One of the most common questions people search on Google today is simple:
“How do authors actually make money from books?”
Before I ever published my first book, I wondered the exact same thing.
Like many people who feel the pull to write, I had ideas sitting in notebooks and scattered thoughts saved in documents on my computer. I had topics I was passionate about and things I wanted to explore deeper, but I had no clear roadmap for turning those ideas into real books.
I didn’t know what the process looked like.
I didn’t know how authors actually got their work into readers’ hands.
And I definitely didn’t understand how writing could eventually turn into something that generated income.
Fast forward a few years and things look very different.
So far I’ve written 16 books, and 13 of them are now available as audio-books, with the final three currently being completed.
What started as curiosity eventually turned into something much bigger.
But here’s the truth I wish someone had explained to me earlier:
Writing the book is only half of the journey.
People Also Ask
Before we go further, let’s answer a few questions people ask online all the time when they start thinking about becoming an author.
Do authors actually make money from books?
Yes, authors can make money from books, but it rarely comes from a single book alone. Most authors build momentum by writing multiple books, expanding into formats like audio-books, and learning how readers discover their work online.
How many books do authors usually write before making money?
There’s no exact number, but many authors begin seeing traction after building a small catalog of books. Each book increases the chances of readers discovering their work.
Is publishing a book expensive?
Not necessarily. Today there are tools and platforms that allow authors to publish books professionally without large upfront costs.
Is it hard to become an author today?
Publishing is easier than ever before. The real challenge is not publishing a book,
it’s helping readers discover it.
And that’s exactly the lesson that changed everything for me.
The Biggest Problem Most Authors Run Into
When people imagine becoming an author, they assume the hardest part will be writing the book.
They picture long nights finishing chapters, editing pages, and finally pressing that publish button.
But the biggest challenge usually shows up after the book is finished.
Getting readers to discover it.
Today millions of books exist online. Every day more are being published. That’s incredible for writers because it means publishing has become more accessible than ever before.
But it also means visibility matters more than ever.
Even great books can disappear if nobody knows they exist.
That’s something I ran into myself early on.
After publishing my first books, I realized that writing alone wasn’t enough. The internet is full of amazing ideas and stories, but readers can’t buy a book they don’t know exists.
I actually wrote about this challenge in more detail because it’s something almost every new author experiences.
👉 One of the Biggest Problems Authors Face Today
Once I realized this was the real issue authors face, everything about how I approached writing and publishing started to change.
Publishing Books Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
Another assumption I had early on was that publishing a book required spending a lot of money.
When you first start researching publishing, it can feel like there are expensive services everywhere, editing packages, formatting services, marketing bundles, and publishing fees.
It can start to look like becoming an author requires a big budget.
But the truth is that today there are tools available that make publishing far more accessible than it used to be.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars just to get your book ready.
One tool I personally use is Reedsy, which helps authors format and prepare their manuscripts for publishing.
Because many new writers ask about this step, I created a guide showing exactly how I publish books for free using Reedsy.
👉 How I Publish a Book for Free Using Reedsy (Step-by-Step Guide)
For many writers, discovering tools like this removes one of the biggest barriers that prevents people from becoming authors.
Sometimes the difference between someone finishing their book and someone giving up is simply realizing the process is more approachable than they thought.
Uploading Books to Amazon
Once your book is formatted and ready, the next step is publishing it so readers can actually find it.
One of the biggest platforms available to authors today is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
Amazon allows writers to publish ebooks and paperbacks that can reach readers around the world.
The first time I uploaded a book, I’ll be honest, it felt confusing.
There were different fields to fill out, cover uploads, formatting requirements, pricing options, and publishing settings.
When you’re doing it for the first time, it can feel overwhelming.
But once you go through the process a few times, it becomes much simpler.
Because so many writers ask about this step, I created a guide walking through the exact process I use when uploading my books to Amazon.
👉 How I Upload My Books to Amazon KDP (And How You Can Too Step by Step)
Once your book is live, something exciting happens.
Your idea officially exists in the world.
But that’s also when the real adventure begins.
Expanding Into Audio-books
One of the biggest steps in my journey was turning my books into audio-books.
Audio-books have exploded in popularity in recent years.
People enjoy listening while:
• driving
• working
• traveling
• exercising
• relaxing
Instead of needing quiet time to sit down and read, people can now experience books while doing everyday activities.
Out of the 16 books I’ve written, 13 are already available as audio-books, with the remaining three currently being produced.
That means one idea can now reach readers in multiple formats:
• ebooks
• paperbacks
• audio-books
Each format connects with a different audience.
Some readers prefer digital books.
Some enjoy holding a physical copy.
Others love listening while they move through their day.
Expanding into audio allows the same ideas to reach people in completely different ways.
The Lesson I Learned About Being an Author
If there’s one lesson that stands out from this entire experience, it’s this:
Writing books is creative.
But building an audience requires understanding how readers discover content online.
When books connect with blogs, websites, and search engines, something powerful begins to happen.
Instead of hoping someone randomly finds your book one day, readers begin discovering the topics you write about naturally.
Someone might search for a topic.
They find an article related to that topic.
That article leads them to your book.
That’s when writing becomes something bigger than simply publishing.
It becomes a platform for your ideas.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about becoming an author, the opportunity today is incredible.
Publishing tools are easier than ever.
Audio-books are growing rapidly.
Readers exist all over the internet looking for new ideas and stories.
But one thing has become more important than ever:
Visibility.
Writing the book is the beginning.
Learning how readers discover that book is what allows your ideas to reach the world.
And once those pieces come together, writing can grow into something far bigger than most people imagine.
Question For Fellow Writers
If you’re writing books right now, I’m curious:
How many books have you published so far?
Or are you still working on your very first one?
Every author starts somewhere.
And sometimes that first step leads much farther than you ever expected.
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I like how you explained that publishing today is easier but visibility is the real challenge. That’s something I’ve noticed online too. With millions of books out there, getting discovered seems like the biggest hurdle. When you published your first couple books, what was the moment you realized you needed to focus on traffic and discovery instead of just writing more?
Hey Jason, that’s actually a really good question, and it’s something most new authors don’t realize right away.
For me the moment came after I had already written a few books and put them out there. I remember sitting back thinking, “Alright… the books are live. Now what?”
And the honest answer was… nothing happened.
Not because the books were bad, but because no one knew they existed.
That’s when the light bulb really went off for me. Writing the book is only one part of the process. In today’s world, publishing is actually the easy part. Platforms like Amazon, Draft2Digital, and others make it possible for anyone to upload a book.
But discovery? That’s the real challenge.
There are millions of books online now. If you just publish and walk away, your book basically becomes a needle in a very large haystack.
The turning point for me was when I started focusing on building traffic instead of just writing more books.
That meant things like:
• building websites
• writing blogs around the topics in my books
• using search engines and Pinterest
• posting on social media
• building communities around the subject matter
Once people start discovering your ideas through those channels, the books stop being random products floating online and start becoming part of a bigger ecosystem.
That’s when things really started to change for me.
So if I could give new authors one piece of advice, it would be this:
Writing books is important… but learning how people find your books is what actually builds a long-term author career.
Great question, Jason. I’m glad you brought that one up.
Shawn
Thank you for sharing your journey. It really inspired me as I’m thinking about publishing my very first eBook on Amazon. Honestly, I’ve been feeling a bit hesitant because the idea of it not selling has been weighing on my mind. But hearing your experience gives me a glimmer of hope that this whole process is actually doable!
I’m particularly curious about using Reedsy for formatting my manuscript. Do you think it offers enough flexibility for different styles, like nonfiction versus more narrative-driven books? I’m a little nervous about this step, especially since I want it to look professional on Amazon. Do you find it requires a lot of tweaking afterward, or is it pretty straightforward? Your insights would mean a lot to me!
Hey Celia, I really appreciate you saying that, seriously. And I get that hesitation 100%. Every author goes through that phase where you’re wondering if it’s even going to sell. I had the exact same thoughts starting out. But honestly, the first book isn’t about sales, it’s about proving to yourself you can actually do this.
As for Reedsy Book Editor, yeah, I use it for all my books. Every single one of them, even my newer ones are already built through it. It’s been my go-to from day one.
It’s super flexible too. Whether you’re writing nonfiction or something more story-driven, it handles both just fine. You’ve got built-in chapter formatting, clean layouts, front and back matter, and it pretty much structures everything for you automatically.
And the best part… it’s not complicated. Once you understand how their sections work, it’s basically plug and play. I usually write in Google Docs, bring it into Reedsy, format it, export, and it’s ready for Amazon. No heavy tweaking needed after. It actually produces professional-looking files right out of the gate.
If you want, I actually broke my full process down step-by-step in this blog here:
???? How I Publish a Book for Free Using Reedsy (Step-by-Step Guide)
That’ll walk you through exactly how I do it from start to finish.
But yeah… don’t let the “what if it doesn’t sell” thought stop you. That thought never fully goes away. You just get stronger than it.
You’ve got this ????
This is a well-articulated and realistic breakdown of the modern author journey, especially your emphasis on visibility over just creation. Many aspiring writers underestimate the importance of discoverability, and you’ve explained that shift clearly with practical insight. I also appreciate how you’ve highlighted scalable formats like audiobooks, which reflect current consumption trends. Overall, this provides both encouragement and a grounded perspective for anyone serious about turning writing into a sustainable income stream.
Hey Kavitha, I really appreciate you taking the time to read through it and leave this.
That means a lot, especially the part about visibility. That was honestly one of the biggest shifts for me. Writing the book is one thing, but getting it seen is a completely different game. I had to learn that the hard way over time.
And yeah, the audiobook side has been a big eye-opener too. People are consuming content differently now, especially on the go, so it just made sense to build into that instead of fighting it.
I’m glad it came across as real and not just hype. That’s all I try to do with this stuff. Show what’s actually working, what took time, and what people can realistically build if they stick with it.
Really appreciate you sharing this, seriously
Shawn
The journey from a single idea to a 16-book catalog is a masterclass in the kind of “grit and grind” I saw modeled throughout my life in a veteran’s household. I’ve realized that the true “mission-success” in authorship isn’t just about the writing; it’s about treating your intellectual property like a strategic asset that requires constant maintenance and diversification. Your transparency about the financial shift from “hobbyist” to “business owner” is so empowering, especially the reminder that every book you publish acts as a new soldier in your specialized unit, working to build a sustainable legacy over time.
Leah, I really appreciate this… seriously.
That “mission-success” mindset you’re talking about is exactly how it starts to shift. At first it feels like you’re just writing something and putting it out there… but over time you realize each book is actually a long-term asset. Something that keeps working long after the day you hit publish.
I like how you said “maintenance and diversification” too, because that’s the part a lot of people miss. Writing the book is just step one. Learning how to position it, connect it, and build around it… that’s where things start to compound.
And yeah… that transition from hobbyist to business owner isn’t loud. It’s quiet. It happens somewhere in between showing up on the hard days and realizing you’re building something bigger than a single book.
Appreciate you taking the time to write this. That kind of perspective tells me you’re already seeing the bigger picture.