If you don't want to click the link, I'll summarize the article in a sentence. He states that 'making it' in writing/publishing is mostly LUCK.
That's right. Luck. He sold a lot of books and he knows it's almost all out of his control. Same with any author on the bestsellers' list.
I think he is right in a general way, but not like you might believe. I just don't think there is any money in writing, so what little there is gets divided up by a few. That 'few' (those that make money in publishing) don't include a fraction of all the talented, amazing authors out there. Many top-notch writers don't make a dime. This isn't a meritocracy.
As a writer, you just have to accept a basic truth. Financial success may elude you. There is truly very little money in fiction. Adjust your goals accordingly.
I've said it before, but here it is again--- if you want to be a millionaire, go into stocks.
This isn't meant to be depressing. Rather, it serves as a reminder that the only reason to write fiction is this: an all consuming passion to write that can't be quenched and needs to be shared with the world. Do you have that passion?
Have a great weekend.
From Vegas,
Stephen John Moran