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Income Levels Among Writers

Highlycommon news stories feature authors securing mega-deals for their books and movies, worth millions or even billions of dollars. Notable instances of remarkable success...

Income Levels Amongst Writers
Income Levels Amongst Writers

Income Levels Among Writers

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In the world of literature, the role of a writer has evolved significantly over the years. This transformation is the focus of a recent joint report published by The Guardian and Publishing Perspectives, shedding light on the financial aspects of authorship.

One of the contributors to this conversation is Sara Wolf, a guest post contributor at The Blooming Twig, an independent, boutique publishing house that caters to the adventurous tastes of its readership.

The report reveals that publishing a book is not merely about monetary gains, but rather, it's about touching readers and sharing compelling stories. This sentiment resonates with The Blooming Twig, which values the power of storytelling above all else.

The report also highlights a shift in the number of writers earning a living from their craft. A conservative estimate suggests that five to ten times as many people are now making a living as writers compared to a few years ago. However, the income for most authors remains modest.

A study conducted by the University of London on 2,500 working writers found that 54% of traditionally-published authors and 80% of self-published authors earn less than $1,000 a year. The top 2% of authors, on the other hand, make a good living, and the most successful authors make a tremendous amount of money.

Interestingly, the report found that women make 80% of what their male counterparts earn. This disparity is a concerning trend that the literary community is working to address.

The report further notes that publishers tend to concentrate on safe choices and celebrity brands, sometimes at the expense of supporting backlist and midlist authors who sell steadily but more slowly. This trend has led to a growing number of authors turning to self-publishing and hybrid publishing models.

Less than 1% of self-published writers, 1.3% of traditionally published writers, and over 5% of hybrid writers reported earning more than $100,000 a year from their writing. This suggests that these alternative publishing models may offer more opportunities for authors to earn a substantial income.

Despite these challenges, the report underscores the importance of storytelling and the significant impact that authors can have, regardless of their financial success. The future of literature remains bright, with countless stories waiting to be told and shared with the world.

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