emirates7 - There’s a certain allure to the idea of earning a living as a novelist — envisioning yourself crafting captivating stories from a sunny beach or a cozy café, and scoring a lucrative publishing deal. But how realistic is that dream today? In a world dominated by social media and content creators, can writing novels still be a profitable pursuit?
Dubai-based author Alex Shaw shared that his motivation was never financial when he began. “I just wanted to see if I could actually finish a novel,” he said. It took him years to complete that first book, but he eventually built the successful Aidan Snow thriller series.
Karen Osman, also a novelist and writing coach, had a similar experience. She began writing her first novel in 2016, secured a literary agent, and landed a three-book deal. “At the time, I wasn’t worried about making money from fiction. I was just thrilled to be published,” she said. Osman already had an income from her content writing business, which she started in 2011. Today, her earnings come from a combination of book royalties, freelance content work, speaking gigs, online courses, and private coaching for aspiring writers.
It’s a Long-Term Game
The first and most essential piece of advice: write because you love it, not because you expect immediate income. Shaw emphasizes focusing on quality before seeking publication. “Make your writing the best it can be before trying to sell it. And write in a genre you genuinely enjoy — that passion shows.”
Osman also advises taking a long-term view. “Making a living as a writer is a marathon, not a sprint. Most authors do it out of passion and often have other jobs to support themselves. The key is consistency, diversifying income streams, and ongoing learning.”
The reality is, novel writing is deeply competitive. With around four million books published annually — over half of them self-published — getting noticed is no easy feat. Even landing a publishing deal doesn’t mean instant wealth.
“I wish I could say that getting your first deal means you can quit your job and write full-time from a beachfront cabin, but that’s just not the case,” said Dubai-based author Helga Jensen-Forde. “You need to build a body of work, and even then, success isn’t guaranteed. It’s hard work, like any career.”
Osman added, “Publication is just the beginning. Writers still have to promote their own books, grow a readership from scratch, and juggle writing with other responsibilities.”
Self-Publishing: An Alternative Path
Self-publishing has surged in popularity, with around 2.5 million books independently released each year. It requires upfront investment but allows authors to retain a larger share of royalties.
“I’ve always preferred having a publisher behind me, but I hear more and more stories about successful self-published authors,” said Jensen-Forde. “They can potentially earn more because they don’t have to split royalties — but they must have a strong marketing strategy.”
Shaw initially self-published before securing a traditional deal. “It worked for me as a stepping stone, but self-publishing is a perfectly valid path, especially for authors who want to stay independent,” he said. He also noted that self-publishing taught him valuable skills like marketing, design, formatting, and editing — knowledge he might not have gained otherwise.
For those considering self-publishing, The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) offers a wide range of helpful resources. If you prefer traditional publishing, research publishers that handle your genre and check their submission guidelines. Alternatively, you can find literary agents who specialize in your category.
Building Your Brand
Writing the book is only half the battle — marketing yourself as an author is just as important. This is where social media plays a major role.
“Building a personal brand matters,” said Shaw. “Today’s readers want to connect with the person behind the book, and social platforms make that possible. Some authors are direct with ‘buy my book’ posts — I try to use humor instead. Some people probably think I’m a bit eccentric.”
Osman recommends starting a blog and growing an email list. “Publishers take your online presence into account. Platforms like BookTok on TikTok have become major drivers of book sales.”
Debunking the Myths
There are plenty of misconceptions around writing. People often assume it’s easy or that getting published equals instant wealth. The truth is, unless your book is picked up by a major film studio or streaming service, success takes time.
“One big myth is that we’re all millionaires living in castles. Most of us aren’t — we have regular lives with regular problems,” said Shaw.
“Writing can be a hobby, a job, or a calling. For me, the beauty of being an author is that people actually pay to read or listen to my daydreams shaped into an 80,000-word book,” he added.
Osman echoed this sentiment. “There’s no such thing as an overnight success. You have to keep writing — even if your first book flops. The writers who succeed are the ones who treat it like a career, not just a one-time dream.”
Dubai-based author Alex Shaw shared that his motivation was never financial when he began. “I just wanted to see if I could actually finish a novel,” he said. It took him years to complete that first book, but he eventually built the successful Aidan Snow thriller series.
Karen Osman, also a novelist and writing coach, had a similar experience. She began writing her first novel in 2016, secured a literary agent, and landed a three-book deal. “At the time, I wasn’t worried about making money from fiction. I was just thrilled to be published,” she said. Osman already had an income from her content writing business, which she started in 2011. Today, her earnings come from a combination of book royalties, freelance content work, speaking gigs, online courses, and private coaching for aspiring writers.
It’s a Long-Term Game
The first and most essential piece of advice: write because you love it, not because you expect immediate income. Shaw emphasizes focusing on quality before seeking publication. “Make your writing the best it can be before trying to sell it. And write in a genre you genuinely enjoy — that passion shows.”
Osman also advises taking a long-term view. “Making a living as a writer is a marathon, not a sprint. Most authors do it out of passion and often have other jobs to support themselves. The key is consistency, diversifying income streams, and ongoing learning.”
The reality is, novel writing is deeply competitive. With around four million books published annually — over half of them self-published — getting noticed is no easy feat. Even landing a publishing deal doesn’t mean instant wealth.
“I wish I could say that getting your first deal means you can quit your job and write full-time from a beachfront cabin, but that’s just not the case,” said Dubai-based author Helga Jensen-Forde. “You need to build a body of work, and even then, success isn’t guaranteed. It’s hard work, like any career.”
Osman added, “Publication is just the beginning. Writers still have to promote their own books, grow a readership from scratch, and juggle writing with other responsibilities.”
Self-Publishing: An Alternative Path
Self-publishing has surged in popularity, with around 2.5 million books independently released each year. It requires upfront investment but allows authors to retain a larger share of royalties.
“I’ve always preferred having a publisher behind me, but I hear more and more stories about successful self-published authors,” said Jensen-Forde. “They can potentially earn more because they don’t have to split royalties — but they must have a strong marketing strategy.”
Shaw initially self-published before securing a traditional deal. “It worked for me as a stepping stone, but self-publishing is a perfectly valid path, especially for authors who want to stay independent,” he said. He also noted that self-publishing taught him valuable skills like marketing, design, formatting, and editing — knowledge he might not have gained otherwise.
For those considering self-publishing, The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) offers a wide range of helpful resources. If you prefer traditional publishing, research publishers that handle your genre and check their submission guidelines. Alternatively, you can find literary agents who specialize in your category.
Building Your Brand
Writing the book is only half the battle — marketing yourself as an author is just as important. This is where social media plays a major role.
“Building a personal brand matters,” said Shaw. “Today’s readers want to connect with the person behind the book, and social platforms make that possible. Some authors are direct with ‘buy my book’ posts — I try to use humor instead. Some people probably think I’m a bit eccentric.”
Osman recommends starting a blog and growing an email list. “Publishers take your online presence into account. Platforms like BookTok on TikTok have become major drivers of book sales.”
Debunking the Myths
There are plenty of misconceptions around writing. People often assume it’s easy or that getting published equals instant wealth. The truth is, unless your book is picked up by a major film studio or streaming service, success takes time.
“One big myth is that we’re all millionaires living in castles. Most of us aren’t — we have regular lives with regular problems,” said Shaw.
“Writing can be a hobby, a job, or a calling. For me, the beauty of being an author is that people actually pay to read or listen to my daydreams shaped into an 80,000-word book,” he added.
Osman echoed this sentiment. “There’s no such thing as an overnight success. You have to keep writing — even if your first book flops. The writers who succeed are the ones who treat it like a career, not just a one-time dream.”