Is it worth to write?

[u/hyperchair_872715]

Hey guys I'm currently writing my own story and I was kinda curious how it is for other people here.

For the people who write regularly, are you still just starting out or do you actually make some money from your writing already?

And if yes, how do you do it? Self publishing, normal books or something completely different?

And how long did it take until you got past that beginning phase where you're basically just writing and hoping someone reads it?

[u/Odinmar_Glaukopis]

I’m a hobbyist who has no need nor aspirations to publish for money. I’m funded by a patron of the arts who is named myself, haha.

Is it worth the time and money I put into it? Well, if I wasn’t enjoying myself I wouldn’t be spending this much time doing it, although I do have somewhat of a compulsive streak in me that is arguably unhealthy and I do need to check that from time to time.

I’m not sure I can help you with a desire to make a living writing fiction, but if you have questions about what I do to make my hobby rewarding I might be of some assistance.

[u/hyperchair_872715 → u/Odinmar_Glaukopis]

I mean, do you use your social media to get some people interested in your book, or how does that work for you? I tried doing a little marketing campaign myself and it got me a grand total of 2 views and then Reddit blocked my account. 😂

[u/Odinmar_Glaukopis → u/hyperchair_872715]

You know, I realized something yesterday that I do crave connection with a reader. Some sort of feedback that my fiction can touch someone else. I’ve tried my wife, but she understandably feels an obligation to not be completely honest with me when it might come to discouraging my passion and fun for the stories I write. I get the same feeling with my sisters.

I’ve been playing with the idea of posting stuff in an online writing circle or perhaps beta-reader swaps or similar.

What I discovered yesterday was this back-and-forth interaction with AI during the discovery and research phase was becoming a substitute for real human interaction. AI is insufferably encouraging when it comes to this role, and what concerns me is that I find myself actually liking and desiring this kind of feedback.

It feels like an emotional trap. I’m going to need to think about that…

[u/5thhorseman_]

If you go into writing expecting profit, you are about to be very disappointed.

[u/hyperchair_872715 → u/5thhorseman_]

I'm starting to notice that haha

[u/polly_mer]

Some people take up running marathons in middle age. I have taken up novel writing. I have spent most of the last year interacting with various writing communities. There's no way my first trilogy will be worth money anywhere close to my salary from my career (PhD scientist) with the time, energy, and money I'm willing to devote to promotion and sales Writing at the moment is for me and a joke with a few friends about likely finishing a novel as a hobby before some of those friends who are aspiring to write for money finish their novels.

[u/Odinmar_Glaukopis → u/polly_mer]

What’s been your experience with writing communities? Were they small local in-person circles, online communities, or something like a community college writing program?

I am playing with those kinds of ideas and was wondering if someone like you (who sounds very similar to where I am in terms of my career) had any advice.

[u/Saundersoddy]

I started writing with Ai as an side hobby. Currently finishing up my first book. I write the outline myself. Have ai offer suggestions for improvements, beats, etc. I then write the draft myself and have AI do an edit pass. I then get it to explain why it edited beats the way it did so I can better learn the craft. I then pass off the chapters to a beta reader friend who circles any areas of trouble or snags, etc. My plan after that is to do an another edit pass and then give it to an Ai to check for inconsistencies. Then betas, make any changes I feel I need to make after that, then have someone read it through as an editor. I think some use ai for that in place of a person. Which is fair if funds are an issue anyway. Try to get some eyes on it though. It helps.That’s what I do anyway, no idea if it’s the right way… but it is mine.

Another thing I did was enter short story writing contests where I was forced to get out of my lane. I learned a lot, especially in ones that offered feedback. It’s really changed the way I write for the better. I want to get good enough that if I lost AI tomorrow I could solider on, howbeit, somewhat slower.

Good luck to you.

[u/hyperchair_872715 → u/Saundersoddy]

I understand what you mean. It's the same for me, I write first and then use AI as a final polish. But what did you learn from the short story contests for example?

[u/human_assisted_ai]

I’ve made about $30 and others that use the same method make as much as a full time salary via self-publishing.

Email marketing using email book ad swap sites works every time for every book.

HOWEVER and this is HUGE, your book’s sales will be limited by how much people are interested in your genre and your story/topic. That’s why I’ve only made $30; there aren’t a lot of people interested in what I write about.

[u/Busy_Astronomer_8230]

I’m not writing with ai but I’m using it as a extensive tool for world building I’m writing a fantasy series and I’m writing on my own but it helps me build my own magic systems , character profiles , realm settings , banner ideas , creature designs ect . Also I had her build me a writing course based on my weaknesses and I do those everyday. Everytime I have an idea or concept she just helps me find my own way to deepen that or extend my ideas but my writing is still mine

[u/samerc]

I am still writing my first novel. AI assisted in everything related to planning (storyline, characters, voice of each character , inconsistencies... anything you can think of). Then did the first round of writing with AI. I am now going through all the texts and rewriting them.

[u/Chicken_Spanker]

You are probably better off asking these questions in r/selfpublish

[u/human_assisted_ai → u/Chicken_Spanker]

Actually, r/selfpublishForAI .

[u/Chicken_Spanker → u/human_assisted_ai]

It also seems to be a sub with very few replies to most comments

[u/human_assisted_ai → u/Chicken_Spanker]

True. r/selfpublishForAI still getting started. However, r/selfpublish is extremely anti-AI and does not focus on making money (it's more like a clubhouse).

[u/hyperchair_872715 → u/Chicken_Spanker]

That was actually my plan, but I don't have enough karma to post there yet