Most writers earn less than £600 a year, survey reveals

Figures show the vast majority of authors, both traditionally and self-published, are struggling to make a living from their workThe publishing industry has never been so sharply divided. In the week when the erotica writer Sylvia Day signed a staggering eight-figure two-book deal with St Martin's Press, a survey reveals that 54% of traditionally-published authors and almost 80% of go-it-alone writers are making less than $1,000 (£600) a year.More than 9,000 writers, from aspiring authors to seasoned pros, took part in the 2014 Digital Book World and Writer's Digest Author Survey, presented at this week's Digital Book World conference. The survey divided the 9,210 respondents into four camps: aspiring, self-published only, traditionally-published only, and hybrid (both self-published and traditionally-published). More than 65% of those who filled out the survey described themselves as aspiring authors, with 18% self-published, 8% traditionally-published and 6% saying they were pursuing hybrid careers.Just over 77% of self-published writers make $1,000 or less a year, according to the survey, with a startlingly high 53.9% of traditionally-published authors, and 43.6% of hybrid authors, reporting their earnings are below the same threshold. A tiny proportion – 0.7% of self-published writers, 1.3% of traditionally-published, and 5.7% of hybrid writers – reported making more than $100,000 a year from their writing. The profile of the typical author in the sample was "a... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #conservative estimate

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Most writers earn less than £600 a year, survey reveals'


'Diverse' BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist revealed

Five young writers aged 14-19 are shortlisted for this year’s BBC Young Writers’ Award. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


New Wattpad adverts earn writers ‘up to $1,000 a month’

Wattpad has claimed writers could earn up to $1,000 (£758) a month through its new advertising programme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


L S Hilton named Glamour's Writer of the Year

L S Hilton, the author of Bonnier Zaffre lead title Maestra, has been named Glamour magazine’s 2016 Writer of the Year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


‘Refugee’ revealed as Children’s Word of the Year

"Refugee" has been revealed as Children’s Word of the Year, after Oxford University Press reviewed children's entries to Radio 2’s Chris Evans Breakfast Show’s "500 Words" short story writing competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Independent Bookshop of the Year regional shortlists revealed

A record year for submissions has led to the highest ever number of regional shortlisted entries in this year’s British Book Industry Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year category, sponsored by Gardners Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #record year #year category #independent bookshop #gardners books


Mills & Boon reveals 'man of the year' cover winner

Mills & Boon has revealed drama teacher and public speaker, Courtney Hayles, as the winner of its Man of the Year 2016 competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mills boon #public speaker


Waterstones reveals New Year Book Club titles

Two Weidenfeld & Nicolson titles and the Desmond Elliott Prize winner are among the eight novels to have made it onto the Waterstones New Year Book Club, commencing in January. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones reveals


Waterstones reveals 'richly diverse' Book of the Year shortlist

The shortlist for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2015 has been revealed, featuring a list that would  "not have been produced by an algorithm,” the chain's m.d. James Daunt has said. The eight-strong selection nominated by Waterstones booksellers across the UK encompasses four novels, three... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones book #book - #waterstones reveals #james daunt #waterstones booksellers


Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer Award shortlist revealed

Sunjeev Sahota and Sara Taylor are among the four authors who have made the shortlist for The Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sunjeev sahota #sara taylor


PW Salary Survey 2015: What People in the Publishing Industry Actually Earn

From editorial assistants to senior VP’s, this is how much people who work in publishing reported earning last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #senior vp


Unseen Aleister Crowley writings reveal 'short-story writer of the highest order'

Anthology of uncollected writings should secure a reappraisal of notorious occultist, says publisherAleister Crowley, the occultist once dubbed the “wickedest man in the world”, is due for a reassessment as a short-story writer, according to a new anthology of his uncollected writing which... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'The Seven Good Years' collects quirky, touching family stories by Israeli writer Etgar Keret

Etgar Keret presents his memoir: a series of raw and witty stories that document seven years of a father-son relationship. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BookCon 2015: Put ’Em Up! Powerhouse Mystery Writers Reveal Secrets on the ‘Pencil Panel’

Don’t tell anyone,” confides bestselling author Brad Meltzer about today’s panel “Inside the Mystery Writer’s Studio,” in which he is participating with fellow superstars James Patterson and Nelson DeMille. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mystery writer #nelson demille


Hub City Writers Project Celebrates 20 Years of Literary Energy

Hatched over coffee 20 years ago, the Hub City Writers Project has grown into an indie press, a nonprofit bookstore and driving force behind the literary arts in Spartanburg, SC. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie press #driving force #literary arts


'Huge inequality' in writer earnings

There is a “huge inequality” in earnings between writers, with a small number – 10% - earning most of the money made by professional authors, research released today (20th April) has found. The Business of Being an Author: A Survey of Authors Earnings and Contracts was commissioned by the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #professional authors #small number #money made #research carried


Survey Says Median Author Advance in UK under £6,600

The Bookseller reports that the median advance for traditionally published UK authors is less than 6,600 pounds, based on the early results of a new survey The post Survey Says Median Author Advance in UK under £6,600 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post survey #bookseller reports #median advance #early results


Independent Bookshop of Year shortlists and winners revealed

The regional shortlists and winners of The Bookseller Industry Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year category, sponsored by Gardners Books, have been praised by the judging committee for their “creativity, passion and [for] demonstrating the very best the sector has to offer”. The judges —... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year shortlists #year category #independent bookshop #regional shortlists #gardners books


Many authors’ earnings fall below $500pa, survey finds

Research shows median income for all authors is now below $5,000, though ‘hybrid’ authors who use both traditional and self-publishing are doing bestAlmost a third of published authors make less than $500 (£350) a year from their writing, according to a new survey, with around a half of writers... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #survey shows #earnings fall #traditionally published #financial rewards


Remote e-lending pilot project reveals half-year trends

Remote ebook lending in libraries leads to a "significant" increase in borrowing, but not to an increase in book buying, according to interim trends noted at the six-month stage of a year-long pilot project. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book buying


Educational Writers Awards 2014 shortlist revealed

Four “outstanding examples of non-fiction books” make up the shortlist for the 2014 Educational Writers’ Award. The award, run by the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and the Society of Authors (SoA), celebrates educational writing that “inspires creativity and encourages... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors licensing #authors soa