Author Income Isn’t Just Royalties: How I’m Building Financial Stability Anyway
- Vicky Weber
- Sep 8
- 6 min read
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When I first started writing children’s books, I had stars in my eyes and a dream in my heart. I thought that if I just worked hard enough—write great books, market them well, and eventually the royalties would roll in consistently enough to replace my day job.
It was a beautiful dream, and honestly, I don’t regret chasing it. But what I didn’t understand at the time was how unpredictable and delayed that income can be.
How even your best month in sales can come with three months of radio silence afterward.
How the costs of being a self-published author—especially in the children’s book space—add up quickly and relentlessly.
And most of all, I didn’t realize how vulnerable I would feel, waiting for money to show up.
This post isn’t about becoming a finance guru. It’s not about penny-pinching every latte or chasing every side hustle. It’s about building something sustainable. Something that lets you chase your dream without draining your personal bank account, your energy, or your joy.
So let’s talk about it. Not just royalties. But smart money moves. Tiny financial shifts that make a big difference. And most of all, let’s talk about building stability—one choice at a time.
What They Don’t Tell You About Author Income
Most authors don’t make a full-time income from book sales alone. Even successful, traditionally published authors often rely on school visits, speaking gigs, freelance writing, or other streams of income to make it all work.
It can get exhausting and unpredictable. But the flip side of that coin? Writing offers flexibility. And that flexibility can work in your favor, especially when it comes to finances. You don’t need to make six figures a year from books to thrive. What you do need is a financial system that supports your goals.
Let me tell you what’s worked for me—what’s helped me build something steady without selling my soul or giving up the dream.
Reinvesting Everything Almost Broke Me
When I first started making a little money, I did what I thought smart entrepreneurs were supposed to do: reinvest every dollar into my book business.
I spent more on ads. Upgraded to new tools. Bought courses. Ordered custom swag for a book launch. Hired help I wasn’t quite ready for. It wasn’t frivolous—I really believed these were strategic decisions that would help me grow.
But here’s the hard truth I learned:
If you never pay yourself, your business owns you.
I was running a business that looked successful from the outside, but inside I felt more financially fragile than ever. My bank account would bounce between feast and famine. I was constantly borrowing from next month’s paycheck or hoping the next launch would “catch me up.” And that underlying panic? It started stealing the joy out of the work I loved most.
I wasn’t looking to get rich. I just wanted to feel safe.
I didn’t overhaul my finances overnight. I didn’t suddenly become a spreadsheet wizard or hire a financial planner. I started small—with the stuff that felt simple but powerful.
Here's what I did:
1. I Opened a Separate Business Bank Account
It sounds obvious, but keeping personal and business funds separate changed everything for me. Not just for tax season, but for clarity. I could finally see what my business was actually making. I stopped guessing. I stopped hoping.
I started making decisions based on data instead of vibes.
2. I Started Paying Myself a Set Amount
Even if it was $5 a week. Even if it was just symbolic at first. It shifted my mindset from “this is a hobby” to “this is a business that supports me.”
Eventually, I scaled that up. I created a monthly transfer to myself—something I could rely on. And even if my royalties dipped, I had that cushion. That steady drip made the highs and lows less overwhelming.
3. I Diversified My Income Streams
Royalties are lovely. But they are not consistent. One month, you might make more than your old salary. The next, you’ll wonder if the internet broke and no one told you.
That unpredictability isn’t your fault—but it is your responsibility.
So I started asking: What else can I offer that supports my audience and brings in income, without taking me too far from my zone of genius?
For me, that looked like:
Teaching workshops on writing
Getting paid for school visits and speaking engagements
Affiliate income for tools and services I genuinely recommend
Freelance writing work (short-term, higher-paying gigs that didn’t require a long-term commitment)
Ghostwriting
None of these things replaced royalties. But they softened the dips. They filled the gaps. And more importantly, they allowed me to stop clinging to my books as my sole source of worth or income.
Your mix might look totally different. That’s okay. Just ask yourself: What’s one skill I already have that someone else would pay for? Start there.
4. I Planned for the Future
Between paying for book printing, investing in cover design, and buying coffee during late writing nights, it was easy to lose sight of saving altogether.
That’s when I found Acorns. It’s a simple app that rounds up everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change. So when I bought printer ink for $29.12, Acorns invested 88 cents. When I grabbed a coffee for $3.67 during a brainstorming session, it rounded up to $4, quietly growing my investment without me having to think about it. Acorns works in the background, building a safety net over time, even during slow months without me needing to revamp my budget, cut back on essentials, or relinquish paying myself.
If investing is too risky, even in small amounts, you can also open a High-Yield Savings account. Most traditional banks pay you next to nothing in interest. But high-yield accounts (like Ally, SoFi, or Capital One 360) can give you more bang for your buck. Even if you only have $100 to start, it grows. And more importantly, it gives you peace of mind.
5. I Made Peace With “Enough for Now”
There’s a lot of noise out there about scaling quickly, hitting big numbers, and building an empire. But what I needed was enough. Enough to pay for groceries. Enough to justify the time I was pouring in. Enough to feel like this dream had roots.
Once I let go of chasing “big” and started aiming for stable, everything got easier.
6. I Stopped Romanticizing the Hustle
Let me say this clearly: You do not have to suffer to be successful.
You can write books and take weekends off. You can grow slowly and sustainably. You can protect your energy. You can set boundaries with your time and your money.
In fact, the more I rested, the better my ideas got. The more I said “no” to unnecessary expenses, the more profit I saw. The more I trusted myself, the less I chased shiny objects.
You are not lazy if you want a life that feels good. You are wise.
I didn’t write this post to scare you or to say, “Don’t follow your dream.” I wrote it to say: you can follow your dream smarter—with tools, boundaries, and a bit of financial clarity that helps you breathe easier when the sales slow down.
Because here’s the truth: writing children’s books is a calling. It’s work that matters. It lights up kids’ imaginations and changes lives, one story at a time. But your life matters too. Your peace. Your stability. Your ability to keep going without burning out.
So if you’re in that messy middle—where the dream is alive, but the dollars feel like a rollercoaster—I see you. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just building something real.
Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep making choices that support you, not just your book.
You don’t have to wait until you hit a bestseller list or replace your full-time income to feel proud. What you’re doing matters now. And if you give yourself a solid foundation, you’ll not only keep going—you’ll actually enjoy the journey.
That, to me, is the real measure of success.
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Write books that actually sell
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