Most writers dream of making a living from their work. Only a tiny proportion do. In fact, barely 19% of published authors earn all of their income from writing according to the Society of Authors. In 2022, a published author’s median earnings were £7,000 – a drop of 60% in real terms over the previous ten years.
This won’t surprise many people. The Rowlings and Grishams and Kings are exceptions to the rule. Most of us grudgingly accept that wealth – or even financial comfort – is unlikely to come from our writing. We do it because we like it. Still, wouldn’t it be nice to pay the bills from writing alone?
It has become increasingly difficult even in traditional professional fields. Journalism has never been especially lucrative, but the slow death of print newspapers and the flourishing online ecosystem means that many writers are effectively writing for free.
