Fair Pay: 6 Tips for Writers (and writing teachers)

Last month, as I filled my dining room table with receipts and mileages and 2022 credit card bills—all to prepare and file my 2022 taxes—I noticed a pattern.

Some of my expressive and creative writing workshops earned my regular hourly fee. Others were for a reduced, agreed-upon cost. Still others were freebies. And one was supposed to be fee-based, but turned out to be a non-paying gig.

Now that you’ve filed your taxes or asked for an extension, here are some been-there tips for getting paid for your time and expertise as a writer:

1. Talk money early: I’m proud to report that this math phobe is getting way more comfortable at saying, “My hourly teaching fee (or presentation fee or freelance writing fee) is $xyz. Does that fit with the organizational budget?” Saying this line and asking this question avoids wasted conversations and becomes much easier with practice and time.

2. Faux literary friendships don’t mean money: As writers, we often love to connect about just-read books. Or we swap opportunities or share experiences. But friendships aside, your time and expertise are just as valuable as other folks’ time and expertise. For example, that plumber who came to my house last year was a lovely fellow and yes, we had a grand chat, but I still had to pay him his set hourly rate.

3. Read and re-read your contract: This one is related to Number 2. Just because you’ve been hitting it off or chatting over the phone or email or even helping out with the event planning, don’t trust or assume that the hiring contract will be written in your favor. Avoid making naïve and costly assumptions. Read every line of that contract. Then decide if this event is right for you (see above about the surprise non-paying gig).

4. The author contract is about more than payment: Look for other, non-monetary items on that presenter’s contract, including audio visual equipment and the presence (or not) of on-site IT support or a delegated Zoom moderator. When you arrive at the site or digitally connect with your audience, you don’t want to invest your valuable time trying to get everything to work. Trust me on this one.

5. Time is money: If it’s a two- or multi-part workshop, ask if you will be expected to respond to students’ between-session emails. It’s fine if you do, but you need to know what to expect. For day- or weekend-long events, are faculty meals included in your stipend? Will you get reimbursed for accommodation costs or mileage? Again, don’t assume. For a multi-week or semester-long program, estimate your real time allocations—including prep time, teaching time, Zoom meetings, student email responses and other duties. Based on these, project your hourly rate. Is this rate financially viable for your budget?

6. Work for free? Yes, but be selective: If you’re going—or can afford to—work for free, make sure that the hosting organization’s mission aligns with your own values or interests. Or ask if there’s a non-monetary payout. When someone asks for a freebie, I ask myself two questions: (1) Am I being asked to work for free because someone has spent down (on other writers) or mismanaged their operating budget? Or (2) Do they really value my expertise, and this will be a mutually rewarding event or project?

The bottom line: Like everything else in our lives, choosing to lead a writing workshop (or do some business or grant writing or give a presentation or mentor a group of young writers) is a choice—usually a happy one. But remember: This is also time taken away from your own creative or writing time. So before you say “yes” to that freelance or programming request, think about what you need, what you can afford, what you’re willing to sacrifice and why.

That “noblesse oblige” thing? For those of us who have bills to pay and taxes to self-prepare, it’s a luxury we don’t have and cannot afford.

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Enjoyed this post? You may also enjoy:

“How Much Money do Writers Earn or Make?”

“What Questions Should You Ask Before You Lead a Writing Workshop or Retreat?”

“On Labor Day: What Your Day Job Brings to Your Writing (and vice versa)”

How Much Money Do Writers Earn or Make?

Before we get into money and numbers here, here’s one writer’s response to the earning-a-living-from-writing thing:

“A couple of years ago I went to a writer’s conference, and speaker after speaker basically said, ‘I always wanted to write, but I had to work, but then I married a rich guy and quit my job and now I can write.’

Several of us wondered how to sign up for the ‘find a rich guy’ break-out session.”

By the way, this writer wrote this after attending a session I had led at a conference in New York City. My topic: being a writer with a day job (based on my 2011 book).

How Much Can I Earn as a Writer?

Right.

Now, let’s get to the money.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for authors and writers is approximately $67,000 per year.

Now wait.

Before you wonder why your last memoir or poetry chapbook or novel didn’t yield even close to that much income, the U.S. Bureau conflates non-creative (copywriting, bloggers, journalists, marketers et al) with creative writers (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, play and other writers).

More realistically, in 2018, The Authors Guild led a study or survey of 5,067 professional American writers. From their book sales alone—not counting speaking fees, teaching or other income—the study’s participating authors earned an average of $3,100 a year.

You don’t need anybody to tell you that that’s way, way below the national poverty rate, and that most of us work a second job or day job or a side hustle.

On Being a Writer with a Day Job: What Day Job Works Best?

To earn enough money to live and pay our bills (and taxes), should we writers use our editorial and interviewing skills to support our creative writing? Or should we go and find a non-writing job to save our creative juices for when we sit down to create?

This one is a tough call and, among all the writers I interviewed for my book, Writer With a Day Job (Random House, 2011), it was a mixed bag.

One interviewee worked as a ghost writer. One taught writing classes. One did PR writing for a financial company. Another worked as a hospital-based nurse. Another worked in a shoe store.

How Much Do Freelance Business Writers Make?

I’ve done my share of freelance business writing and editing—mainly (but not exclusively) for non-profit clients in healthcare. I like healthcare. I like science. I love interviewing patients and families and clinicians.

I’ve also had some wonderful clients, and this work has helped to pay my bills and given me exposure to many different areas of life, healthcare and writing styles.

But if you’re starting out, how much should you charge your business or non-profit clients?

This depends on a number of factors, including the following:

1. How experienced you are as a business writer

2. If you specialize in writing in one particular industry or field (finance, insurance, technology, healthcare, philanthropy, wellness, real estate or others)

3. The area of the country or the world in which you live

4. The complexity of the writing project you’ve been assigned

5. So … how much should you charge? Check out the Editorial Freelancer’s Association’s website, including their “Editorial Rates” page.

The New York Public Library lists 10 famous writers who all worked non-writing day jobs. Whether we work full or part time or freelance, we all find our own way to make the work-writing balance work for us. The important thing is to know your life priorities and to keep creating.

Enjoyed this post? You may also enjoy these blog posts:

What Your Day Job Brings to Your Writing (and vice versa)

Before You Sign Up to Teach That Writing Workshop