sPhoto taken by the author, Vanessa K. Eccles.

How can I pursue my dream and still afford to live? It’s no secret that authors, even traditionally published ones, rarely make a substantial profit. There are always exceptions, but many writers still work 9–5 jobs in order to pay the bills. It’s a hard life for any artist. Between the near-constant rejection, bad reviews, countless disappointments, failed manuscripts, and many hours of working without pay, it’s a wonder anyone chooses to become a writer. But the truth of the matter is, most of us don’t…