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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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Home » Money

Money

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

Define Success

By Steve Laubeon July 15, 2024
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Success. It is a word that has a “sweet smell” for some and is the “gold ring” of achievement for others. But in order to appreciate success, we must first define it. And there is the rub. Each one of us defines success differently, especially writers. Here are some definitions I’ve heard or seen: Getting an agent My first book contract Selling 20,000 copies of my …

Read moreDefine Success
Category: Book Business, Career, MoneyTag: Career, Money, Success

Crafting a Career: How to Become a Professional Author with Angela Hunt

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on June 11, 2024
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If you want to make writing a career and pay bills with income earned from your writing, you want to be a professional author. Find out how.

Read moreCrafting a Career: How to Become a Professional Author with Angela Hunt
Category: Book Business, Christian Publishing ShowTag: Book Business, Career, Money

R Is for Reserve Against Returns

By Steve Laubeon November 6, 2023
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Every traditionally published author needs to understand the principle of “Reserves Against Returns,” which is an integral part of publishing economics. It can reduce the amount of money an author receives in their royalty statement. It is usually a shock and elicits a phone call to their agent crying, “What happened to my money?” Did you realize that book publishing is the …

Read moreR Is for Reserve Against Returns
Category: Book Business, Publishing A-ZTag: Book Business, Contracts, Get Published, Money, Traditional Publishing

Let’s Talk About Money

By Steve Laubeon June 5, 2023
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Hope that headline got your attention! Those of us who work with authors find that an area of consistent turmoil is when money is the topic. A major challenge is teaching authors when to talk about money and when not to talk about money. Let’s explore some of these challenges. And first, let’s assume you already have a literary agent. When to Talk Money With Your Publisher/Editor Never. That is …

Read moreLet’s Talk About Money
Category: Book Business, Money, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Money

Author Accounting 101

By Steve Laubeon April 17, 2023
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You are a published author. You must be rich! You are an agent. I know you are rich. If it only were true. Let’s attempt to explain some of the bottom-line basics of Author Accounting. Please remember this exercise is generic; your mileage may vary. I will use some simplified numbers, so we can all follow the math. Let’s start with a $20.00 retail-priced book. The publisher sells the book …

Read moreAuthor Accounting 101
Category: Book Business, Career, Contracts, E-Books, Economics, MoneyTag: Author, Economics, Money

Money Problems?

By Steve Laubeon November 21, 2022
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Money is of significant importance to every one of us. Some writers live on the revenue generated by their efforts. We represent a number of clients who are the main breadwinners in their families. It is unfortunate that the role of the agent is regularly defined by the size of the deal. The film Jerry Maguire made the slick, money-centered agent into a cliche with his client shouting, “Show me …

Read moreMoney Problems?
Category: Book Business, Money, PersonalTag: Money, thanksgiving

The Myth of the Unearned Advance

By Steve Laubeon September 12, 2022
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[I wrote much of this article back in 2011. Upon review, I stand by the analysis. I’ve left the past comments to accentuate the discussion.] ______________ A common myth permeating the industry is that a book is not profitable if the author’s advance does not earn out. I would like to attempt to dispel this myth. First, let’s define the term “advance.” When a book contract is created between …

Read moreThe Myth of the Unearned Advance
Category: Book Business, Career, Money, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Book Business, Contracts, Get Published, Money, Traditional Publishing

When the Gloves Come Off

By Steve Laubeon August 17, 2020
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Fist Slams Table in Anger

The publishing experience is rarely done in isolation. This means working with other people. And if their performances or efforts do not meet your expectations, conflict can occur. Over the years I’ve seen more conflict than you can imagine–of all types and variety. But the majority of issues boil down to four areas: Editorial Production (cover design?) Marketing and publicity Getting …

Read moreWhen the Gloves Come Off
Category: Book Business, Career, Communication, EditingTag: Career, Communication, Editing, Money

Where Is My Money?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 10, 2020
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Before I became a literary agent I had no idea how much energy this profession spent being a “collections agent.” Recently someone asked us the following questions (use the green button to the right to ask your question!):
What do you do, as an agent, when a publisher does not pay advances on royalties on time as per their legal contract?
What if a publisher is consistently late (months) saying …

Read moreWhere Is My Money?
Category: Agency, Book Business, Contracts, MoneyTag: Agents, Money, Returns
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