with each new book—writers of nonfiction who write on comparable themes or make workbooks do the same.
Promotions on BookBub. Newsletters from authors. Signing books. Posts on TikTok. Choose a few channels and stick with them. People appreciate a good tale, but books don't sell themselves.
Well-edited. Well-designed. Formatted like a pro. Simple to read. Simple to purchase. Your book is more likely to be recommended by a reader if they had a good time reading it.
Nope. People still need to see great novels.
Not unless you already sold thousands.
That's not true. Thousands of self-published writers make five and six figures without anybody knowing. You don't hear about them in the news.
Suppose your objective is to become wealthy quickly, probably not. If you want to make money from your words, your message, and your tales over the long run, then definitely.
One of the best (and most scalable) creative investments you can make is to publish your book properly. And even if money isn't the primary reason you write, being compensated for your work is always a good thing.
We help writers bypass the guessing and publish with purpose at Fusion Book Publishing. We're the people behind the scenes who do everything from editing and designing to printing, distributing, and marketing.
We'll help you launch your first book or your fifth in a way that generates revenue and gets your story into the hands of actual readers.
Visit Fusion Book Publisher now and let's turn your novel into a profitable work.
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