How Much Money I Made as a Fantasy Author in 2022

[@Jed_Herne]

Write, finish, and publish an incredible novel that readers will love with my advanced Story Coaching program. Inside the program, I’ll personally work with you 1-on-1 to help you master the craft of storytelling and finish your first novel. Apply here: jedherne.com/coaching/

[@t0dd000]

Extra tidbit: no matter how much or how little you make, don't neglect saving for retirement. And don't touch that money until retirement. You will be there in a blink of an eye.

[@insertwittynamehere8947]

Good advice indeed!

[@nathankiefer9323]

Invest instead of just save, make your money work for you

[@PaulMartinNF]

Have you seen the state of the world? That advice doesn’t hold up if you’re under 35.

[@t0dd000]

@@PaulMartinNF BS. It always holds true.

[@PaulMartinNF]

@@t0dd000 always has, but most western nations currency only has 15-20 years of existence left.

[@thepocketboy]

I'm a flight attendant which is seriously perfect for writing. I just broke 75k words for my first novel and I'm working on the ending now. I've had a blast doing it. Great job on your journey!

[@Jed_Herne]

Nice stuff! I'm curious - how is being a flight attendant useful for the writing?

[@thepocketboy]

@@Jed_Herne it's an easy job. Not mentally taxing. I have tons of down time in hotels. Often have to sit at the airport doing nothing else. My schedule itself is super flexible. I can work 24 days a month or 3 days a month. And they pay fairly decently. Tons of available time to type on my story.

[@4xdblack]

​@@thepocketboywhy do I suddenly want to become a flight attendant? 😮

[@germanshepherdmom1143]

I applied for a flight attendant position recently but was rejected.

[@thepocketboy]

@@germanshepherdmom1143 it's one of those jobs that you have to keep applying for. Most people have to apply several times. It's a long process and there's a crazy ton of applicants every year. So don't give up if it's what you really want to do :)

[@brutesRmine]

Thank you for your honesty and transparency, Jed. As an aspiring author myself who's currently editing my debut novel, your insight has helped ease the anxiety of wandering into the wide, open sea of publishing financials and numbers. Thank you!

[@Jed_Herne]

You're welcome!

[@billyalarie929]

Honestly, I love these videos.

[@Darien_England]

I know a lot of people who hate their jobs. They dream about making it big as a screenwriter, a novelist, a game designer but then they end up hating those jobs because they say they don't have enough money to handle them. After starting the work on writing the first draft of a book and an accompanying Comic book, these kinds of things are nice to help set my mind at ease and prep. I only just found your channel, so I'll probably begin watching you in between random bursts of philosophical essays of Jacob Geller.

[@Evanski01]

I really love your honesty and transparency in this one!

[@Jed_Herne]

Cheers!

[@richtercarlsen6289]

Your content punches above a lot of “big” channels, it’s great seeing it take off. Refreshing seeing disclosure from an up and coming writer. Thanks for sharing with us, friend. Best wishes and take care!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@NarcissisticMedia]

Came across this video and couldn’t resist dropping a comment. I’m usually into fiction with a side of Cyberpunk, not so much sci-fi or fantasy. It’s cool seeing someone young share their writing earnings with such a chill vibe, saying out loud things I’ve thought over the years. I’ve noticed this community, even just from a glance into comics and anime, is pretty supportive. Definitely gets me more interested in these genres. Excited to see where your journey goes, and I’ll be keeping an eye out!

[@Goddammitdount]

I enjoy you're writing advice/guidance videos, but it's your life advice (writer specific) that really hits home.

[@jordendarrett1725]

This is golden advice Jed. I can’t identify strongly with making comparisons that elevate you and don’t drag you down. A lesson I’ve learned many times

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Jorden!

[@Joylevinstein]

Congrats on your positive outlook on things. It looks like you' re honest with yourself first which is always a recipe for success. Good luck!

[@derekb.4292]

This was really informative, thanks for sharing all of this information and "keeping it real" in terms of what the income streams were, where they came from, and what you do on top of writing to make a liveable income!

[@ABC12380564]

Well done on the transparency, Jed. It's an excellent way for writers at the beginning of their career to gauge how things are likely to go, so they can adjust their expectations accordingly. Hopefully the bottom line continues to grow!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Robert!

[@virgoh1124]

Only discovered your channel a few minutes ago, your content seems very valuable. Clearly this video eased a bit my fear of trying to become a writer

[@bksmith82]

I really appreciate the transparency. This is the 2nd or 3rd video of yours I've watched. I'm definitely subscribing and checking out the rest of your videos. I like your authenticity and the vibe you bring. Congrats on having a profitable year! Consistency & Momentum are so important to success.

[@Jed_Herne]

Welcome aboard!

[@amnaahmed1748]

Honestly this is one of the best writing videos I've come across online. Thanks for the advice!

[@begobolehsjwjangan2359]

This. Go back to my parents basement, write, uber when i need money, back to writing. The best life i could get. No pressure.

[@germanshepherdmom1143]

That’s the kind of life I want too.

[@nahuakang]

Thank you for your video, Jed! Especially loved the last bits where our main mission in writing is to tell great stories, not just the money itself 💙

[@taylorvessel7813]

Thanks for being so upfront but with a positive, realistic perspective! I feel like my full time marketing/communications job combined with some other hobbies keep me from writing. Listening to you has given me some motivation to reevaluate how I use my time. Question for you and others: What tips do you have for find writing pals/critique and accountability partners?

[@Jed_Herne]

Critique Circle was quite useful for getting feedback on my stories when I was starting out. I also offer detailed feedback and story critiques in my Story Coaching program: jedherne.com/coaching

[@bdup159]

" don't equate money with your self worth"

[@bazhumke4040]

Seen a few of your videos but this made me sub. Love the transparency and the lessons at the end were great. Saw a similar video by Sanderson the other day from a few years ago talking about doing hard things (writing novels) for the sake of doing hard things, not to become famous. You'll be making a lot more very soon I feel!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Baz! I appreciate the support :)

[@simondebrun]

Great positive approach. Loved the concept of framing comparisons as opportunities to learn and level up

[@karimsoliman1611]

Glad to see how far you have come, Jed! Congrats! And here is to another amazing year :)

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Karim!

[@lukerobson4962]

I downloaded the 5 Lessons that Transformed my Writing. Thank you for the free advice. It was short and sweet but helpful.

[@ruwan591]

So humble and open! Subscribed!

[@pawpawpawt]

Can you do a series on how you research unfamiliar topics and build profiles of archetypes of characters different from yourself? Are you limited in your resources to tackle above by being an indie author?

[@inkbythebarrelandpaperbyth6905]

This morning I just finished another one of my short stories and I was like thank God it's done. When you said we're not doing this to get rich I was like aha know we're not ! Love it 😂

[@fh7041]

I have found ur channel recently and been loving it!

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@fh7041]

@@Jed_Herne Do you think you can make videos on: Writing better sentences. or chatpet by chapter outlines. Also how to get over that feelings of cringing at your own work because you feel like "Ah no one would find this diaolgue intersting, this is cringy" when in fact its not LOL and your mind is just trying to sike you out. PS do you do witing coaching?

[@Jed_Herne]

@@fh7041 I talked about writing better sentences in this free book: jedherne.com/lessons Not currently offering coaching - but I am planning to launch a course about Outlining Novels later this year. There will be an optional coaching component to that course, most likely.

[@albertolopes829]

Jed, your videos are excellent. Extra points for how clear you speak, for people like me who don't have English as their first language, it gets difficult if the person speaks too fast, but you speak fast and I can understand you 😀!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Alberto! Glad they're helpful

[@EmmaMarch]

This is the video that made me subscribe ❤ i love your transparency ❤

[@luisdall5575]

Great advice as always Jed! Super stoked for your success and future successes!

[@Jed_Herne]

Cheers Luis :)

[@ctaylorcaldwell]

I had no idea about any of this it's quite the eye opener. Thanks for such an informative video it's really interesting even for a none writer like me.

[@Hadris557]

I discovered your channel recently but I love your attitude and advice and very much look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@Jed_Herne]

Welcome aboard!

[@romeoaranjon5178]

Great video and great advice all around. Just signed up for your book. Keep it up.

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks!

[@Kiwi_Dad]

You are very intelligent and have a great head on your shoulders for such a young man. Well done.

[@BenStimpsonAuthor]

"Frame comparisons in a way thats positive" I cannot agree with this more. In my niche, I have friends who have sold a couple of hundred thousand copies and they are inspirations... they have a knack with marketing and a voice in their writing I don't have. Thats OKAY because just knowing them I've seen huge shifts in understanding in myself and have taken on some of their work ethic and drive. That's the fun part of making author friends and something so many of us stress to new writers: network, network, network.

[@nani543]

Such great information, thank you so much!!!

[@iindium49]

Very insightful, thank you.

[@sanderella1642]

$9,457.73 at 8:04 he disclosed amount.

[@datbul]

THANK YOU! (WHAT THE FUCK ARE THE REST OF YOU DOING IN THE COMMENTS!!??)

[@NAZGVL_147]

Brand spanking new writer here and I loved this video! I’m less anxious to begin ⚔️

[@Jed_Herne]

Good luck!

[@ianminto6315]

Really appreciate your honesty and transparency. Subbed and enjoying your channel. Thank you!

[@Jed_Herne]

Welcome!

[@centurionstrengthandfitnes3694]

Really appreciated this vid. Thanks for your openness. Very helpful.

[@Jed_Herne]

You're welcome!

[@trevorreads]

This is awesome. I'll be self publishing my first book this year. Thank you, Jed!

[@theimaginarium]

Fantastic info, thanks so much JH

[@adrianelegislador5644]

Gosh, you're the author of Treboulain??

[@Jed_Herne]

Yep :)

[@AFellowArtist-vq1oq]

@@Jed_Herne

[@englishhomestead]

Great video Jed. And thanks for the honesty with it.

[@kimberlyshaw88]

Thank you for sharing this! Must not be easy, but you're right; talking money shouldn't be awkward or some sort of taboo

[@Jed_Herne]

You're welcome!

[@КонАзимов]

You’re doing great! Let’s goooo

[@themusespeakstome4467]

Thanks for an informative and encouraging video. 🙂

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Loud_Thinker]

Good, honest video. Thank you!

[@homeisadream]

Great stuff! Thank you! 😊

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you liked it!

[@themightypen1530]

Thank you for sharing this. A lot of people thing it's gauche to talk about money but how are people supposed to learn about it if no one is ever willing to teach?

[@SzaboB33]

I work in tech (not as a programmer, but I have a good general knowledge of it) and I just started writing and I can't unsee the similarities of programming and writing. I am talking about how the outlining process makes a huge difference how easy it is to write a scene for me vs the same designing step in coding before jumping into it. I want to not do both the desigining part and the outline part and I always regret it because I get distracted :D

[@kavilwagh]

Brooo... you left architecture 😅 i have done the samee (left architecture) and i am selected for ma in creative writing in Greenwich. I only have experience in content writing and and am exploring copywriting so i hope i will get a job in UK and also could write fiction until i can quit my day job...great bumping into you tho

[@anthempt3edits]

Very cool to see the variety of projects you work on in a giver year. Do you think you will continue to do big projects like Siege of Treboulain and Kingdom of Dragons in 2023 or prefer to scale down for a bit?

[@Jed_Herne]

After Kingdom of Dragons, the current plan is to write a further 2 books in this series. Ideally I'd like them to be a tighter 120,000 words each rather than 160,000, but we'll see where it goes :)

[@Farms-R-cool]

Damn I thought he had like 10000 subs I didn’t realize

[@PhotoBombomb]

Wow Jed, this a very good and insightful video, probably my favourite of your none WWW videos so far! Completely 100% agree on the stigma around talking about money being pointless. And well done on everything you’ve made thus far. I can see it doubling in 2023 for you for sure :) Hope you had a great festive period and good luck with your projects this year!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Adam! Fingers crossed on the growth - hopefully we get even more than double

[@essaysbyken]

Fantastic input! I especially liked your advice about finding a day job that compliments your writing. I've found that to be a game-changer. I've been a professional writer since 2012. While that sounds like I should be going on book tours, what that actually looks like was my first job as a writer-creating website copy and blog articles for a marketing agency for $8/hour. My nickname with the web developers was "Word B*tch," as in "Hey, Word B*tch-write me some words...Word B*tch." Broke as hell-driving a hand-me-down beater car, living on vending machine food. But that didn't matter because when people asked what I did for a living, I could fog-shine my fingernails on my collarbone and say..."Oh, me? I'm a WRITER." 😆 Over the years as I've gained experience, received promotions, migrated upward to better and better positions, and even taken supervisors' jobs (not as bloody as it sounds), I've found my groove as a content marketing dude by day, typewriter destroyer by coffee break, evening, night, and weekend. Having a job that pays me to become a better writer is, as I said, a game-changer. I'm being paid to hone my craft-even if it is writing buying guides, video scripts, marketing copy, and industry news. All writing helps all writing. Keep it up!

[@DavidList]

Thanks for sharing this info. Awesome to hear "get a job that accommodates your writing" because THAT step, I've completed. I also prioritize downsizing my (and household's) expenses and 'needs'. Luckily we're all low maintenance. Now I just need to make money off writing, which will surely require publishing this book.

[@Jed_Herne]

Awesome work David - you've got the foundations right

[@Theiliteritesbian]

Writers are in it for the fame - theres a reason the unpopular ones are bitter - it isn't because they couldn't 'find a story'

[@SouidiZiyad]

i have a big novel with more then 140000 word and i need some literary agent ( i have all the things..the maps..the design's of keeps.. City's.. dress's..and 27 keep design) and i have sepend 5 years to complete it

[@SouidiZiyad]

and that's the first part.. my novel will take 4 part's also

[@AndrewThoesen]

I would be super curious to see an update in 2024

[@imgrimbur]

I wanted to be a writer but, in my small country, you just cant make living out of it. So i figured out im going to start youtube with reviews of books and tv shows. And as sidecontent doo short stories reading. That way i may publish something later on as anthology. Im just starting out and figuring out how to make videos. Dou you make a script of what you say on video and learn it by heart? Or do you have some kind of trick to read text as if you dont? I wish you luck dude. My journey just started. But im looking up to you as an example.

[@Jed_Herne]

I write out a script beforehand, try to memorise it best as I can, then read ~50-100 words at a time from memory, checking back in with my script as required. Pretty much whenever you see a cut = me checking back with the script :D. For some videos, I'll have just a few dot points and talk off the cuff - depends how important it is to nail specifics.

[@imgrimbur]

@@Jed_Herne Thank you, it frustrates me when i have perfect reading on 3 pages and on 4 i mess up, i guess im going to make more smaller clips.

[@Mauricio-or1rd]

@@imgrimbur just use some teleprompter app on your smartphone and put it below the camera, so you can read and look to the camera, it's pretty helpful.

[@vijaymundane3776]

Fame as a writer is game of destiny.

[@theresakidd]

Thank you for talking about the money side and average percentages of each format. Do you know anything about Amazon and Audible narrating books with Virtual Voice? Do the publishers or authors get a choice on this? Or is it something Amazon is just doing? Are the royalty percentages different than normal audiobooks?

[@casper_z1259]

I'm writing my own fantasy novel and I am absolutely doing it 55% for the $$$😅

[@DaltonKevinM]

07:24 KZbin ads are annoying because there is no expectation. It's like a Russian roulette of wasting my time. I don't have an issue with watching an ad to pay for the content I watch, but the way youtube handles it just makes every ad break feel like an intrusion. Some ads are for youtube and not the video you're watching. Until youtube can build in some reasonable expectations regarding ads you cannot convince me that they are not evil (youtube and ad agencies).

[@2Infinit2]

How and where did you self publish your physical books? Are they print on demand?

[@Jed_Herne]

Google: IngramSpark Amazon Print on Demand Those are the two I used, and they'll give you everything you need to know

[@2Infinit2]

@@Jed_Herne cheers :)

[@TuftyMcTavish]

💵 I hadn’t realised the %-age breakdown for different formats. I’m a mass-maker paperback boy so I have the frustration of missing out on the hypewagon for a new book by waiting a year for the right format for me. I wonder if increased paperback sales makes up for the lower percentage cut.

[@mattamant915]

0:41 almost looks like The Continental from John Wick

[@Jed_Herne]

Yeah, the assassins have been after me for a while

[@Salvo-3172]

I think that's the actual filming location

[@SimplesSouvenirs]

my dream is to be an author and im curently writting a fantasy serie... im also a architecture student ahaha When you said that leaving that industry helped you, i was like: oh well... hahah

[@voom4430]

Hello, I have about 5 novels, but how do I sell online or sell off the novels. Please reply me. Thanks

[@jeffchandler8834]

This was a super cool and informative video. Jed, are you willing/able to disclose that the process was like to apply to write for Siege of Treboulain? Like, did you have to supply the game devs with writing examples or something? Just curious what that process would look like for anybody else intrigued to maybe go that route someday. Thanks!

[@Jed_Herne]

Certainly willing and able - maybe I'll make a video / write a blog post about it some time. Just comes down to finding enough space in the schedule to write about the experience at this point. For now, this guide is fairly comprehensive (and it's direct from Choice of Games): www.choiceofgames.com/looking-for-writers/

[@vladtheimpala1]

I think you probably meant "complements" your writing, not "compliments" - sorry, as a fellow novelist and editor, I couldn't resist.

[@patbenz4327]

So how do you pay your bills while writing the book?

[@richardn3387]

In a previous career as a game designer and participating in an online forum, the question "how much money can I make?" always came up. Our collective reply was quite often "zero". The motivation has to be designing, or writing, or painting, or performing, etc.; not making a lot of money

[@Israfil_channel]

Thank you for telling us about your experience. I write very good stories, but I can't market at all. What do you think is the best option for me? Selling on sites like Medium? Or cooperation with a publisher? ‏‪

[@Adeola90316]

Nice ❤

[@camronwilliams]

Thanks a lot

[@getkraken8064]

How easy is it for someone who buys an Ebook to share it with another person? I am wondering if offering a BOGO Ebook promotion would be feasible. It would not be feasible is someone can buy an Ebook download and pass it around to friends. If not, then a free ebook with every one bought, so they could share it with someone else for free, might work.

[@xylonpesquera8605]

Even if all you make is a few hundred per year, that makes a nice Christmas bonus.

[@missdragon5892]

Liked the video

[@sillyblackfox]

Actually, I'm writing with the intention of becoming rich. Great video though, thanks!

[@WritingFighter]

You're easily in the top 5% if not 1% of worldwide authors if those are your numbers. An overwhelming vast majority of traditionally published authors will never see any novel earn back their advance even after 20 titles. Only 1-2% of trad pub authors even earn something equal to minimum wage or more. For self-pub the numbers are even worse. Wondering if you considered trying to submit anything to lit agents at this point and bringing your numbers to the table. Unless it's hybrid, you shouldn't be paying anything out and any halfway decent publisher should get your novel into bookshelves across the English-speaking world.

[@CBREEGO]

The BEST Stories Are Video Games Stories! Bar None.

[@blueducks0]

Omg I love your nose 🥰

[@billyalarie929]

I thought the cover of this video was about you having a full breakdown realizing how tragically little an author makes

[@Jed_Herne]

Ha!

[@scroletyper8286]

Guy ur getting ripped off

[@evilgenius97]

"How to make money" a book by someone making money off a book. I found that funny

[@ryanD4848]

W

[@theboringmiddle]

Um, no. the thumbnail says the author is "Ed Herne". I'm not sure who the "Jed guy is but he's a thief

[@mesaana1112]

But now you make $3500 per person for your "classes" ha you found a sceme.

[@arthurthegreatandpowerful3841]

9:10 yeah guys. It’s super easy. All you have to do is find a job that allows you to only work 3 days a week, pays you enough to pay all your bills and then some, and that will let you just stop coming in whenever your writing career takes off a tiny bit.

[@arthurthegreatandpowerful3841]

Oh please. Stop acting like wanting to make money is a bad thing. Jesus. MOST writers write to make money. Stop pretending otherwise.

[@brynkirsch5195]

[@realchris]

Thanks for sharing, wonderful info!