Interview #96: How Margot Livesey Makes Money Writing

In this interview, Margot offers advice to writers trying to make it work financially: find a source of income that buys you time, and don't wait for ideal conditions to start.

Margot Livesey has built a long, steady literary life through a mix of teaching and novel-writing. She’s published nine books, held positions at some of the most respected MFA programs in the country, and remained committed to the slow, deliberate work of fiction even as the industry around her shifted.

In this interview, Margot explains how teaching has supported her both financially and creatively, why she still writes on a deliberately offline computer, and what it means to build a career from small, sustainable habits rather than big breaks. If you're figuring out how to keep writing at the center while earning a living, this one's for you.