A world first survey of more than 2200 authors from across the world has found that self-published authors earn more than writers with publishers.
Conducted by UK-based organisation the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the Independent Author Income Survey found that average incomes for independent authors are on the rise.
The survey found that in 2022, the median income of ‘primary income’ self-publishing authors (those who spend more than half their working time on writing and publishing activities) was US$12,749 (A$19,020). For all respondents, median income rose 53% on the previous year, with the average income increasing by 34% over 2021 to US$82,600 (A$123,258).
The average income for independent authors was over US$80,000 (A$121,000). About a quarter of respondents had earned very little from their publishing, bringing in between US$0–1000 (A$1500); 44% reported revenue over US$20,000 (A$30,260); 28% earned more than US$50,000 (A$75,640); and almost 20% earned US$100,000 (A$150,000) or more.
Over 2200 independent authors from all major English-speaking countries participated in the survey, with largest response coming from the US, accounting for about 52% of all respondents. Participants from the UK made up just over 21%, with Australian and New Zealand respondents making up 8.25%.
Romance, fantasy/sci fi/speculative, and crime/thriller/detective were the most prevalent genres in which self-publishers were primarily engaged, representing a combined 57% of all respondents.
ALLi’s survey comes after Macquarie University’s National Survey of Australian Book Authors, which found that total annual income for Australian authors, including all sources of income, is $64,900. The survey also reported an increase in independent publishing, ‘especially for some genre fiction authors for whom it is a good fit and a more profitable publishing model’.
According to ALLi, the median author income has fallen in countries including the UK, where it fell to to US$8600 (A$12,836), down 38.2% since 2018, and the US, to US$6080 (A$9074) in 2018, down 24% from 2014.
For more information about ALLi and the report, visit the ALLi website.
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