How much money does an average writer makes?

Question: How much money does an average writer makes!?

and by average, I mean that sells an average number of books!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Not much!.

I know two writers with three and four books under their belts respectively!.

One still works two jobs at bars 40 hours a week!. The other doesn't work at anything other than writing, but only because his wife is out working to make ends meet!. They each make probably 30-40k or so a year from their writing!. One's been writing for 10 years, the other for about 8!. One did get a movie option and a fair chunk of change a few years ago, but the movie was never made and the money long since ran out!.

As people have said, unless you are a blockbuster, don't expect a mansion and maids (and don't expect to be a blockbuster - bookstores are FULL of non-blockbuster authors)!. Writers have a pretty thin margin most of the time!. Most writers are professors or teachers when not writing!. Or have other writing related jobs, like for TV or as script doctors for other writers, using their own writing as "bonus" money on top of their regular pay!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Do you mean a fiction writer!? To be honest, unless they are very famous (JK Rowling, Stephen King, etc!.), writing is not a full-time job!. Most writers have to write as almost a part-time job outside of what they do "during the day!."

It's very hard to make it successfully as only a novelist, and the money varies widely depending a great number of factors!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For fiction writers not a whole hell of a lot unless their book becomes successful and/or a bestseller!.

Technical writers can earn as much as $75k annually!. Copywriters like myself can earn as little as $23k annually to as much as if not more than $40-50k!.

Non-fiction writers who are journalists, technical writers, freelancers, copywriters, or business writers have a greater likelihood of financial stability than a fiction writer!. The market is significantly more fickle for the fiction writer than it is a non-fiction writer!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The truth is, it's hard to survive as a writer!. Very few novelists get publishing deals that include a hefty advance!. Unless you are the next J!.K!. Rowlings or Nicholas Sparks (you could be) do not expect to get rich as a writer!. Most writers go the freelance route first!. This means deadlines, editors, little to no compensation and lots of research!. Not to mention writing about things that may not interest you (swimming pool conversion)!. But if you love it, you do it because you love it!. Not for the money (but you gotta eat), not for the fame and certainly not because you think you're great (you might be)!. You do it because you can't see yourself doing anything else!.

If you are the next big thing!.!.!.good for you! It's a road less traveled!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Depends if the books are best sellers!. You're not going to get a lot of money if few people pick your book up from the shelves!. But, for instance, if your books turn into movies (Truman Capote, for example) then you'd be very wealthy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Since most writers are paid a percentage of the books sold (unless you're an established author), it would really depend on what you mean by "average number"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

you may get 10% of the wholesale price as royalties work it out - not much!Www@QuestionHome@Com