I Will Not Get A Yacht On The Kickapoo!
I was just asked what it costs to write a novel. Not emotionally. Mathematically. So let’s do the numbers.
DRIFTLESS took nearly three years. A few hours most days. That adds up to thousands of hours turning my bad zombie-horror-screenplay into a country noir eco-thriller set in the hills the glaciers missed.
Then there are the expenses.
Six printed proof rounds at about $30 each.
Five editing passes. Each one taking dozens of hours.
Paper. Pens. 3x5 cards… I always need more 3X5 cards.
Computer time. More computer time.
Beer.
More beer.
And the books.by /stick-vega site costs $99 a year so the whole thing has somewhere to live.
Now let’s assume I sell 1,000 copies and make about $10 per book.
That equals $10,000. That is about $3,300 a year, before expenses.
Which means after three years of work (fun) I will not be making minimum wage. I will not be purchasing a yacht on the Kickapoo River. Maybe I can find a used canoe. Or a cool houseboat.
However.
I did get to build a hidden world under the Driftless hills. I got to follow Leo and Anna across rivers and bluffs. I got to imagine what might still be sleeping beneath this landscape. My dog Archie (Buck) got to play a starring role. The best part, I got to blow up a few things.
So no, writing a novel does not make you a millionaire.
But it does let you create a place that did not exist before.
And honestly, that math works out just fine.
ps. I deleted the houseboat scene. I will save it for the sequel.
DRIFTLESS. COMING SOON.
“Driftless has an excellent voice and distinct dialogue!”
“The setting of the unglaciated Driftless region is a standout.”
”Clear and cinematic with great pace and action.”
”The ending is emotionally satisfying!”
”A nice balance of humor and serious.”
”The dog, Buck, is a star!”
Overview
Stick Vega was born and raised in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region in Viroqua, where the land’s history, folklore, and contradictions continue to shape his work. He is the author of the novel Less Killing and has written numerous award-winning screenplays, including A Shot Away and King’s Murder Still, along with hundreds of short works across film and fiction.
In addition to writing, Vega is a nationally recognized visual artist known for his explosive paintings created using gunpowder and fuse. His work has been collected throughout the United States and reflects the same tension, risk, and controlled chaos that define his storytelling.
He lives in Monona, Wisconsin, with his wife Renee and their Shetland Sheepdog, Archie “Buck” Vig.