What it takes to become a novelist

Becoming a novelist means writing a complete manuscript, revising it until it works, and then getting it into readers' hands through either a traditional publisher or self-publishing. There is no single path — some novelists start with a journalism degree, others with no formal training. What they all share is a finished book, persistence through rejection, and a willingness to learn the craft by doing it.

The job itself is not a salary position for most people. Novelists earn money through book sales, advances from publishers, speaking fees, or teaching. Many write novels while working another job. The time from finishing your first draft to holding a published book typically takes one to three years if you go the traditional publishing route, or a few months if you self-publish.

Key Takeaways

  • Writing a novel requires finishing a complete manuscript of 50,000 to 120,000 words, depending on your genre, before you pursue publication.
  • Traditional publishing involves finding a literary agent, who pitches your manuscript to publishers and negotiates your contract in exchange for a percentage of your earnings.
  • Self-publishing lets you publish directly through platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, but you handle editing, cover design, and marketing costs yourself.
  • Most novelists spend years writing and revising before their first book sells, and income from writing is unpredictable and often modest in the early years.
  • Building an audience through a website, social media, or newsletter before you publish can help your book reach readers once it is released.

Writing and finishing your first manuscript

The first step is completing a full draft. Most novels fall between 50,000 and 120,000 words depending on genre — science fiction and fantasy tend toward the longer end, literary fiction and mysteries toward the shorter. You can write in any order: some novelists start at the beginning and write straight through, others write scenes out of sequence and assemble them later.

Writing groups, workshops, and writing classes can give you feedback as you work. Organizations like the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and Mystery Writers of America (MWA) offer resources and community specific to genre. Online communities like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge writers to draft 50,000 words in November and connect you with other writers doing the same.

Once you have a draft, revision is where most of the real work happens. You will likely rewrite sections, cut scenes that do not serve the story, and strengthen dialogue and description. Many novelists revise their manuscript five to ten times before it is ready to show anyone. Beta readers — people who read your manuscript and give honest feedback — can tell you what is working and what is not before you move toward publication.

The traditional publishing route: agents and publishers

Traditional publishers handle editing, cover design, printing, and distribution. In exchange, they take a percentage of your sales. To reach a traditional publisher, you almost always need a literary agent first. Agents represent your work to publishers, negotiate your contract, and take 15 percent of your earnings.

Finding an agent means writing a query letter — a one-page pitch that describes your novel, your target audience, and why you wrote it. You send this letter to agents who represent your genre. Agents receive hundreds of queries each week, so rejection is the norm. Most novelists query 20 to 50 agents before finding one who wants to represent them. This process can take months or years.

Once an agent agrees to represent you, they pitch your manuscript to publishers. Publishers decide whether to make an offer based on the manuscript, the market for your genre, and their current list. If a publisher offers a contract, you receive an advance — money paid upfront against future sales — and a royalty rate (usually 10 to 15 percent of the book's sale price for print books). The publisher then handles editing, design, and distribution. Your book typically reaches stores 12 to 18 months after the contract is signed.

Resources for finding agents include Writer's Market (an annual directory of agents and publishers), Publishers Marketplace (a subscription database), and agent websites. Many agents list their submission guidelines on their agency's site or on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

Self-publishing: doing it yourself

Self-publishing means you own the process and the profits, but you also pay for everything upfront. You hire your own editor, cover designer, and formatter. You handle marketing and distribution. Costs typically range from $500 to $3,000 per book depending on how much you outsource.

The most common self-publishing platforms are Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Amazon KDP lets you upload your manuscript and cover, set your price, and sell through Amazon's store and print-on-demand service. IngramSpark does the same but also distributes to bookstores and libraries. Draft2Digital formats your book for multiple e-reader platforms. Most self-published authors use more than one platform to reach different audiences.

Self-publishing is faster — your book can be live within weeks — but you are responsible for every step. You must hire a professional editor (self-editing alone usually misses problems). You need a cover that competes with traditionally published books on the same shelf. You handle all marketing, which means building an audience before launch and promoting actively after. Many self-published authors see modest sales in the first year and build an audience over time as they publish more books.

Editing, cover design, and production

Professional editing is essential whether you go traditional or self-published. Developmental editing looks at plot, character, and pacing — the big-picture problems. Line editing examines sentence-level clarity and flow. Copyediting catches grammar, spelling, and consistency errors. Most novelists work with a developmental editor first, revise based on that feedback, then move to a copyeditor.

If you self-publish, you hire and pay editors directly. Rates vary widely — developmental editors typically charge $40 to $100 per hour or a flat fee per manuscript. If you go traditional, the publisher provides editors at no cost to you. You will have input on their suggestions, but the publisher makes final decisions.

Cover design matters enormously. Readers judge books by their covers, and a weak cover signals an unprofessional book. If you self-publish, hire a cover designer who has designed books in your genre — they understand what readers expect to see. A custom cover costs $300 to $1,500. If you go traditional, the publisher designs your cover, though you may have input.

Formatting — the layout and typography of your book's interior — is another production step. For self-published books, you can use templates in tools like Vellum or Atticus, or hire a formatter. Traditional publishers handle formatting in-house.

Building an audience before and after publication

Many successful novelists build an audience before their first book launches. This can mean starting a blog about your writing process, sharing writing tips on social media, or building an email newsletter. Readers who follow you before publication are more likely to buy your book on launch day, which helps your sales rank and visibility.

You do not need a huge following to succeed. Some novelists start with a few hundred email subscribers or social media followers and grow from there. The key is consistency — posting regularly and engaging with readers who comment or respond.

After publication, marketing becomes your job whether you self-publish or go traditional. Publishers typically do limited marketing for debut authors. You will likely handle your own social media, book signings, podcast interviews, and reader events. Many novelists find that their second and third books sell better than their first because they have built an audience and learned what works.

Income and the reality of being a novelist

Most novelists do not earn a full-time income from writing alone, especially early in their career. A traditionally published novel might earn $5,000 to $50,000 in advance, depending on the publisher and your genre. After that, you earn royalties on each sale — typically 10 to 15 percent of the book's price. A book that sells 5,000 copies at $16 with a 10 percent royalty rate earns $8,000 total.

Self-published authors keep a higher percentage of each sale but must cover all production costs upfront. A self-published book priced at $14.99 might net $4 to $7 per sale after platform fees and printing costs. You need to sell hundreds of copies to recoup your investment.

Many novelists supplement writing income through teaching (workshops, university courses), speaking at conferences, freelance writing, or other work. Some write in multiple genres or publish frequently to build income over time. Others treat novel-writing as a long-term investment — their first book may not earn much, but their third or fifth book reaches a larger audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a degree in creative writing to become a novelist?

No. Many successful novelists have degrees in other fields or no degree at all. A creative writing degree can provide structure, feedback, and community, but it is not required. What matters is writing regularly, reading widely in your genre, and revising your work seriously.

How long does it take to write a novel?

Most novelists spend six months to two years writing a first draft, then another six months to two years revising. Some write faster, others slower. The time depends on your writing pace, how much you revise as you go, and how much time you can dedicate to writing alongside other work.

What should I do if agents keep rejecting my manuscript?

Rejection is normal and does not mean your manuscript is not publishable. Consider hiring a professional editor to review it, joining a critique group for feedback, or revising based on agent comments. Some novelists query 50+ agents before finding representation. Others decide self-publishing is the right path and move forward that way.

Can I make money self-publishing?

Yes, but it requires treating it like a business. You need a professional product (edited, designed, formatted), an audience to market to, and realistic expectations about sales. Many self-published authors earn modest income from their first book and grow earnings as they publish more titles and build a reader base.

Should I start writing my second novel before my first is published?

Many novelists do. Writing your second book while querying or waiting for your first to publish keeps you productive and gives you something to show agents if your first book does not sell. Publishers also like authors who have multiple manuscripts ready, especially in genre fiction.