How I Make Money Writing

How I Make Money Writing

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How I Make Money Writing
How I Make Money Writing
Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing

Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing

In this interview, Elon unpacks the hard math of a writing career—and why chasing prestige rarely pays the bills.

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Hao Nguyen
Apr 22, 2025
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How I Make Money Writing
How I Make Money Writing
Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing
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Elon Green has spent over two decades in the trenches of longform journalism—writing for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and authoring Last Call, a gripping true crime book that became an HBO series. His work is meticulous, archival, and instinct-driven, often unfolding over months or years rather than days.

In this interview, Elon talks candidly about the economics of slow journalism, why he’s never considered the work financially sustainable, and how having a supportive partner has made the writing possible in the first place. If you’re navigating a creative path that runs on passion more than profit, this one will hit close to home.

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