Both my daughters are poets and one of them also writes non-fiction articles and chapters related to her job. I think they’re lucky because they come to writing with the gift of knowing the real fiscal facts of a writer’s life. They have no illusions.
They know that even a hard-working writer like me, with lots of published books and a long track record, foreign editions, fabulous reviews in the national media, would be better off financially working in the local supermarket. Harsh but true.
They know that even to make ends meet, I’ve had to develop various related income streams from things like teaching workshops, working for a literary consultancy and doing school visits, all of which take chunks of time away from the writing.
The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society have published a major piece of research into authors’ earnings this year. Some of its headline findings are
- only 11% of professional authors (those who dedicate the majority of their time to writing) earn their whole living from writing
- the typical income of a professional author is £11,000 a year, less than two thirds of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Minimum Income Standard
Novelist Joanne Harris commented, ‘It’s good to see that finally we are becoming aware of just how little the average author earns.’
Poet Wendy Cope commented, ‘Most people know that a few writers make a lot of money. This survey tells us about the vast majority of writers, who don’t. It’s important that the public should understand this.’
It wasn’t always so. When I started out more than twenty years ago nearly half of professional authors could make their whole (if basic) living from writing.
On the upside, we now have the self-publishing option, but we need to approach that with our eyes open too. As you’ll know if you’ve been following this blog, I was very much guided in my recent self-publishing venture by the advice of Diana Kimpton at www.helpwithpublishing.com. She says only spend what you could afford to lose.
This really needs considering. With self-publishing, you are not only likely to earn little, you may very well make an actual loss.
I would never suggest to anyone that they give up the day job and commit a hundred percent to writing; I would never encourage them to believe they will ever be able to do so, unless they have an extraordinary stroke of luck.
If you want to be a published author, travel hopefully by all means, but be aware that the chance of earning a basic living from writing alone is low, and the chance of making a good living from it is very low indeed.
All of which is not to say don’t go for publication, just don’t go for it with your eyes closed, or you’ll bump into some hard facts down the line.
I’m looking forward to the day when my daughters have their collections published – I’d love them to do a collection together. That would be completely amazing!
Being published won’t mean they can give up the day job, at least not without years of hard graft and good fortune, and if they ever do want to make writing their main occupation, they will probably have to supplement it with other work.
But what being published will mean is that they are honouring and sharing their gifts, and opening to new opportunities as writers.
If you approach publication in that spirit, rather than as a chance to quit the day job, you will not be disappointed.
Here’s a wonderful, clear and thorough assessment of the current financial situation for authors by Emma Darwin on her brilliant blog This Itch of Writing.
Jenny Alexander's blog: Writing in the House of Dreams 
Reblogged this on Brian G Spare PhD and commented:
This has been my experience with writing.
It seems to be most authors’ experience with writing, Brian. Thanks for reblogging 🙂
I believe most writers are fully aware of the cold, hard facts regarding “The Writing Life.” I certainly won’t be disappointed if I don’t become a best-selling author in my lifetime. I don’t write solely because I hope to earn a fortune. Fiction writing is one of my many attributes; it’s an essential part of me. I’ve always liked to compose stories. I never have to force myself to be creative with fiction writing. Stories emerge from my peculiar psyche like a meteorite plunging through Earth’s atmosphere. It’s a shame, though, because writers are an invaluable commodity. Without us people would be bored into long-lasting fits of depression.
I completely agree, Alejandro – we are ‘an invaluable commodity’ – I like the way you put that. Considering the challenges of the work we do and the benefits we bring to society, we should be able to make a basic living, and that’s probably why most non-writers can’t believe how little most of us actually make.
Here in the U.S. the Writers Guild of America went on strike twice within a 20-year period. In both cases, they were demanding a percentage of profits from residuals and more creative control. The 1988 – 89 strike was the longest-lasting of the two and cost billions for the state of California where WGA West is based, and the state of New York where WGA East is based. It forced TV networks to dredge up old shows and was severe enough to halt film productions. I recall, during the 1988 strike, one writer pointing out that movie studios can afford to pay millions of dollars to the performers, but suddenly become poor when it comes to the writers.
I think some people believe it’s easy to sit down and write; that creative writing is not a real endeavor. I always like to refer to a story the late Anne Bancroft recounted. She complained to her husband, Mel Brooks, one time about the number of pages of dialogue she had to memorize for an upcoming movie. Brooks supposedly picked up a blank sheet of paper and said something like, “Now, imagine having to put all that dialogue on this.” She never griped about it again.
Here’s another example. About 10 years ago I was watching a behind-the-scenes program about the TV show “Friends.” At one point, the director was making last-minute changes to the script. One of the show’s writers said that it was “hard to be funny on schedule.”
I don’t know what it’s going to take for the overall population to realize their favorite TV shows and other forms of entertainment don’t just materialize because someone wished upon a star.
I have spent the last year writing and editing my first book and no doubt I still have a lot of work to do before I self publish it. It will be about 80 to 90k words and will probably sell in the tens (ever the optimist).
At the same time I write a blog that takes a couple of hours to write with well over 150,000 views this year.
I make no money from it either but for me I just love writing.
If your book isn’t about your seafaring adventures, I’d say make the next one your own story – it sounds as if you could sell a fair few to people who love and visit your blog, and hopefully they’ll spread the word. You’ve already got a striking ‘look’ and plenty of pics on the blog, and loads of material that could form the basis of your book. Best of luck with all your writing projects and thank you for commenting here in the House of Dreams.