Interview #15: How Ed Simon Makes Money Writing

In this interview, Ed breaks down the economics of literary publishing—and why even prolific writers need more than book sales to get by.

Ed Simon wears a lot of hats—he teaches in the English Department at Carnegie Mellon, edits for Belt Magazine and The Pittsburgh Review of Books, and contributes essays to The New York Times, The Atlantic, McSweeney’s, and more. He’s also the author of over a dozen books across history, religion, and literature, with experience publishing everywhere from academic presses to the Big Five.

In this interview, Ed shares the financial realities of sustaining a literary life, why most books won’t pay the bills, and how persistence (and a day job) can help writers weather the long game. If you’re wondering how to balance writing for love and writing for a living, this one’s for you.