In Step 1, we celebrated and put some distance between ourselves and the novel.
In Step 2, we determined what we wanted out of the novel, and prepared it accordingly.
In Step 3, we either tried Traditional Publishing or Self-Publishing for our book.
In Step 4, we dealt with the problems that pushed back our progress, often all the way to square one.
And now, after everything, after hard work, failure, and rejection, we have finally reached our goal.
Step 5: Living as a Professional Novelist
You’ve done it! A publishing company has published your book! Or your self-published book is actually selling and making money! You are now living the dream! What do you do now?
First, unless you’re raking in a lot of money due to either a giant advance or blockbuster sales, you probably shouldn’t quit your day job. The vast majority of professional novelists cannot support themselves on their novels alone. Most work second jobs, or have life partners who make enough money to support them between book releases. This isn’t to say that you in particular can’t make writing novels full-time work, but you at least want to run the numbers before you turn in your two-weeks notice. Maybe you can find a way to pull back some, working more part-time, depending on the nature of your job, but quitting altogether is a very risky move.
Next, realize that everything just got a lot more hectic. You need to be marketing this book while writing the next one on a deadline, if you are published through a publishing company. And if you are self-published, then you have even more marketing to do, still while writing the next book, which you will want to release as soon as possible. You need to find a balance between all of this.
(Of course, if it all becomes too overwhelming, don’t destroy your mental health over it. Too many authors and other media creators work themselves to a breaking point. It is better to slow down your output and maintain good mental health.)
Finally, we circle back to Step 1. Celebrate! You have made it! Only a fraction of a percent of people who start out on this journey make it to this point. Do not let this momentous occasion pass without some level of celebration.
Oh, and if you do make it to this point, spare a thought for those of us still climbing the mountain. Any advice or help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.