As these voices enter an artist’s head—concern for deadlines, deals, sales, media attention, public image, staff, overhead, growing the audience, keeping the existing fan base—they can undermine our focus.

Earning money and writing doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. And because there is already so much pressure around the act of writing itself it’s not very helpful to add more pressure by expecting it to financially sustain you right out of the gate. What might be helpful instead is to start thinking about going the route of self-employment.