A: You've been a writer for quite a long, since 1992. Please tell me how writers get their money to live?
B: Simple. From their writing works. If the he/she is a book writer, the money comes from their book royalty. Maybe the same goes to the song writers or movie script... I'm not really sure about that. If he/she is a blogger or online writer, the money comes from the honorarium or reward of the writing competition.
A: I'm curious... is the money big enough to make a good living?
B: Not very big. Therefore, most writers usually have other jobs or business simply to survive in life.
A: OK, let me make the conclusion... if the writers wrote many books or were the productive ones, he/she will get enough money and survive in life?
B: Correct. Writing productively is the "key word" here... or we must have other job/business.
A: Today, in digital era, there're many writers every where. In fact, there're so many of writers and bloggers that we may meet one in the streets, malls, bookstores, or any other public spaces. Am I right?
B: True. Take Kompasiana as an example. This blogging platform has more than 4 million bloggers! Some of them are very active and professional, while most of them --maybe-- simply just making it as a hobby. Whenever I go to the public spaces, I realize that some people around me could be bloggers or content creators. It means I'm not the only writer or blogger existing in society.
A: Very realistic and wise, bro. Anyway, don't you ever expect to be rich from your writing works?
B: Of course I do. The problem is Indonesia only has few readers. It means not many buyers. Recently, I try to write more books in order to get bigger money from royalty. Wish me luck, OK? Haha...