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.
I write because I want to share
the hope beneath this hanging sword,
the Love that makes so fresh this air,
the Joy I’m daily headed towards.
I write because my God is real,
I write to share my God with you,
that you may one day come to feel
His presence in the things you do,
and so this cancer is my blessing
for it frames the words I use,
and although it’s really messing
with the life I’d thought I’d choose,
I’ve found that dying’s the Brass Ring,
and I would not change a thing.
Oh, Andrew! Magnificent life purpose statement, beautifully stating a motivation each of us should be emulating. Thank you again!
Linda, thank you so much.
Andrew, your words always inspire me!
Amen Andrew. Great peom.
Thanks for the reminder, Steve! I’ve been writing for 40+ years and have come to terms with not being the major wage earner (or even the minor) in the family. But I am comforted and encouraged to write what God puts on my heart for others to ponder. That in itself is rich and rewarding to me. But I do have a Devo in mind from the journeys of silvery- haired, wise women I think would be a hot seller. LOL!
I can relate! I am a 4am to 6am writer. Certainly not by choice, but to be diligent to steward the words the Lord has seen fit to share with me. In His mercy. By His undeserved favor. How can one not.
Excellent points, and it’s one reason I rolled my eyes so hard th time that I had a fellow writer pressure me that I should, “publish [insert their preferred path] way, you can make a million dollars!!!” Sure, there are some authors out there who are doing amazing and do make a million dollars, but that kind of money is not guaranteed for anyone, much less the majority, no matter which publishing path(s) you choose. Ironically, the same person griped on a different day that they weren’t covering their own costs doing exactly what they told me that I should be doing. Like you said, I can’t write, or even choose a publishing path, based on the elusive promise of a certain dollar amount. I’ll drive myself crazy and suck all the joy out of my writing trying to chase that. I write because I get itchy and emotionally frustrated when I don’t. It’s what the Lord has given me to do. The path to discovering writing as my passion was too full of God’s guiding hand, working things out in ways that I could never have brought about myself, to believe otherwise. When I reach the point of being ready to publish, I’ll follow His leading there, too, trusting that He’ll get my books to the people that need them most. It’s cool that I get to make some money along with that, but I understand that I’m not likely to be able to buy that stable full of horses I dreamed of as a kid. 😛
Excellent and helpful blog, because it states a potentially depressing reality in a most encouraging fashion.
Suddenly, instead of feeling vaguely ashamed that my many articles for local papers have not earned much, I feel proud that I have accomplished my own mission: getting my community written about. Community members have my articles proudly framed and hanging on their walls. They feel that SOMEBODY out there has listened, has credited their efforts, and has given them documentation that they value.
I feel freshly inspired to keep writing my articles and blogs, and to continue the hard push to publish more of my books. Thank you again.
If you’re writing to make a wad of money, you’re in the wrong business. I think most writers write because they are compelled to by an inner drive put there by God. It’s why I write.