Lots of people imagine a successful author’s life is idyllic: write a book, sell millions of copies, sell the rights to Netflix, sit back and relax while the royalties roll in.

The reality couldn't be more different.

The typical author receives an advance and 10% royalties on net profit from each book. Which is great if you’re Lee Child, Stephen King, Danielle Steele or JK Rowling. But not all of us can sell as many books as those authors.

Of course it doesn’t mean we should give up on our dream of being an author. It simply means adjusting your mindset to the business of being a writer.

Which brings me perfectly to introducing author Holly Craig. Her debut, THE SHALLOWS, publishes in Spring 2023, and she’s already built a community of aspiring and published authors on her Instagram platform and through her blog. Holly recently launched The Write Club. She saw an opportunity to create workshops to give writers a creative push and share helpful tips and tricks for securing an agent. This is a great example of how you can make money as a writer, not just from the sales of your book, but from the relationships you create through your books and platforms. It’s also a lovely way to pass on your experience and nurture your community.

I’m so grateful to Holly for having this conversation with me - I’m a BIG believer that we (particularly women) should be able to talk openly about the realities of a writing career if we want to. And that includes earning money. Here’s what Holly had to say…

Tell us about The Write Club.  

The courses have different focuses. One is a Write Your Novel course where writers learn the tools and tips needed to effectively write and the other is a Write To Get Published course concentrating more on synopsis writing, covering letters and the querying process.

It’s a place where people can come to learn how to craft a story from start to finish, or find out what to do once they’re at the pitching/submissions stage of their writing. Some people have joined to get serious with their writing, to learn techniques and lift their manuscripts to the next level. And others have joined as a fun hobby.

What inspired you to start these workshops?

Since I got my agent, I’ve had many people ask whether I’d be interested in helping them get published. And then once I got my book deals, I had even more requests. I’m an English teacher and I’ve also got a degree in creative writing and journalism. I love teaching. One of my main focuses as an English teacher is working with year 12s to lift their writing skills, annotate literature and implement techniques into their writing. So, it was a no brainer to teach adult writers what I’ve learned along the way, what I believe works and what doesn’t in getting your manuscript noticed.

We don’t often talk about the realities of authors earning money. Do you think people have an inflated idea of what an author’s life looks like?

I think most people (not in the industry) assume authors receive one million dollars on their debut novel (and it absolutely can happen), but it’s also very rare. I’m shocked how many people just come straight out and ask how much I got for my book deals. I remind them — politely — that it’s the same as me asking how much they get for their wages. Lol.

In Australia especially, the publishing industry is not very lucrative at all. Authors are lucky to get $12,000 for their first novel. That’s why I decided to look to the UK. But it really just depends. I know people who have received large advances and some almost zero. And perhaps that’s why it’s such a private topic. There is no pale scale. It could seem unfair if certain authors get offered more than others. My agent has told me to keep quiet about how much I received. But should it be spoken about more in the industry? Hmmm…

 
What advice would you give other authors considering running online courses or workshops?

I think it’s such a great way to network, build relationships with like-minded people and support newbie writers or people who are in the same boat as I was six months ago!

Here are some tips off the cuff:

• Establish what you’re going to teach. Ie, will it be just writing to a prompt, or will there be lessons?

• How will your workshop differ from other courses?

• What credibility can you offer writers who want to trust that you’re the right one to teach them?

• Put your feelers out and see how many people are interested.

• Find a location to host your workshops.

• Make it affordable for most people.

• Ask for feedback to gauge how satisfied they all are.

• Ask what kind of lessons/tips they’re after.

• Plan your lessons in advance and be prepared.

What other options are there for authors to make money, besides writing and workshops?

These are some of the ways I know you can make money as an author:

• I’ve been asked to attend my old university to do a presentation to the creative writing students there. It’s a paid gig.

• Also, secondary schools have asked me to run workshops for their year 12 students looking to improve their creative writing skills. Also paid.

• Once I’m published, I will focus my workshops and presentations at libraries/book clubs and events, with some paying for you to attend.

• You can host wine and writing nights.

• Manuscript assessing and editing services is another avenue I’m currently implementing.

Can you tell us about your debut, THE SHALLOWS?

The story is essentially about looking at other people’s lives and comparing theirs with your own and the danger of getting obsessed with that.

My own confusing past relationships with women and mothers prompted me to write The Shallows. I love writing stories about relationships, particularly female friendships. I think as women, the measurement of wealth, the expectation of marriage, parental perfection, societal pressures and comparisons normally stem from our relationships with other women.

I find female relationships to be complex, confusing and extremely interesting. As women, we tend to use our friends as misleading study guides into what we all should be doing as mothers, wives, professionals etc, instead of supporting one another.

I love breaking apart the mould and writing my female characters as real humans who go against the grain. They struggle with antiquated expectations and traditions, and question why we judge one another and “play act” the part of what makes a “good/deserving/right” mother/wife/friend.

 

What are you currently writing?
I’ve just finished the rewrites of The Rip which will be published in 2024 and I’ve sent that to my agent. Now I’m working on book 3, another thriller set on an old camp on a lake in the US. The working title right now is The Residents and it’ll be a lot creepier and darker than my other two. 

Thank you so much Holly! Some great tips there.

You can find out more about The Write Club and read Holly’s blog here. You’ll also find her on Instagram.

Thanks for reading.

Sara x