How do writers earn a living?...Week 15
Artist Sara Berman, No Visible Means of Support & the Scandinavian Model of Prisons
(The above is from British artist Sara Berman’s No Visible Means of Support, her second solo exhibition with Kristin Hjellegjerde gallery)
We have C to thank for this week’s “My Friend Mary” question. If you’ve been following along you know that occasionally I reach out to my wise friend Mary G. for her answers to reader questions and then I weigh in. As a refresher: I’m doing this one-year newsletter with the promise of providing TMI, recipes and specious advice. So let’s get to that specious advice….
Reader Question: How can a writer earn a living?
I get this question often — sometimes from college students, sometimes from people who want to switch careers and sometimes from people concerned about young people in their lives who only want to write. And sometimes I get this question from fantastic writers who have won accolades from literary publications, but haven’t earned much money. First, I’ll let Mary — who is also a writer — weigh in…
Mary’s answer: Straight out of college I went to New York City and started as a copy girl (what they used to call a proofer) at TIME magazine. One of the big editors knew I wanted to be a writer and he gave me some good advice, which I didn’t take. Even though times have changed drastically, I think his advice still has merit. Here it is: if you really want to be a writer and you’re a newbie, you need to get a job in some obscure place and learn to write. And get published. Then you work your way up to bigger publications. I understand that newspapers and magazines in smaller communities are now fewer and farther between, but if you can get a job at one of these small pubs it’s a great start. You will probably get paid almost nothing, though. So really think about what you mean by “earning a living.” [VC interjecting: JournalismJobs.com often lists these kinds of jobs.]
Okay, but what did I do if I didn’t take that editor’s advice?
I’m a city person so I told my TIME editor that I couldn’t live in a small town. And he said, “I guess you really don’t want to be a writer bad enough.” He was right — and he was wrong. I wanted to be a writer, but maybe not the type of writer he had in mind. There are many, many different types of writers and I opened to these possibilities. I’ve had a long career writing in communications and creative services. Writers also work in public information for hospitals, universities, fire departments, police departments, public relations agencies and many different types of companies. You may initially get hired as an assistant and then have to demonstrate that you are a good writer by taking on small jobs when they’re offered. But someday you just might be Senior Director Development Communications or something like that. If you have other ambitions you can write your novel, screenplay or freelance articles on the side, but the comm jobs are pretty demanding and it’s tough to write a lot at a day job and then go home and also write. It can be done, though!
Me on Money, Money, Money
Now for moi: I’ve always been a working writer (the kind who needs to earn an income) starting from the days when I was still repaying student loans. There are many writers out there who have family money or other sources of income. They aren’t worried about repaying loans, or buying food and paying rent or a mortgage. But I kind of like Sara Berman’s artwork above because I relate to it— no visible means of support but, hey, why not be a writer!?
Here are some of the many ways I’ve earned that income over many, many years:
editor for an association magazine for notaries public — no kidding! This was my first full-time job.
Army reserve magazine editor and writer (for the first couple of years I was living in California I was still fulfilling my six-year commitment. So this was a once-a-month extra job)
copy editor and then managing editor for an alternative health magazine.
freelance writer for a boutique public relations firm and then a somewhat excruciating year+ as a full-time publicist. This is where I met Mary and the boss I talked about last week:( I didn’t love the job but it opened my eyes to a whole other world of NYC magazine editors, freelance writing and much more.
freelance health columnist for a regional (San Fernando Valley) magazine.
freelance editor for a trade publication in the insurance industry (I learned a lot about Obamacare and Medicare). I did stints for this pub twice.
co-author of a pregnancy book with a doctor and a midwife.
freelance evidence-based health/parenting columnist for a major news site.
freelance newsletter writer for two different magazines.
freelance blog contributor for a cosmetics company. I wrote lifestyle stuff — never about their makeup.
freelance grant writer.
freelance editor of academic journal articles.
freelance writer/editor mostly for nonprofit foundations and higher ed (have written everything from articles and web content to speeches/scripts, major reports and white papers).
freelance writer doing reported stories and essays for lots of magazines, newspapers and websites. Huge range of stories — health, science, environment, education, family and culture.
part-time college professor — I’ve taught writing for mass media and I’m slated to teach digital media next year.
writing workshop instructor — new job! I’m teaching a literary journalism workshop soon. More info to come.
The last four things on the list are the way I currently generate an income. I’ve written flash fiction, short stories, sort of a draft of a novella and one screenplay (with collaborators). I haven’t earned much these types of projects, but in my future ideal reality I’d like to add more of those to the list. And I’d kind of like to write for a museum. That’s called interpretive writing. I’m not sure yet how I’d get someone to hire me, but maybe someday.
Of all the people I know earning a living as a writer (incomes vary greatly), I’d say most are open to doing a wide variety of work. Some are accomplished novelists who also write essays and reported pieces — and they teach, run workshops, edit other people’s books, write plays, work as consultants on films/TV and whatever else. Others are not particularly well known, but they get tons of work writing about business, health, tech, travel and more. I know someone who writes a lot about cats!
If you really want to strike out as a paid writer, bring your hustle and tap into the great resources out there. Some journalists these days are also funding their work via fellowships, but that’s a whole other conversation. Anyhow, here are some helpful resources for anyone hoping to earn money as a writer:
Susan Shapiro’s The Byline Bible (if you can take her course at The New School in NYC, all the better). She tells you how to pitch a story and get it published.
Estelle Erasmus’s Writing That Gets Noticed. Also check out Estelle’s website because she offers so much good advice about getting writing work and the publishing industry! She also teaches, coaches, produces a podcast and much more.
The Institute for Independent Journalists - this organization centers writers of color yet all are welcome to join and participate in events. Lots of chances to learn from other writers, get inspired and make connections with editors.
American Society of Journalists and Authors - if you’re not yet a professional writer you can join as an associate. Lots of information about freelancing and opportunities to connect with other writers and editors.
It can be challenging for some to make writing sustainable and I wish I could just tell you how to do it. Lots of people do it, but there is no one way. Publishing has changed a lot over the years. Many publications that paid writers well no longer exist and there are lots of sites that want writers to work for very little. The best advice I can give anyone is to connect with as many editors and writers as you can, tap into those support resources and be forewarned that it’s a tough row to hoe. For many people, it’s not worth it. They simply don’t want to write reported stories or other pieces they’re not interested in. For them, it’s better to have another job. I’ve met librarians, teachers, lawyers, doctors, social workers and therapists who are excellent writers but do it as an addendum to their paid profession.
And for anyone who really wants to know how to be a writer rather than how to earn a living as a writer, I recommend this wonderful essay by Rebecca Solnit. These days I also hear many successful freelance writers saying that everyone should have a therapist because there are so many ups and downs that it can be psychologically and emotionally difficult. I’ve done therapy occasionally, but it hasn’t been an ongoing thing for me. I usually just complain to friends and husband (also self-employed!) — and rely on reading, writing, yoga and meditation for mental sanity. I think therapy is a good thing, though.
Prison Guard Anyone?
This has nothing to do with what we’ve been talking about except maybe if our prisons are transformed into how they are in Norway perhaps all the guards will be writers. Check out this excellent article by Anita Chabria about Gov Gavin Newsom converting San Quentin via the Scandinavian model, which is much more successful at reform. It’s kind of mind blowing.