A new survey has revealed that the majority of authors, whether traditionally or self-published, earn less than $1,000 (£600) a year from their writing. The 2014 Digital Book World and Writer's Digest Author Survey, which polled more than 9,000 writers, found that 54% of traditionally-published authors and nearly 80% of self-published authors earn below that threshold.
The survey divided respondents into four categories: aspiring, self-published only, traditionally-published only, and hybrid authors. More than 65% described themselves as aspiring authors, while 18% were self-published, 8% traditionally-published, and 6% hybrid. Among self-published writers, 77% earn $1,000 or less annually, compared to 53.9% of traditionally-published authors and 43.6% of hybrid authors.
Only a tiny fraction of writers make a substantial income: 0.7% of self-published, 1.3% of traditionally-published, and 5.7% of hybrid authors reported earning more than $100,000 a year. The typical author in the survey was described as a commercial fiction writer who may also write non-fiction and has a project nearing completion.
Despite low earnings, only a minority of respondents rated making money as 'extremely important' – around 20% of self-published and 25% of traditionally-published authors. However, about 56% of self-published and 60% of traditional authors considered it 'extremely important' to publish a book that people will buy.
Jeremy Greenfield, co-author of the report, noted that 'authors of all stripes, but particularly self-published authors, don't earn huge sums of money doing what they do'. He added that most write to share something or gain recognition, with only the top 2% making a good living. Co-author Dana Weinberg emphasised that while money is not the primary motivator, it provides validation, especially for self-published authors who lack the prestige of a traditional publisher.
Author Hugh Howey, who found success through self-publishing, criticised the survey for painting a gloomy picture. He argued that self-publishing is undergoing a renaissance and that the survey unfairly compares inexperienced self-published authors with established traditionally-published ones. 'Every self-published book is tallied, but only the few traditionally-published books that get published are counted,' he said.
