Writing income for authors below the poverty level: Authors Guild survey

In the US, a new Authors Guild survey has found that most authors are far from earning a living from their craft, reports Publishers Weekly.

The survey drew responses from 5699 published authors. The median gross pre-tax income from books was US$2000 (A$3100), and the median total writing-related income was US$5000 (A$7775). The latter figure is up 9% from 2018 (adjusted for inflation), with the increase attributed to full-time authors, whose income grew 20% over the period, while part-time authors’ income declined 4%.

Among the other survey findings is that established full-time self-published authors more than doubled their book income in 2022 compared to 2018, to US$19,000 (A$29,540). Over the same period, established full-time traditionally published trade authors’ book income rose only 11% to US$15,000 (A$23,325). The survey also found that the overwhelming majority of authors under 55 years old earned most of their book income by self-publishing. Among authors 65 and older (the largest reporting demographic), 41% reported earning the majority of their book income from self-publishing.

The survey also found that romance authors had the highest median gross income from their books; Black authors’ median writing-related income was US$800 (A$1240), and participating white authors were 36% more likely to be traditionally published than Black authors; and 55% of traditional and 64% of self-published authors have none of their books in audiobook format.

Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger said the newest author income survey ‘paints a sobering picture of the financial realities authors face today,’ adding that 50% of full-time authors ‘continue to earn below minimum wage in many states’. The low earnings ‘underscore why the Authors Guild’s advocacy is so critical on issues like fair contracts, copyright, freedom of expression, and liveable incomes for creators,’ Rasenberger said.

Category: International news