I think the sentiment behind the message is that writing, like any other endeavour at high level, requires regular and dedicated application to get that good. I sometimes encounter people who map out for me all the books they are going to write, to twenty volumes, but who never get past the first paragraph. The very definition of a writer is one who writes.

Specifically, a writer needs these disciplines:

1: Starting stories
2: Continuing on to finish those stories
3: Going back and revising those stories

And possibly
4: Finding those stories an outlet
5: Do the research to get the story right in the first place

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Marketing is every waiting-to-break-through writer's weak point.

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Not just with books, with software, too. I'm stuck in that hole where I look up how to market my software, and apparently it's done with raising money via kickstarter etc and spending it all on a huge advertising budget. Except to raise money via kickstarter, you need to do promotion and marketing. Which takes money for a huge advertising budget. Grrr...

This is always a problem, but for software its a bit different from writing.

I could better advise you of you were trying this in the UK, but generally:

For software you probably need a cogent business case document, not more than 3000 words, outlining your proposal for potential investors or supporters. One format is:

1. Pithy one paragragh pitch summary
2. Description of software
3. Why that's different from what's already out there.
4. Why people would want something different.
5. Development process - what needs to be done to finish the product
5a. Timescale - milestones, no. of days etc assuming fundind is in place
5b. Costs - your time, licenses, legal (inc. patent), travel etc.
6. Brief bit about you - contact details, credentials, past experience

Include a couple of graphis if they are revelant. Set up a demo web page if possible with appropriate parts of the same information on it.

Look for places to send your proposal. Start local, with advice from the Chamber of Commerce or some other business representation organisation. There may be "angel investors" there. Work outwards through town, county, state. Seek contact information from relevant online trade-discussion boards or bloggers.

Even if you eventually do have to look at something like Kickstarter, which would require you to seek almost 200% of the actual costs to cover marleting, rewards, and their percentage cut of cash raised, you've upped your profile which may up take-up.

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A lot of publishers are really cagey about sales figures.

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I'm not looking for it to be a primary source of income or anything. I worked on Merdeces Lackey's web site, and realized the huge volume of work it takes to be self-supporting, and I'm nowhere near fast enough yet.

Same here, and I'm pushing 40 books out there now.

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A little extra would be nice, though.

Until the tax forms arrive.

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My advice then, is to write at least three chapters/12,000 words then go back and revise chapter one before posting. In long-form prose you will inevitably have a better grasp of your style and story a bit further in and it will demand changes to your opening.

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I have something like 7 chapters done already. Not happy with them all yet, but they're there.

When you're confident what "voice" you want them to have and that the characters and background world aren't going to change, that's the time for beta readers and a final polish.