Want to write a novel and rake in some money? It’s very simple. Just follow these steps:
Spend twenty years learning how to write, honing your craft.
Spend twenty years learning about people and the world, so you have something to write about. (May be done concurrently with step 1, but often isn’t.)
Write a novel.
Put the novel out where people can see it. (Send it to publishers, self-publish, etc.)
Get lucky.
Sufficient quantities of good luck can substitute for some or all of the learning and skill acquired in steps 1 and 2. No amount of learning and skill can overcome an insufficiency of luck.
There you go! Five simple steps to writing success.