The Crafty Writer

Without wanting to get the year off to a depressing start, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to post this link about authors’ earnings from The Times.

In summary:

• The majority of authors aged 24 - 35 earn an average of £5000 a year from their writing.
• The majority of all authors earn less than a third of the UK national average wage (£28,000)
• The majority of authors have to take on extra work to make ends meet
• It may take up to 10 years before an author starts earning significant money from their writing.

This is no surprise to those of us who’ve been scribbling away in our garrets for years, earning less than a cleaner and certainly never affording to pay one. These findings by the Society of Authors also bring our poverty into perspective:

In a recent Society of Authors survey, 61% of their members earned under £10,000 a year and 46% under £5,000. Three quarters of members earned less than the average wage, two-thirds earned less than half and half earned less than an employee on the national minimum wage. Only 6% earned more than £1,000 from salaried writing, only 12% got more than £1,000 from PLR (Public Lending Rights) and 2% got more than £1,000 from the ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society). Only 1% received over £5,000 in grants and bursaries, only 5% received over £500 and only 2% won over £500 in prize money. ALCS: In 1998-99 they distributed £9.4 million to 21,000 rights holders, but only 17% of respondents to the Society of Authors’ questionnaire got over £100, and only 4% received over £500.

So why do we do it? Well, if you’re like me, you have to. It’s in my blood. I’ve tried working 9 - 5 in an office and was completely miserable and unable to write. I take hope from the Times article however, that after 10 years I might see a marked increase in my earnings (ie getting over the £10,000 mark). I’ve been pursuing a full-time writing career for eight years now, so wealth unimaginable may soon be over the horizon. Seriously though, I think there’s something in the 10-year watershed.

The Seven Year Itch

This last year, my seventh, saw a considerable increase in my profit margin. I don’t believe this is an accident. I put it down to:

• After seven years I’ve learnt to deal with rejection and not let it stop me sending out more work.
• After seven years I’ve explored most genre of writing and am finally beginning to find what I’m best at.
• After seven years I think I’ve finally started to learn how to write! (Art is one thing, craft another …)
• After seven years I’ve begun to realise my financial worth as a writer and am not prepared to work for peanuts.
• After seven years I have the credentials to be able to demand more than peanuts.
• After seven years I have an extensive portfolio to back up my credentials. (For more on building a portfolio see my posts on how to get started in feature writing and creative writing: markets and opportunities.
• After seven years I started this blog which has given me a greater profile and access to international readers and markets. For more on how to make money from blogging, visit my technical and internet advisor’s post Blogging for Beginners 3. If you want further advice on how to set up a blog or website, contact us directly.

There’s a story in the Bible about Jacob who worked for seven years to earn the hand of his beloved Rachel. Conversely, I’ve heard that if a marriage is going to break up, it’s usually within seven years. So what’s this got to do with writing? If you’re starting out as a writer, don’t give up before seven years. By that time you should be able to see some light at the end of the tunnel, and if not, you need to decide whether to just write as a hobby or still try to sell your work.

Top Tips to help you start earning

• Downsize to a part-time job. This will require a financial sacrifice, but will give you more time to write. I work as a writing tutor. A friend of mine is a part-time librarian. Another works in a bookshop. And I’ve heard of one man who became a postman as it gave him lots of time to think and even more time to write.
• Make sure your partner supports you in your decision and has a full-time job. A lack of support at home is not likely to help you make it as a writer. Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem if you married a millionaire. Seriously though, particularly if you have dependants, make sure you and they have enough to live on. You may have to downsize from a BMW to a Fiesta or move to a cheaper part of town, but it can be done. If you live on your own you’ve probably got more time to write and may have no dependants to worry about. If you’re a single parent you’ll need to draw an your whole support network to help you find time to write. If you believe the PR, JK Rowling did it, so why can’t you?
• Be prepared to take on poorly-paid writing jobs to build up your portfolio.
• Be prepared to take on dull writing tasks. The most boring writing job I ever did was for an estate agent. Yawn. Hardly high literature, but it paid and earned me some time to pursue what I consider to be my ‘heart writing’.
• Work on building your profile through talks, workshops and websites.
• Try to work on a couple of projects at the same time. I know some people find it difficult to split their focus, but the more irons you have in the fire, the greater the chance of publication or production. If you really can’t do it, make sure you have a quick turnover, sending off one project then starting on another immediately.

Is there anybody out there?

Get free advice from your local Business Link or Receiver of Revenue’s office. The moment you start earning money from your writing you can and should register as self-employed. You can get tax breaks and may be eligible for certain grants. See my post on copyright, libel and finance. This was written for freelance non-fiction writers and feature writers, but the same principles of registering as self-employed apply to all forms of writing.

Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, The Writer's Handbook and the US-based Writer's Market all have informative sections on finance for writers.

For advice on how to manage your own finances, check out Financial Management for the Small Business.

The following organisations can give you further advice on writing-related finance and earnings:

• Burry Man’s Writing Centre - for a plethora of international links, advice and resources for writers, including the USA, Canada, Australia and UK.
• NUJ Freelance Guide - what you should expect to be paid for non-fiction articles in the UK
• Writers’ Guild of Great Britain - a great resource for scriptwriters
• New Writing South - UK regional writing umbrella body.
• New Writing North - UK regional writing umbrella body.
• Scottish Arts Council - Scottish arts funding
• Arts Wales - Welsh arts funding
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland - Northern Irish arts funding

A productive writing and financially fruitful new year to you all!