The Cost of Blogging

Okay, so this isn’t The Black Hours. I admit it, but hey I reckon it’s a worthwhile diversion. This month sees the ten year anniversary of The Cost of Letters, a mighty fine insight into how much the average author earns or expects to earn, and whether or not it was enough to live on. Over on the Macmillan New Writers blog, I’ve suggested the writers answer the same questions posed by Cyril Connolly in 1946 and then later in 1998 by Waterstone’s in their Cost of Letters publication.
As they say, “money makes the world go round”, and it’s a topic that most aspiring writers turn to eventually. So for the record, below are the questions and my answers to them…

How much do you think a writer needs to live on?
“It depends on their circumstances. If you have dependents and have recently taken out a mortgage in the South of England, then I reckon a personal income of around £35,000 is not unrealistic. This would include expenses such as travelling to publicity events, research, buying books etc.
In Sheffield, I think a full-time writer encumbered by a family and a mortgage in today’s financial climate should be earning at least £20,000 or be part of a 40K+ joint income. If they’re lucky, then the partner can make up the lion’s share. I think it also depends on means – if you’re single and used to living on less, then you can probably get away with earning minimum wage. But it’ll be tough…”

Do you think a serious writer can earn this sum by his writing and if so, how?
“Earlier this year, Roger Morris – one of the initial Macmillan New Writers - announced he was writing full-time. Roger is either earning this figure now or he expects to earn enough to go full-time, or he’s being supported by someone else. But from my experience so far, this is rare. In this financial year I will earn roughly half the amount I need to write full-time, yet this was mainly due to a foreign rights deal. Sales alone accounts for about a fifth of my writing income at the moment (but then I was only published in January last year). Foreign rights deals come about once in a blue moon, and should not be used as a basis to plan financially. I would say in today’s climate that it is possible to earn about 20K a year from writing, but even then I think you would be fortunate.”

If not, what do you think is a suitable second occupation for him?
“Something that isn’t too taxing or emotionally draining. You don’t want to come home from work and feel the need to veg out in front of the telly for a few hours, or be in desperate need of a drink down at the pub each night. A suitable occupation I would say would be one that doesn’t dominate your life if you’re seriously thinking about being a writer. A job where on the way home you can think about what you’re going to write tonight, rather than what you have to do at work tomorrow.
Shift work is another option. I know some writers who like doing night-shifts and then write during the day, but there is a health-warning on that: working sporadic shift patterns can disrupt the writing routine. Another occupation I was advised to avoid was working in a bookshop (too depressing watching other writers’ books shifting off the bookshelves other than your own).”

Do you think literature suffers from the diversion of a writer’s energy into other employments or is enriched by it?
“Again, depends on the occupation. If you work in an area of inspiration, i.e. the armed services, advertising, other art industries or lecturing, the writing could certainly be enriched by another occupation. I think the rule of thumb is whether a writer can produce great works in the evening after the day-job or only during the weekends. If it’s the latter, then I think the day-job is being counterproductive to their creativity. Personally, I would love to write full-time to allow me to read more in my spare-time – time that is gobbled up by the hours I have left to write. And writers do need to read – it’s a fundamental part of learning their craft.”


Do you think the state or any other institution should do more for writers?
“The government currently has a New Deal for Musicians. It’s a shame that something similar doesn’t exist for aspiring writers. Perhaps if a writer was taken on by a publisher without an advance, the government would supply one instead? It could be refundable or non-refundable depending on the terms the government would grant. But it’s doubtful this will happen. The Arts Council of England has been given less money once again, and with everyone from musicians to actors jockeying for position, writers will be squeezed out from the good cause lists.
Having said that, writing is like any other profession, and with so many of us wanting to be writers, arbitrary financial awards would be a mistake.”

Are you satisfied with your own solution of the problem and have you any specific advice to give young people who wish to earn their living by writing?
“My situation isn’t that bad. I’m earning a reasonable sum from my writing as mentioned above, and I have a day-job that is not too demanding. It also has the flexibility that if I wish to go part-time then my boss would allow that (something that I’m planning for this year). Added to that I’m with a publisher who is taking an interest in what I write, and I’m developing well under their guidance. I don’t feel like I’ve been thrown into the wind to see how far I can fly without any lessons. When they think I’m ready to make that big leap, they’ll tell me.

I think my main advice to young writers is to be realistic. JK Rowling happens once a generation. Writers earn pittance compared to the real world so be prepared to fund your way to publication much in the same way an undergraduate can fund their way through university (i.e. bar work, shop work, something that doesn’t drain the ole brain). And while it might seem heroic to take risks trying to earn everything from your writing, it might be counter-productive to put yourself under all that pressure. There’s nothing worse than writing for a market and having no success. Write about what interests you, not someone else. If you find some success with that, then it’s a bonus. If not, well then at least you have found some enjoyment in the writing itself.”


Okay. Whew. Not sure if there is any wisdom in the above. Make up your own mind. As for me… Well, The Black Hours is calling and she’s been an unforgiving mistress lately…