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The Steve Laube Agency

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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Steve Laube

Newsflash: Most Writers Don’t Make a Lot of Money

By Steve Laubeon June 16, 2025
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A couple years ago the Author’s Guild released a survey revealing that very few writers earn a liveable wage based on their income from writing. In fact, most earn less than the poverty line.

Publishers Weekly reported the findings this way: “The survey, which drew responses from 5,699 published authors, found that in 2022, their median gross pretax income from their books was $2,000. When combined with other writing-related income, the total annual median income was $5,000.”

What is the “Poverty Line”? The U.S. federal government defines it as a single person making less than $14,981 per year.

Before you get too excited about that number, one must look behind the numbers. The highlights from the Author’s Guild survey can be found at this link. In fact, other statistics said established traditional authors made $15,000, which was more than indie (self-published) authors ($10,500).

That means today’s blog headline was a little sarcastic. The survey isn’t really “news,” but it serves as a starting point on a larger topic.

When teaching writers, I often ask a question near the end of a session: “Can you make a living as a writer?” Inevitably, the room goes still and silent; every eye and ear are anticipating my answer. I usually turn and write on the board, “D. Q. Y. D. J.” and declare, “Here is your answer! Don’t. Quit. Your. Day. Job.” This is usually greeted with nervous laughter.

The writing life is one of solitude and toil for little compensation, especially in the beginning. We have many clients who make a nice living as a writer; some are even the major, if not the sole, source of income for their families. Income for a writer has ALWAYS been a challenge. It’s one reason why it’s called “work.”

But others are not as well compensated. In every case, there is usually another source of income that takes care of financial needs. It is not unusual or uncommon. Some might fall under the poverty threshold if all they count is their writing income. The above-linked Publishers Weekly article said, “The importance of nonbook writing-related income to authors cannot be overstated: 56% of respondents reported that such activities as journalism, conducting events, editing, ghostwriting, and teaching more than doubled their income.”

I know of a writer who, for over a decade, got up at 5 am and wrote until 7 am, and then helped the kids get to school. Afterward, he went to work at his day job. He wrote nearly 10 books during those early morning hours, and they all sold fairly well. But they never earned enough to quit the day job.

As literary agents, we work hard to maximize the potential earnings for our clients. Advances, royalties, subright licensing, etc. We are on the lookout for new opportunities and hybrid alternatives to the traditional models. But it isn’t easy.

No matter if you are traditionally or indie published, you are still competing for eyeballs and pocketbooks. Publishers and aggressive indie authors use every skill at their disposal to generate sales.

This begs the question, “Are you writing for the money?” or “Are you writing because you are called to write?” One well-known author said she hesitates to calculate how many hours she has devoted to her writing and divide it into the amount of revenue she has earned. She jokingly said that $5 an hour might be a generous result of the calculation. But she still writes and works hard. Why? Because she is called to it. She can’t not write.

The point of this article is not to depress you. It is to review your motivation. And to set expectations realistically. Taking online classes, reading books on craft and marketing, going to conferences to meet editors and other writers, is an investment. Not necessarily to receive that “return-on-investment” but to improve your work so that when it gets read (note I wrote “when” not “if”), the impact will be that much greater.

I’m also not saying you shouldn’t be compensated for your work. The Bible says, “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18 NIV). But I am asking, “What is your primary motivation for writing?” If you are anticipating the armored truck full of dollars to pull into your driveway, you might be in for a long wait.

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Category: Career, Economics, MoneyTag: Career, Money, Writers

Fun Fridays – June 13, 2025

By Steve Laubeon June 13, 2025
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Happy Friday the 13th! Enjoy today’s fun video of a delightful impressionist on America’s Got Talent.

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Category: Fun Fridays

Proof That English Is an Amazing Language

By Steve Laubeon June 9, 2025
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For some wild reason, this sentence makes perfect sense. “All the faith he had had had had no effect on the outcome of his life.” and “It is true for all that that that that that that that refers to is not the same that that that that refers to.” (“That” one is from The English Club.) and “No word begins with because, because, because is a …

Read moreProof That English Is an Amazing Language
Category: Grammar, Humor

Fun Fridays – June 6, 2025

By Steve Laubeon June 6, 2025
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I happen to enjoy barbershop quartets and also enjoyed the old Southern Gospel quartets when growing up. I sing bass. So this particular video simultaneously made me laugh and gasp at the vocal range displayed. There are some “inside jokes” that are funny if you follow humorous barbershop competitions. So, if you enjoy such entertainment, watch until the end. Amazing.

Read moreFun Fridays – June 6, 2025
Category: Fun Fridays

The Most Important Word Every Writer Should Know

By Steve Laubeon June 2, 2025
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Failure. It is a word every writer learns to appreciate with time. In the beginning, it is frustrating and angry-making. Along the way it becomes “meh” to the point of quitting completely. Eventually, there comes the realization that it is normal and part of the business. Michael Jordan, basketball icon, said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost …

Read moreThe Most Important Word Every Writer Should Know
Category: The Writing LifeTag: Failure, The Writing Life

May 30, 2025 – Fun Fridays

By Steve Laubeon May 30, 2025
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In the last month or so, our Friday adventures has taken us from the sublime of a choir singing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” to the Museum of Failure and now to a feat of … I have no words. How about: Flawless Hambone. When I slap myself silly, it is usually for a bonehead decision. And it certainly doesn’t look like this! Enjoy something you weren’t expecting today.

Read moreMay 30, 2025 – Fun Fridays
Category: Fun Fridays

Memorial Day

By Steve Laubeon May 26, 2025
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Today in the U.S. we honor the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in the military for our country. It is an important day of remembrance. Some interesting quotes to ponder in light of this day: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” — Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address …

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Category: InspirationTag: Inspiration, Memorial Day

Fun Fridays – May 23, 2025

By Steve Laubeon May 23, 2025
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Today’s fascinating video shows, in a two-minute time lapse, the seven days and 65 hours worth of work to set up a stadium for a rock concert. Just imagine the logistics! Which pieces go first, which go last? And all must work flawlessly. This road crew did the setup 19 times in four months in 2022 across Europe. Consider it this way: It took 260 people with 90 trucks moving 1.35 tons of …

Read moreFun Fridays – May 23, 2025
Category: Fun Fridays

When You Share a Name With Another Person

By Steve Laubeon May 19, 2025
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A great question came our way: Although I have been cultivating my online presence as a writer, I have found that someone who shares my name already has a significant online presence. This person does not live a Christian lifestyle: in fact, I would be terribly embarrassed and my professional integrity could be harmed if anyone mistook me for this individual. Perhaps other authors may face the …

Read moreWhen You Share a Name With Another Person
Category: Book Business, The Writing LifeTag: Author Names, The Writing Life

Fun Fridays – May 16, 2025

By Steve Laubeon May 16, 2025
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If you have about 20 minutes, give today’s video a go. In this fascinating bit, the host displays and explains 30 optical illusions. Of course, now my eyes are asking me for a break and a return to reality. But then, is reading fiction reading reality, or is it an illusion? That is a philosophical question better left for smarter people than I am.

Read moreFun Fridays – May 16, 2025
Category: Fun Fridays
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