I have made a big mistake (please help me)

[VCAckerman]

Thank you for reading this.

From 2018 to 2024, I have written:

• 4 novels
• 2 novellas
• 2 novelettes
• 5 short stories
• 17 poems
• 104 micro stories (each 280 characters or less)
• And a “Humans of New York” inspired story (with 52 “interviews”, 7,000+ words)

Of the 135 works I have created, 4 are not close to completion. All the others need a few rounds of mild editing before they are ready to be released. So what is the problem?

Ever since I started my first novel in 2018, I wanted to get into comics. However, I believed it would be easier for me to build an audience if I worked on novels and short stories instead. Writing books was also less expensive than hiring artists to draw my comics. I believed that if my books did well, I could afford to chase my true aspirations.

In November of 2023, a late night conversation with my sister brought me to the horrible revelation that I had made a mistake. While I do need to build an audience if I want success, I should have started writing comic scripts from the very beginning. To paraphrase my sister; with how difficult it is to make a living in the art world, “becoming a novelist to afford creating comics is like playing slot machines so you can afford to play poker”.

After this soul crushing epiphany, I completely abandoned my stories. I did not want to fall prey to the Sunk Cost Fallacy when I could just start working on the comic ideas that I had neglected for 6 years. I began working on a comic script in January of this year. I stopped working on it in May and pivoted back to traditional storytelling.

I am aware that most writers make very little money off their books alone, if they can get anyone to buy their work in the first place. There are only so many Stephen Kings in the world. I know that the likelihood of getting a sizable fan base–never mind gaining a livable wage for my work–is so improbable that it might as well be impossible.

But it’s not impossible, and that knowledge is disturbing my peace.

What if you can make a proper income off of your novels? What if one of your stories does so well that it revolutionizes your life? What if you’re letting gold rot inside your hard drive? These questions are the writer’s equivalent of “what if this slot machine gives me a million dollars”. Unfortunately, this self-awareness did not allow me to concentrate on my comic, which is why I put the project on hiatus in May.

I already wrote so many stories. I might as well make use of them. If I fail to gain an audience or a proper income after posting 131 stories, then I can give myself some peace of mind and devote all my energy into comics (I won’t bother with the remaining 4 if I fail). If I succeed, then I am willing to work on novels and comics simultaneously.

Here’s where I need your help; I do not know what to do that will maximize my chances of success. I will post my stories onto Substack (and maybe a few other websites with a similar function). I will also post my micro stories on Youtube Shorts. Outside of that, the right course of action is lost on me. I have created a few plans, but I have no idea which one is the best to execute.

Plan 1: Temporary Paywall. Post stories behind a paywall first, then release it for free 2 weeks later.

Pros:

• Can get money from people who like my work and want to be the first to read the stories
• Those who can’t afford to pay for early access can still read my stories and potentially recommend my work to other people

Cons:

• Due to the bad economy, audiences are more likely to wait until they can read my work for free
• Potential for leaks/spoilers by people who paid for early access

Plan 2: Free. If the economy is projected to stay awful for a while, all stories will be free. The focus will be on building an audience.

Pros:

• Available for everyone

Cons:

• No incentive for people to pay for my work

Plan 3: Micro Only. All stories will be behind a paywall, and only micro stories will be free to read. Teasers for longer stories will exist outside of the paywall.

Pros:

• Micro stories and teasers will act as appetizers for longer stories
• More likely to attract paying customers if none of the longer stories are free

Cons:

• Micro stories are not an indicator that I am good at writing longer stories, therefore people might be hesitant about giving my longer work a chance, especially if they have to pay for it
• Teasers might not be enough to persuade potential paying audiences

Plan 4: [Novel A] Paywall. All stories are free, except for “[Novel A]” which will be behind a paywall.

Pros:

• Audiences might be willing to pay for a permanently paywalled story if they like the other free stories that I’ve written

Cons:

• There might be backlash for having a paywalled story when all other stories are free

Plan 5: Temporary Paywall + [Novel A] Paywall. A mix of Plan 1 and Plan 4. [Novel A] will be permanently locked behind a paywall. All other stories will be posted behind a paywall first, then released for free 2 weeks later.

Pros:

• Can get money from people who like my work and want to be the first to read the stories
• Those who can’t afford to pay for early access can still read my stories and potentially recommend my work to other people
• Audiences might be willing to pay for a permanently paywalled story if they like the other free stories that I’ve written

Cons:

• Due to the bad economy, audiences are more likely to wait until they can read my work for free
• Potential for leaks/spoilers by people who paid for early access

Plan 6: Just stick with comics. Ignore the “what ifs”, continue the project I paused in May, and focus on the other comic ideas that I’ve neglected since 2018.

Pros:

• I want to work on comics more than novels

Cons:

• The “what ifs” will drive me insane

I am personally leaning toward Plan 5, but I would love to know what the rest of you think.

Regardless of whatever plan I choose, I still need to figure out how to market myself and my work, how to encourage audience growth, whether I should have ebooks and physical books ready before I post my stories onto Substack, and generally finding ways to maximize my potential success. That way, if I fail, I can at least say I did everything I could. And if I can fail honourably, the peace that follows might be enough for me to return to comics.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for reading.

 

[Unimportant]

I already wrote so many stories. I might as well make use of them. If I fail to gain an audience or a proper income after posting 131 stories, then I can give myself some peace of mind and devote all my energy into comics (I won’t bother with the remaining 4 if I fail). If I succeed, then I am willing to work on novels and comics simultaneously.

Why not try selling those many stories to paying markets? There are heaps of magazines, anthologies, etc open for submissions. They have an audience already, so you don't have to try to build one; you can tap into theirs. And if editors are willing to pay for your stories, you're getting external validation that their quality is sale-able.

 

[lizmonster]

Why not try selling those many stories to paying markets?

This.

Substack and similar markets, paywalled or otherwise, don't really work for unknowns. You're much better off with a sales history. Yeah, Brandon Sanderson made millions off Kickstarter. He's also Brandon Sanderson.

Do you have any short stories you feel are in shape to sub? Novels that are polished enough to query?

Writing for money is possible, but you need to be ruthless about it.

 

[VCAckerman]

They have an audience already, so you don't have to try to build one; you can tap into theirs. And if editors are willing to pay for your stories, you're getting external validation that their quality is sale-able.

Launching off of a established platform isn't a bad idea, but how would I get audiences to follow me directly once I've used those markets? Also, I want creative control over my work. There are elements of a few of my stories that I suspect editors will want me to remove or change.

Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to going the traditional route (especially since you're not the first person to give me that advice), but I do have some concerns.

 

[Brigid Barry]

You start an audience with a web site and social media, then release stuff and build a following. If you go the trade route you have someone wjo already has an audience putting the spotlight on you. If people like you they will follow you.

Yes trade publishing will ask you to make changes for things to be more saleable, but you don't have to make changes if you don't want to.

Time is usually money, but in writing producing material isn't a sunk cost and I think you're over thinking.

Something to keep in mind is that the audience for comics, novels, flash fiction, and poetry often do not intersect. Having an audience for your flash fiction doesn't mean they're going to fall over themselves for your novels or your comics.

If you want to do comics, do comics.

 

[VCAckerman]

Do you have any short stories you feel are in shape to sub? Novels that are polished enough to query?

I have a novel that will be polished enough to query once I do one more round of edits.

Writing for money is possible, but you need to be ruthless about it.

That's just it though. I've heard about the amount of money writers take home after publishers get their cut. 10% to 15% royalties? That's brutal!

 

[lizmonster]

That's just it though. I've heard about the amount of money writers take home after publishers get their cut. 10% to 15% royalties? That's brutal!

It's a smaller percentage of a much bigger pie. And if you go with an advance-paying publisher, that's money in the bank whether your work takes off or not.

I've both trade and self-published. My self-published novel has done really well. I'll never be in the black on it, though. I made six figures off my trade books, even though they sold poorly. Trade/self are two very different business models.

What do you want to get from your writing?

 

[VCAckerman]

Something to keep in mind is that the audience for comics, novels, flash fiction, and poetry often do not intersect. Having an audience for your flash fiction doesn't mean they're going to fall over themselves for your novels or your comics.

If you want to do comics, do comics.

You know what's funny, I had briefly considered that comics and other fiction tend not to intersect, but I still kept writing all those stories anyway. I guess I had assumed I would make it work out somehow. It's my fault for not putting more thought into it.

 

[Brigid Barry]

You can still do both if that's what you're passionate about.

 

[VCAckerman]

What do you want to get from your writing?

To be completely transparent; I want to create stories I've always wanted to tell without restriction or censorship, and I also want to stop being poor. The latter is something that is not easily achievable in the art world, I am aware, but I have very little skills outside of being creative. If I want to make something of myself, this is the best way to do it.

 

[lizmonster]

I want to create stories I've always wanted to tell without restriction or censorship

Do you write the sort of stuff that tends to be censored?

and I also want to stop being poor.

You'll likely need a Plan B here, at least short term. Most writers who end up making money have a pretty long ramp-up time. Rule of thumb I've heard quoted is 10 years of steady sales.

 

[VCAckerman]

You can still do both if that's what you're passionate about.

I don't mind doing both. I like the idea of being a novelist, it's just that I wanted to get into comics more. I wish I had focused on that back in 2018.

With that being said, if I can make money off of the stories I've already written, I want to try doing that.

 

[VCAckerman]

Do you write the sort of stuff that tends to be censored?

I do. My work isn't as intense as the Splatterpunk genre, but (for example) I might not be able to get monetized if I were to put my novel up on Youtube.

You'll likely need a Plan B here, at least short term. Most writers who end up making money have a pretty long ramp-up time. Rule of thumb I've heard quoted is 10 years of steady sales.

I am looking toward finding a job right now, but ideally I'd be able to one day make all my money through creative means.

 

[lizmonster]

I do. My work isn't as intense as the Splatterpunk genre, but (for example) I might not be able to get monetized if I were to put my novel up on Youtube.

Where is stuff like yours generally consumed?

I am looking toward finding a job right now, but ideally I'd be able to one day make all my money through creative means.

This is a fine ambition, but you should be aware it's likely going to take time and consistency to get there.

 

[Brigid Barry]

This is a fine ambition, but you should be aware it's likely going to take time and consistency to get there.

And possibly stop being a fun thing that you do because you love and turn into a thing that you have to do so you don't starve.

 

[VCAckerman]

Where is stuff like yours generally consumed?

Reddit (such as r/nosleep, though my stories wouldn't be accepted there solely because I rarely write stories in first person).

 

[VCAckerman]

And possibly stop being a fun thing that you do because you love and turn into a thing that you have to do so you don't starve.

True. It's easy to say "I'll never lose my love for creating" but writing isn't tied to my ability to eat (yet).

 

[Unimportant]

Launching off of a established platform isn't a bad idea, but how would I get audiences to follow me directly once I've used those markets?

Story in magazine = brief bio = link to website/substack. If readers like your stories, they'll follow you.

Also, I want creative control over my work. There are elements of a few of my stories that I suspect editors will want me to remove or change.

Editors exist to make the work better, stronger, and more appealing to readers. The idea is that you submit to markets that publish stuff like what you write. But if you can't entertain editorial input then, yes, you're back to SP.

Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to going the traditional route

I believe you mean trade publishing?

I've heard about the amount of money writers take home after publishers get their cut. 10% to 15% royalties? That's brutal!

It's about an equal profit to what the publisher makes -- after the publisher invests thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of dollars into editing and layout and cover art and printing, so that they can sell thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of copies.

 

[lizmonster]

Reddit (such as r/nosleep, though my stories wouldn't be accepted there solely because I rarely write stories in first person).

Seems to me Step One is figuring out where people are paying for work like yours.

You say you've got some novels. What are your comps?

 

[Unimportant]

I do. My work isn't as intense as the Splatterpunk genre, but (for example) I might not be able to get monetized if I were to put my novel up on Youtube.

Erm, why not look at paying markets that lean towards (or land firmly in) the splatterpunk genre? Carnage House, Hellbound Books, etc?

 

[VCAckerman]

Story in magazine = brief bio = link to website/substack. If readers like your stories, they'll follow you.

Okay, that makes sense.

I believe you mean trade publishing?

Yes, my mistake. Sorry about that.

 

[JJ Litke]

Launching off of a established platform isn't a bad idea, but how would I get audiences to follow me directly once I've used those markets? Also, I want creative control over my work. There are elements of a few of my stories that I suspect editors will want me to remove or change.

Short story markets will typically have at least your website’s URL, maybe a short bio and social media links.

I’ve never had an editor push for big changes in a short story. They won’t offer to buy it in the first place if they don’t think it’s solid.

Honestly, your responses make me think you haven’t researched paying options. Posting on Reddit may technically count as publishing in that it’s released out so that it’s publicly available, but it’s not a paying market. Try checking out Submission Grinder. You can start by using it to find paying markets you’d like to read to get an idea of what’s out there. That’s mostly short stories, but that’s a good place to start.

 

[VCAckerman]

Seems to me Step One is figuring out where people are paying for work like yours.

You say you've got some novels. What are your comps?

The novel that's closest to completion is similar to "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, in regards to its general bleakness. "The Long Walk" by Stephen King fits as well.

 

[VCAckerman]

Erm, why not look at paying markets that lean towards (or land firmly in) the splatterpunk genre? Carnage House, Hellbound Books, etc?

I'll look into those.

 

[VCAckerman]

Honestly, your responses make me think you haven’t researched paying options.

I didn't research trade options because I wanted to self-publish my work. I had expected most of the advice to be in a similar vein. The fact that most of the advice has centered around trade publishing has caught me off guard, if I'm being honest.

Try checking out Submission Grinder. You can start by using it to find paying markets you’d like to read to get an idea of what’s out there. That’s mostly short stories, but that’s a good place to start.

Thank you for the link!