The Freelance Writers' Lot by Nancy DuVergne Smith
The Composite Writer's Lot
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The Freelance Writers' Lot by Nancy DuVergne Smith
The Composite Writer's Lot
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Writers across the seven genres spend an average of 32 hours a week on writing and related activities, with 39 percent of the sample working part time, defined as less than 20 hours a week. The vast majority of writers in all genres, except staff jobs, are freelancers. Half the writers reported a significant commitment to a second genre in which they regularly spend time and most earn money. These multiple genre writers spend 25 hours a week working in their principal writing field and 11 hours in a second writing endeavor for an average writing week of 36 hours. The work week does not end with those 36 hours for many. Some 53 percent of the surveyed writers spend an average of 16 hours a week earning money in a field outside writing. Their work week totals 52 hours, with academic writers claiming the most nonwriting work time - 47 percent of their work week - and technical writers, the least, 22 percent. Writers' incomes fall well below those of comparably-educated Americans. The average income for individuals who hold bachelor's degrees is $29,868.* Yet while 91 of surveyed writers hold B.A.s and 50 percent, graduate degrees, their income is significantly lower. Looking at writing income during 1991-1993, a typical writer with 15 years experience earned a median annual income of $4,000 from freelancing. Staff jobs brought in $25,000. Long term contracts - held by writers who are not employees but have ongoing agreements with publishers - earned $12,500. While writers tend to write in several genres, a majority - 68 percent - earn income in only one employee relationship - either freelance, staff, or contract.
Nonwriting income - earned by 53 percent - averaged $17,500. Sources of this income included self employment, reported by 21 percent; salaries, 18 percent; hourly wages, 11 percent; and government subsidies, 3 percent. Investment income was reported by 23 percent - indicating 77 percent have no substantial savings. In addition, 33 percent stated they had neither pension nor retirement funds set aside. Writers' households, with an average of 2.2 residents, recorded a median income of $40,000. Low income levels are the norm for writers, the survey results suggest, despite success in terms of frequency of publication. "I have consistently increased my output of...books," said a 45-year-old Midwestern author. "My reviews have been good to excellent...I've been on radio and national TV - but frankly have learned little money after all expenses are paid and am often frustrated with the profession."
A characteristic freelance journalist, a 44-year-old woman living in the San Francisco area, earns $7,500 a year working 26 hours a week on magazine articles and 12 hours on newspaper feature stories. To shore up her income, she works 15 hours a week, earning $12,500, as a self-employed consultant. For this 53-hour work week, she earns $20,000 on average. Fortunately, she is likely to live in her own home with another person. Their joint household income is $40,000. Journalists who hold staff jobs on newspapers or magazines, for example, fare better financially. Staffers report $25,000 in salaries while contractors, who work under long term agreements with publishers, earn about $7,500 a year.
Some writers credited flat rates over decades as a factor in current income levels. "I used to edit five newsstand magazines from 1970-77," said a 48-year-old Californian, now an author and corporate writer. "Rates have decreased since then. I paid $300 for articles that now fetch $225." Low income suggests why some writers leave the field. "I started with an advertising agency last week and hope to grow them," said a Midwestern journalist leaving freelancing after seven years. "I prefer to write features over advertising, but the money is impossible to live on." Most of the surveyed journalists are established writers who have worked professionally an average of 14 years - only 11 percent describe themselves as beginners. Journalists' average work week totals 34 hours. Like other writers, journalists tend to be city dwellers: 68 percent live in or near cities; 62 percent own homes.
Authors of novels and nonfiction books are slightly older and more experienced than all other writers except academics. Averaging 48 years of age and 34 writing hours per week, authors have been writing professionally for 17 years and earn a median income of $7,500 from freelance work. Those committed to multiple genres put in 26 hours a week on their primary field and 13 more on magazine features, short fiction, or other assignments. In addition, 75 percent earn nonwriting income, working an average of 16 hours in a nonwriting field for $17,500. An author's work week can top 55 hours for a total income of $25,000. Many authors work both as freelancers and have ongoing commitments with publishers. While 92 percent checked freelance income activity, 17 percent report staff salaries, and 24 percent, long term contract earnings. These latter two groups gross higher incomes: staff writers earn $17,500 from writing; contractors earn $12,500 a year.
Authors are likely to own their own homes, 67 percent do; 64 percent live in or near cities. Their average household income is $65,000; 53 percent hold graduate degrees while 38 percent hold a B.A. While unhappy with factors such as income, many writers are attracted to the field - 20 percent of all those surveyed named nonfiction books as their primary field, 5 percent named novels. "Publishers are okay at choosing and printing, but terrible at publicizing and nearly as bad at distributing," said a children's book author who also publishes travel articles. "I quit an academic career at age 46, lured by the siren of writing. I gave up tenure, regular income, high income (I was a successful academic), vacations and benefits for long hours, scabrous pay, zero security. Regret it? Nevah! I liked academe, but these have been the most exciting years of my life."
Writers for corporations or nonprofit institutions average a 34-hour work week. However, the 58 percent who put in a significant number of hours on a second genre clock a 48-hour work week including 26 hours on their primary genre - most often corporate communications or magazine features - and 11 hours on a second writing genre, plus 11 hours on a nonwriting pursuit. Freelancers earn, on average, $12,500 from writing. Many also earn $12,500 from nonwriting efforts: total annual income for these multiple efforts - $25,000 a year. Writing income for staffers is higher with an average of $25,000; for those with long term contracts, $12,500.
These writers include the highest percentage of women. Sixty-seven percent are women; 66 percent own their own homes; and 70 percent live in cities or nearby suburbs. The average age is 45; years committed to writing, 15. Forty-nine percent hold B.A.s; 44 percent hold graduate degrees. Household income for an average 2.2 people totals $40,000. "I have been writing for business publications and nonprofit organizations for more than seven years, mainly as a freelancer," said a 49-year-old New Yorker. "Although my earnings and security have gradually increased, neither is adequate. The NWU has been very important in providing networking contacts, basic standards for freelance work, and grievance support. Far more needs to be done to assure professional treatment of writers."
Small press magazine writers, who named books - both fiction and nonfiction - and poetry as primary genres, rely heavily on nonwriting income, working 18 hours a week to earn $20,000 a year. On average 47 years old with 16 years committed to writing, freelancers earn $4,000 a year writing 29 hours a week. The 54 percent who are committed to more than one genre listed 20 hours a week in their primary genre and 11 more hours in fields such as opinion/review articles, nonfiction books, or short fiction. Staffers and contractors fare slightly better with annual writing incomes of $12,500 and $7,500, respectively.
With a household income of $40,000, 62 percent of small press magazine writers own their own homes; 60 percent live in or near cities. They are highly educated - 61 percent hold graduate degrees. Although income is particularly low for small press writers, working conditions are also a concern. "There needs to be a real commitment by small presses to get stuff back or respond within six-twelve months, especially when I include a SASE and ask them to do so specifically," said a 42-year-old poet and technical writer. Continue the survey |
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Take me home! Copyright 1995 Nancy DuVergne Smith
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