Wikimedia
When my son was contemplating various professions, I told him, “Whatever you do, don’t become a writer. It’s the fastest way to starve to death.” It turns out I was right. (I hate being right all the time.)
The Authors Guild, of which I am a proud member, has released a report on writing income for American authors. In their terms, we are facing a “‘crisis of epic proportions for American authors’” when it comes to making a living from writing, especially for literary authors.” I would like to think this is why I’ve gotten over a thousand rejections. I’m just too literary! But in fact, every writer’s income has dropped dramatically.
So, all you young and old writers, keep your day job. You’re gonna need it.
(My son, much to my chagrin, is a writer. He is starving to death in Los Angeles.)
____________________
New Guild Report Finds More Declines in Author Earnings
By Calvin Reid, January 7, 2019
In what the Authors Guild is calling the “largest survey of U.S. professional writers ever conducted,” the organization reports the median income published American authors received for all writing-related activity in 2017 was $6,080 in 2017, down from $10,500 in the guild’s 2009 survey.
The survey further found that the median income for specifically book-related income for published authors declined 21%, to $3,100, in 2017 from $3,900 in 2013 and just over 50% from 2009’s median book earnings of $6,250.
The survey was conducted by the Authors Guild in collaboration with 14 other writer and publishing related organizations, and includes data from more than 5,000 published book authors. Previous surveys had focused mainly on guild members and drew a smaller number of responses. A guild spokesperson acknowledged that the surveys have different pools of respondents, but said the guild still believes the figures indicate the general income decline holds true for guild members and for published authors as whole.
Read the rest of this depressing article HERE.
_________________
Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.
The Authors Guild, of which I am a proud member, has released a report on writing income for American authors. In their terms, we are facing a “‘crisis of epic proportions for American authors’” when it comes to making a living from writing, especially for literary authors.” I would like to think this is why I’ve gotten over a thousand rejections. I’m just too literary! But in fact, every writer’s income has dropped dramatically.
So, all you young and old writers, keep your day job. You’re gonna need it.
(My son, much to my chagrin, is a writer. He is starving to death in Los Angeles.)
____________________
New Guild Report Finds More Declines in Author Earnings
By Calvin Reid, January 7, 2019
In what the Authors Guild is calling the “largest survey of U.S. professional writers ever conducted,” the organization reports the median income published American authors received for all writing-related activity in 2017 was $6,080 in 2017, down from $10,500 in the guild’s 2009 survey.
The survey further found that the median income for specifically book-related income for published authors declined 21%, to $3,100, in 2017 from $3,900 in 2013 and just over 50% from 2009’s median book earnings of $6,250.
The survey was conducted by the Authors Guild in collaboration with 14 other writer and publishing related organizations, and includes data from more than 5,000 published book authors. Previous surveys had focused mainly on guild members and drew a smaller number of responses. A guild spokesperson acknowledged that the surveys have different pools of respondents, but said the guild still believes the figures indicate the general income decline holds true for guild members and for published authors as whole.
Read the rest of this depressing article HERE.
_________________
Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.
RSS Feed