How Much Money Do Writers Earn or Make?
Before we get into money and numbers here, here’s one writer’s response to the earning-a-living-from-writing thing:
“A couple of years ago I went to a writer’s conference, and speaker after speaker basically said, ‘I always wanted to write, but I had to work, but then I married a rich guy and quit my job and now I can write.’
Several of us wondered how to sign up for the ‘find a rich guy’ break-out session.”
By the way, this writer wrote this after attending a session I had led at a conference in New York City. My topic: being a writer with a day job (based on my 2011 book).
How Much Can I Earn as a Writer?
Right.
Now, let’s get to the money.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for authors and writers is approximately $67,000 per year.
Now wait.
Before you wonder why your last memoir or poetry chapbook or novel didn’t yield even close to that much income, the U.S. Bureau conflates non-creative (copywriting, bloggers, journalists, marketers et al) with creative writers (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, play and other writers).
More realistically, in 2018, The Authors Guild led a study or survey of 5,067 professional American writers. From their book sales alone—not counting speaking fees, teaching or other income—the study’s participating authors earned an average of $3,100 a year.
You don’t need anybody to tell you that that’s way, way below the national poverty rate, and that most of us work a second job or day job or a side hustle.
On Being a Writer with a Day Job: What Day Job Works Best?
To earn enough money to live and pay our bills (and taxes), should we writers use our editorial and interviewing skills to support our creative writing? Or should we go and find a non-writing job to save our creative juices for when we sit down to create?
This one is a tough call and, among all the writers I interviewed for my book, Writer With a Day Job (Random House, 2011), it was a mixed bag.
One interviewee worked as a ghost writer. One taught writing classes. One did PR writing for a financial company. Another worked as a hospital-based nurse. Another worked in a shoe store.
How Much Do Freelance Business Writers Make?
I’ve done my share of freelance business writing and editing—mainly (but not exclusively) for non-profit clients in healthcare. I like healthcare. I like science. I love interviewing patients and families and clinicians.
I’ve also had some wonderful clients, and this work has helped to pay my bills and given me exposure to many different areas of life, healthcare and writing styles.
But if you’re starting out, how much should you charge your business or non-profit clients?
This depends on a number of factors, including the following:
How experienced you are as a business writer
If you specialize in writing in one particular industry or field (finance, insurance, technology, healthcare, philanthropy, wellness, real estate or others)
The area of the country or the world in which you live
The complexity of the writing project you’ve been assigned
So … how much should you charge? Check out the Editorial Freelancer’s Association’s website, including their “Editorial Rates” page.
The New York Public Library lists 10 famous writers who all worked non-writing day jobs. Whether we work full or part time or freelance, we all find our own way to make the work-writing balance work for us. The important thing is to know your life priorities and to keep creating.
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