The income from writing a novel varies from person to person and depends on many factors such as the quality of the novel, popularity, publication, adaptation, translation, sales, and so on. In some cases, novelists may earn low royalties, while in other cases they may earn huge profits. Some famous authors such as George R. R. Martin, Cao Xueqin, and the creator of Harry Potter had their novels widely published and adapted, and had achieved great commercial success. However, for most novelists, their income probably came mainly from the publication and sales of books rather than royalties. In addition, many novelists need to devote a lot of time and energy to writing, so their income may also be limited by time and energy.