Cold, hard reality

[ksmith]

Thanks to John Scalzi for discussing the matter of writing income. Note the comment stating that an SF income of $67K/year likely puts him in the top 1% of SFWA, earnings-wise.

This is a man who works his ass off, and writes fast. If you work your ass off and write more slowly, but don't happen to create Hannibal Lecter, shave off accordingly.

I will point friends and acquaintances..and the odd stranger...toward that post when they ask me why I'm still working the day job even though I've published four books.

Comments

hrmm

[arconna.livejournal.com]

I've always looked at it this way. If I am trying to get published because I want to be Stephen King and have loads of money, then I probably shouldn't be a writer in the first place. I think too many people think they are going to be the next big author and get disappointed when it doesn't happen. Write because you want to write, not because you want a huge paycheck.

But maybe I have odd thinking...

Re: hrmm

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Write because you want to write, not because you want a huge paycheck.

I can argue both sides of this with myself, and have on numerous occasions.

Bottom line the first: I write because 1) I enjoy the process of creating the story, and 2) I derive pleasure from the response of readers. For those reasons, I would likely continue to write no matter what, but I would always write with an eye toward selling, because--and this is my opinion, so TIFWIW--if no one wants to read me, I've ceased being a storyteller, and that's the other hand that makes for the clapping and otherwise what the hell's the point?

Bottom line the second: I would like to write fiction for a living someday, and that means hitting certain marks financially so that I can continue to pay my way through life. I see this as different from the writing-because-I-want-to-write.

I would love to be Stephen King. I'd be thrilled to just make a living in this market.

So in a way, I am trying to get published so I can be Stephen King, while understanding that odds are seriously against. But I will still try, while writing what I want to write. It's a circular firing squad sort of reasoning, full of contradictions.

[cmpriest.livejournal.com]

Oh, preach it. I read that and did a little cheer -- if for no other reason than that I'm only in year 3 or so ... and he gives me hope :)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

My feelings are mixed. To be honest, I thought he made more writing SF, but that may only be because I've been hearing/reading about him for the past few years. Not logical, I know.

[scalzi.livejournal.com]

Well, remember that royalties, etc., are on a bit of a time delay, and that I'm counting income that I actually have in hand. Much of the income I received in 2006 was earned in 2005, when only Old Man's War was out (well, and Agent to the Stars, too, but that was a limited edition). 2007 will see me receive 2006 royalty income, which I expect to be somewhat more, and etc.

It's certainly the case, however, that money moves slowly in publishing land.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

It's certainly the case, however, that money moves slowly in publishing land.

And the more you earn, the slower the money moves. My payouts were 1/3 of total contract on signing, 1/3 of the single book amount on outline, and the balance of the single book amount on delivery. Some folks with larger contracts have part of the payout held back until the book is released.

I have to deal with my unrealistic expectations, I guess. But it doesn't help when I read that prior to DVC, Dan Brown was considered a midlist thriller novelist at something like $150-200K/book. That's my kind of midlist.

[naomikritzer]

Yeah, no kidding. I read things like that and think, "Why am I wasting my time on this SF/F stuff when clearly I ought to be writing thrillers so my husband can retire and we can go live in in an enormous country house in the mountains of Vermont? I mean, sure I prefer to read SF/F but maybe I should see if I could learn to write thrillers. I used to write very good computer manuals; writing thrillers would be a lot more fun than writing computer manuals..."

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

The pace needs to move. Sometimes, the research involved seems *whoa*, which explains why ex-CIA folk write books featuring CIA agents, and ex-doctors write medical thrillers and whatnot. Cuts down on the research, and lends an air of authenticity to the enterprise.

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Yowsier, that's my kind of midlist too. ;-) I should go read that post although I am a bit afraid of the stats. Right now I'm kicking myself for not gearing up and cranking out more non-fiction articles and fiction right after I suspected my Fox gig may be going away. It's hard to go from making $100,000 to suddently making just about nothing. ;-( As freaked as I am about that, I'm determined to take the next few months and try my damndest to get some writing bought because up here in the resort town where I live the only job options seem to be K-Mart, the grocery store and making beds at some hotel.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

It's hard to go from making $100,000 to suddently making just about nothing. ;-(

That is a kick in the head. I hope things turn around soon!

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well I actually went from $120,000 in 2005 to $46,000 last year so it was a gradual shock. ;-) My tax guy was so funny when he asked how much I was going to make this year and I replied that I had no idea. Guess he doesn't really understand the whole freelance thing because he simply said, "Well I'm sure you'll write something." Yeah, but someone else needs to pay me for it. LOL