Mark Manson, Postmasculine.com

How long did it take you to write your first book? How much did you write per day, and did you hire an editor?

Asked by 805_Dave about 13 years ago

People always hate me when I answer this. I wrote "Models" (349 pages) in six weeks, and took another month or so to edit it, and release it. When writing it, I aimed for 3,000 words per day but often exceeded it by quite a bit. On really, really good days, I've written as much as 10,000 words in a single day. But I'm a bit of a freak. I've learned from other writers and bloggers that I write very quickly. It's something you practice and work up to. Back in 2008, I wrote a small 100-page ebook on dating to sell to some people, and that actually took me closer to three months. So these things, like anything, come with practice. I did not get an editor. I didn't have the extra money for it at the time, and honestly the book suffered for it. Lot of typos and errors when it came out. Took a couple months to fix all of them. Taught me that self-editing is very hard. No matter how many times you read your own stuff, something still squeaks through.

What's your opinion on open marriage?

Asked by Elle J. about 13 years ago

As far as I'm concerned, two consenting adults can have whatever type of relationship they agree to. I have nothing against it.

In the "Kill Your Day Job" post you mentioned that receive income from other sites besides PM. Does that involve in PPC or PPV at all? How would you recommend I start making significant income online? I already have a 3 figure ebook income via Kindle

Asked by Baper about 13 years ago

I don't get involved in PPC or PPV. Most of my the non-PM income comes from past consulting gigs I did or past products which are promoted by old websites that I don't update anymore or affiliates. PPC isn't what it used to be. Very few people find it profitable these days. I think the average internet user has become too sophisticated, so the old school "buy traffic, shove them to a squeeze page/salesletter" usually turns up empty. That's been my experience at least.

what exactly is your internet-based business that allows you to earn an income and live/work in foreign countries?

Asked by mark about 13 years ago

The vast majority of my income comes from postmasculine.com and the products and books I sell through it. I do have some past projects lying around the web that still generate some extra money. I used to do consulting and some free lance work as well, but not any more. 100% of my effort is on PM these days.

Mark - are you just a naturally good writer, or did you have any kind of training?

Asked by Souldier about 13 years ago

Just normal high school and college writing courses. If you research on how to improve at writing, you'll consistently come across the same two piece of advice: 1) read a lot, 2) write a lot. I'm not really going to deviate from that. I actually never did too well in my writing classes (I deviated from the assignments too much). But I always read a shit-ton. Mostly non-fiction. And I cut my teeth writing a lot by actually... wait for it... posting on too many forums. Yes, I was THAT guy who would sit in a Friday night and write a 5-page cited dissertation on why Dream Theater's "Awake" album redefined the paradigm of melody in heavy metal... or something. Seriously, I racked up thousands of posts on various forums and was addicted to debating. Over the years, my posts got really good. Then I started a blog where I wrote 1,000 to 2,000 word posts three times a week for 4+ years. Do that long enough and you get good. Also, read literature. Reading fluff is fine. But read the greats. Read the recent geniuses. Read good books that make you think. David Foster Wallace, Jonathan Frazen, Bret Easton Ellis. Cormac McCarthy. Pay attention to how they write. Why it works. Why it doesn't. Then play around and try to mimic their style. Have fun with it.

Hey Mark,
Any insights for a 24 year old guy who has had a severe stutter his whole life, and who has a plethora of social and romantic troubles due to it, in spite of generally being open about it and casually bringing it up when necessary?

Asked by Justthisonce over 11 years ago

Hey Mark. There's so much "self-help"/life-coach crap out there right now that vulnerable people get duped into paying for. How do you separate yourself from *that* flavor of self-help?

Asked by trey201 over 12 years ago