I had to chuckle this morning when I stopped by Michael Bracken's blog and read his post about the "riches" of being a writer. He'd just received a payment of 43cents for a story he'd had published in an anthology. I laughed because a week or so ago I received a royalty check for 17cents. Yep it cost the publisher more to mail the check than I received. Of course this is the sixth or seventh check for that story so the total for the past two years comes up to a bit over $25 for the story. But I have to say that it's a tad embarrassing to walk into the bank and cash that seventeen cent check. On the other hand I do have the consolation of knowing that at least I got paid for my work.
And those are the realities of writing that the business world tends to skip over. If you read Writer's Digest or Publisher's Weekly, you read about the three book deals, the six and seven figure advances, the millions that Stephen King makes. They make it sound like everyone who writes is going to get rich and it's simply not true. According to an article in Media Bistro/Galley Cat most authors only make a thousand dollars a year.
Chuck Wendig has a post up today about how long it takes to be an overnight success. For him it was twenty years and millions of words. And he's still counting his pennies and not his millions. He's doing work he loves and making a living, and that's the best most writers can hope for.
The romance of writing and being rich beyond our wildest dreams is what drives many writers. The truth lies in those small checks. If you're in this to make tons of money, you might want to reconsider your writing career, because the truth is not as wonderful as it's painted in the publishing industry's articles. Those are just carrots being dangled in front of your nose.
I'm not saying that you won't be one of the lucky ones, but write with the realities in mind, not your day dreams.
8 comments:
Twenty years and I'm still working at being a success. I got a payment of 27 cents yesterday.
Looks like we're all in the same boat, Charles, and great company to be in. :)
I regularly get checks for under a dollar and am embarrassed to cash them. But by not cashing them, I am further demeaning my work.
Megan was able to quit her day job two years ago so some writers make it. But I worry about her constantly.
Yes, cashing those checks, no matter how small, gives our work worth, Patti. It takes a great deal of courage and self-confidence to be able to give up that day job and depend on your own skills and imagination to make a living.
Sandra, thank you and Charles for making me feel better. Compared to the two of you, I'm rolling in the big bucks!
And, Patti, not cashing those checks really screws up the sender's account. As an anthology editor, I have, sad to report, sent out royalty checks for less than $1 and now have several dozen uncashed checks floating around out there.
Does that mean lunch is on you, Michael? :)
I'm writing for a living now and its counting pennies. I suspect in a year I will be sweating like a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs and heading back to the man for my job back. But, now, I'm writing and publishing and enjoying the hell out of it.
You're very brave, David. I wish you great success!!
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