A Very Unromantic Conversation About Writing
Lisa CliffordLet’s be serious for a minute. Because writing is a serious business. Especially if you want to make money. Let’s talk about that. Money! And how to make some as a writer.
No one ever really talks about the appalling economics of the publishing industry. The blood-red sweat, angst and tears shed while you write your book. All the while battling the Bully Voice that tells you your work is mediocre, indulgent or doomed. And then, if you’re lucky, the pay day. Scandalous, by any reasonable measure.
Let’s be frank: there is precious little money in writing a book. Advances are small, royalties slow and most books never earn out. Yet there are other forms of payola. The enormous sense of self-worth that comes from finishing a book. The deep satisfaction of seeing your work in the world. And yes…Lawdy! Maybe a book that actually sells!
But passion doesn’t pay the rent.
My real concern is the gap between publication and survival. The years during which writers must stay solvent enough to stay writing. That’s where other forms of writing work come in.
Here are some realistic, writer-friendly ways to supplement those meagre publishing cheques:
Grants, residencies, and fellowships
Unreliable, competitive and absolutely worth applying for. These don’t just buy you time; they add credibility and breathing space. Treat applications as part of your writing practice. I do! That’s how I received my NSW State Library Fellowship, which has now been extended for a year. Glory be, can’t tell you how nice it is to go into that beautiful Library and write.
Journalism, essays, and commissioned pieces
Pay is often low, but sometimes they’re high. Still, commissions lead to ongoing relationships. Think strategically: write pieces that align with your long-term work and public profile, not just whatever lands in your inbox.
Copywriting or content writing (selectively)
This isn’t for everyone but some writers find corporate or brand writing surprisingly lucrative and mentally separate from their creative work. If you do this, keep clear boundaries so it doesn’t cannibalise your energy.
The truth is, most writers don’t survive on book income alone. They build a patchwork. A portfolio life. Something flexible enough to keep the work alive.
Which brings me to the bit I’m most excited about. The final session of the Art of Writing Story Workshop in Sydney (August 21–23, 2026) is a panel devoted entirely to the many ways writing can pay. A ghostwriter who thrives in the shadows, a travel writer who has turned curiosity into boarding passes and an expert who understands the fellowship and residency system. It’s a practical, candid and hopefully uplifting end to what will be a wonderful 3-day writing event.
The Art of Writing: Sydney Story Workshop. This will be an absolute banger of a 3-day Friday - Sunday writing event.
Woollahra Library, Double Bay
Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August 2026
Three days.
Seven masterclasses.
Five extraordinary teachers.
A literary agent Q&A with the chance to present your précis.
Panel of professionals to help you make writing money!
Lunch included
This is for you because you want to tell a story.
Book your place now or write to us about a payment plan to secure your place.
And to make sure that you keep up your 2026 writing momentum… It would be wonderful if you could join us for some or all of our 2-3 hour Zoom writing sessions to expand your writing horizons.
2026 Craft Clinics (Note the $99 early bird price finishes on February 3 – yikes!)
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Feb 17 — The Art of Scene
Craft vivid, emotionally charged scenes that move your story forward. -
March 17 — Memory into Memoir
Shape lived experience into compelling narrative. -
April 14 — The Major Dramatic Question
Identify and sustain the central tension that keeps readers turning pages. -
May 12 — Character and Conflict
Understand what your characters want — and what stands in their way.
🎟 Early Bird:
$99 AUD / €55.34
(Available when booked more than two weeks in advance.)
And because I adore writing in Italy, my home for the last 30 years (more actually, but won’t bore you with that), our Rome retreat is almost booked out. So please let me know if you’d like to join us in November 2026!
This retreat in Rome is going beyond anything we’ve ever done before and that’s saying something!
Deposits are now open for The Art of Writing’s Rome retreat. Set within a remarkable, one-of-a-kind venue, this is Rome as it is lived rather than visited: observed closely and walked slowly with historical guided writing tours.
The Rome retreat is only for 7 writers as we are inside Palazzo Doria Pamphilj - eeeek! Too fantastico! There are only 3 places left.
Your week in Rome includes:
- Four mornings of creative writing classes
- Seven intimate teaching sessions
- A Sense of Place writing walk through Rome
- A historic walking tour with local insight
- Welcome drinks & opening dinner
- Final dinner together
- Morning cappuccinos
- And loads of hanging out and chatting with the most amazing locals!
✨ Special guest speaker: Anya Camilleri
Rome Timeless Craft is now open for full payment and deposits.
If you’d like to read more of my work, you can buy the e-book of The Promise here and Or Death in the Mountains here. Each tells a story close to my heart. One of love, the other of loss and the search for truth.
Writing may not always pay well and it asks a lot of us. Things like time, focus, nerve, stamina and determination like you’ve never known before. The least we can do is be honest about how we sustain the work and ourselves along the way. There are many ways to stay in the business of writing, and none of them cancel out the art of writing. They simply make it possible to keep going.
See you next week.
