Today’s article is from Yuwanda Black, who shares how she earns extra income by writing romance novels. In one month she made $3,211.57 from her romance writing—read on to learn how she did it.
I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993 and began publishing romance fiction in 2013. To give context on how I started and what it takes to earn money writing romance, here’s my background and the lessons I learned along the way.
My career began in legal publishing. I worked for Matthew Bender, a trade publisher in New York that was later acquired by the company that owns LexisNexis. In 1997 I left to join my sister in a business she founded—Inkwell Editorial.
The company started as an editorial outsourcing agency handling copy editing, proofreading, word processing and coding, working with independent contractors. In 1998 we expanded into on-site staffing, which quickly became our primary source of revenue while we maintained the outsource division.
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My First Self-Published Ebook
In 2002, temps and contractors often asked how to land off-site editorial assignments. I wrote a short pamphlet answering common questions about getting freelance work in copy editing, proofreading and writing. That pamphlet was my first ebook: a simple PDF uploaded to our site without a cover and delivered manually to buyers. Self-publishing wasn’t mainstream then—Amazon’s self-publishing platform didn’t exist until 2009.
Over time I updated my approach. I wrote more than 50 how-to ebooks in the non-fiction niche, focused on freelance writing, self-publishing and small business. Then, in 2013, I wrote my first fiction book: a romance novel.
Why I Started Writing Romance Novels
Although I’d read romance avidly since my teens—Harlequins and later historical romances—I hadn’t planned to write in the genre until my sister published a romance. She’d always written fiction, and after a trip to Texas she had an idea that wouldn’t let go. She wrote it, uploaded it to Amazon, and didn’t expect much.
Why I Chose to Self-Publish My Romance Novels
My sister and I both came from publishing backgrounds, so self-publishing felt natural. By 2013 we’d each had years of self-publishing experience, and we appreciated the control it offered. Ironically, my self-publishing track record led to a traditional non-fiction book deal in 2015—so self-publishing can also open doors to traditional publishing.
A First-Time Romance Author Earns Over $1,100 in 3 Weeks
My sister’s unexpected success was a revelation. After uploading her book she sold dozens of copies overnight. In three weeks she sold 541 copies and earned over $1,100. Amazon pays 70% royalties for books priced $2.99–$9.99, so a $2.99 price netted roughly $2.09 per sale. Seeing her results convinced me to try romance fiction.
I wrote my first romance novella in March 2013 after searching “How to write a romance novel” online and following a helpful outline. Twenty-eight thousand words later, I had my first love story.
Writing My First Romance Novel: Sales Results
After uploading my debut romance, I eagerly awaited sales—only six copies sold in the first month. Discouraged, I returned to non-fiction. Then my sister suggested I try interracial romance; my first book had featured African American protagonists while her successful book was interracial.
I tried it in spring 2014 and the results were immediate: my second novella, an interracial romance, sold 241 copies in its first month. Nine copies of my first story sold that month too, and the momentum continued into the following months. The new release boosted sales of my earlier title—proving that fresh publications can revive interest in prior works.
How to Make Money Writing Romance Novels: 9 Lessons from 40+ Novels
After publishing over 40 novellas, here are key lessons I learned about succeeding as a romance author.
1. In Romance Writing, Genre Matters
It isn’t enough to simply write romance; choosing the right subgenre affects sales dramatically. Some categories perform better in print and ebook formats. Popular romance categories include romantic suspense, contemporary, historical, erotic, paranormal and new adult. Within each category are many subthemes—billionaires, cowboys, workplace romances, sports, and more—so find the niche that fits your voice and readers.
2. Publish Prolifically
Between 2014 and early 2016 I published over 35 novellas, many within a 12-month span. Producing frequent releases—at that time sometimes every 7–14 days—was extreme and isn’t a requirement, but each new title tended to boost sales of earlier ones. My current sustainable goal is one title every 30–60 days; regular publishing helps build momentum and visibility.
3. Short Romance Novels Sell — Write Novellas
I focus on short romance novellas (20,000–30,000 words), which let me publish frequently. Some readers complain about short length, yet they still buy. Amazon even has categories specifically for short romance reads, showing there’s demand for concise, fast reads.
4. Covers Matter
A strong cover influences purchase decisions. Professional-looking covers help your book stand out and clearly communicate genre. A good cover signals to readers the type of story inside—this matters a lot for discoverability and sales.
5. Start a Mailing List
Collecting readers’ email addresses is one of the best investments an author can make. A strong mailing list can drive launch sales, gather early reviewers and improve Amazon ranking signals. You can also pre-sell new releases and offer special deals to subscribers, which increases early sales and visibility.
6. Write Series
Series are powerful because readers become invested in characters and return for subsequent parts. New books in a series often drive sales of earlier entries. Series are also cost-effective—covers can be reused with minor adjustments—and easier to write once characters and settings are established.
7. Publish on Amazon
Despite debates about Amazon, it remains the dominant retail platform for ebooks and a must for most self-published romance authors, especially when starting out. Its reach and algorithmic recommendations can significantly boost sales.
Earning $3,200 in One Month Writing Romance Novels
In May 2015, after publishing 23 novellas in about 12 months, I earned $3,211.57 in a single month. Amazon accounted for about $2,763.51 of that total. Below is an overview of that month’s income:
Amazon sales: $2,763.51 — total units moved: 1,437; actual units bought: 1,429; returns: 46; KU/KOLL borrowed units: 8.
Barnes & Noble sales: $333.20 — total units moved: 181.
All Romance Ebooks (ARE) sales: $85.51 — total units moved: 48. (Note: this site closed in December 2016.)
Google Play sales: $29.35 — total units moved: 18. (Note: Google Play has limited access for new self-published authors at times.)
Total romance sales for May 2015: $3,211.57.
A couple of series—A Lover for Beth and Priced Out of Love—performed exceptionally well, illustrating how continued publishing and building series can lead to significant earnings.
8. Diversify Where You Publish
Most of my sales come from Amazon, but I recommend publishing wide—making your books available on multiple platforms. I tried Amazon’s exclusive KDP Select and it didn’t suit my goals because exclusivity prevents you from publishing the ebook elsewhere. I use distributors like Draft2Digital to reach many outlets with a single upload.
Draft2Digital distributes to markets such as iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Tolino, Playster and library services like OverDrive. They charge a percentage of sales rather than upfront fees, which makes them a convenient option for authors who want broader distribution without managing many platforms individually.
9. Pricing Strategy
I use a simple pricing formula: steamy or erotic novellas at $3.99, regular contemporary novellas at $2.99, and longer works closer to $3.99. For series, I often discount the first book to $0.99 after it has gathered traction to encourage readers to try the series and then buy subsequent installments at full price.
Experimenting with pricing can yield different results, but my approach relies on volume and frequent releases to maintain consistent sales.
Conclusion
Romance has a large, dedicated readership. According to Romance Writers of America data, many romance readers buy and read multiple books each month and have done so for years. To make money writing romance, find your niche, publish consistently, and build a direct relationship with readers—especially via a mailing list. Self-publishing offers control and higher royalties, and with the right strategy you can build a reliable income stream from romance fiction.
About the Author: Yuwanda Black publishes Inkwell Editorial, a site focused on helping writers earn money through self-publishing, freelance work and digital products.
Interested in learning how to write romance novels?