3 answers
Zoey
Student
Zimmerman, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
189 views
How much do you usually make/how do you support your lifestyle?
I'm in 11th grade and looking into becoming a writer. I'm curious about the pay and if I'm going to be a "starving artist"
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2 answers
Nik Korba
Writer
18
Answers
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Updated
Nik’s Answer
Great question, Zoey.
I studied Screenwriting and English Literature in college. When I graduated (in 1994) I quickly found a job in the newsletter industry that allowed me to make a good entry-level wage. As my skills evolved -- I learned to write faster and with more focus, to manage contacts, and to guide other writers -- my value and my pay increased. While I have never made a huge salary, I've never lived the lifestyle of a starving artist.
What I believe you'll find regardless of the industry you end up in is that you make more money as you move from a "worker" role -- the person writing content -- to a "manager" role -- the person helping the team to write content. If you are able to develop those skills, things like managing editorial calendars, ensuring consistency across channels, and keeping teams on task, you will be able to demands a solid salary.
I studied Screenwriting and English Literature in college. When I graduated (in 1994) I quickly found a job in the newsletter industry that allowed me to make a good entry-level wage. As my skills evolved -- I learned to write faster and with more focus, to manage contacts, and to guide other writers -- my value and my pay increased. While I have never made a huge salary, I've never lived the lifestyle of a starving artist.
What I believe you'll find regardless of the industry you end up in is that you make more money as you move from a "worker" role -- the person writing content -- to a "manager" role -- the person helping the team to write content. If you are able to develop those skills, things like managing editorial calendars, ensuring consistency across channels, and keeping teams on task, you will be able to demands a solid salary.
Thank you very much!
Zoey
Sierra Burke
Author
2
Answers
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Updated
Sierra’s Answer
I was a cybersecurity professional for 30 years. I was in debt and miserable. I had always loved writing and finally took the plunge to make writing my full-time career. Now I am both happy and just as poor. Writing is not the glamorous and wealth-brickening career that authors like Steven King and Nikolas Sparks project. but it can be rewarding and fulfilling.
Many authors work side gigs, freelance writing, a retail job, or as a waitperson, just to pay the bills. Writing is their passion and what they consider their career. It is where they put in their time and energy and, most importantly, their love. There is more to writing than just producing the text, there is editing, publishing, and marketing if you ever want your work to reach the public. This is time-consuming and expensive.
I guess my answer is simple, writing needs to be a passion, not a route to get rich. There will be a few who find a lucrative career through the work. It should be a love for the process first.
Find your passion and your genre. Start there before you jump into writing.
Figure out a space in your life to write. build the art before it becomes a job.
Take time to learn the craft before you need to depend on the income.
Find another source of income to sustain you and don't plan on living large.
Enjoy Life!
Many authors work side gigs, freelance writing, a retail job, or as a waitperson, just to pay the bills. Writing is their passion and what they consider their career. It is where they put in their time and energy and, most importantly, their love. There is more to writing than just producing the text, there is editing, publishing, and marketing if you ever want your work to reach the public. This is time-consuming and expensive.
I guess my answer is simple, writing needs to be a passion, not a route to get rich. There will be a few who find a lucrative career through the work. It should be a love for the process first.
Sierra recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for being so honest, this is very helpful!
Zoey