Fact: - Writing does not pay the bills. Even on average.

This evening I considered a question I probably should have thought about when I was first banking my hopes on this career path.

What does it pay?

Before, I could care less. I enjoy writing, it is my passion, I don't want to do anything else, hopefully I'd be a stay-at-home mom yadda yadda yadda. But I'm older and wiser now and I do know that living costs a lot at best. And the Lord isn't just going to toss me prince charming with his perfect pay check at the exact right time I want to move out of the house for good. Besides, marriage is a goal that I want to wait for a while. I want to try living truly on my own first. (with a dog...maybe)

So what is the average advance for a writer?

I stole this from another blog,(http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2004/12/24/average-first-novel-advances/) while researching this question. The guy is also an author and his article is... informative.

Here's the breakdown.

"1962: $1,000
1965: $3,000
1970: $10,000
1976: $700
1982: $7,500
1984: $7,500
1985: $2,500, $8,000
1989: $3,000
1990: $15,000
1995: $4,000
1996: $4,000
1997: $7,500
1999: $2,500
2002: $6,500
2003: $13,500
2004: $350, $10,000

Average advance: $5,920"

But this is all relative to how much the publisher thinks they can sell, your agent, the economy, and how tightly you can hold on to your royalties. In one part of the article he mentions that for 7.5% of the shares you can get $1.50 from each $20 book sold. Does that sound like it pays the bills? Especially if your book is a washout? (one of my biggest fears as a first time novelist is being a complete failure, I wont' quit, but it'll still hurt my pride) You don't even get a penny until the advance is paid up. Like a bad loan, only the writer is the one who makes off with the check.

Bottom line. Very, very few people can live off their writings. I'm going to have to work and study harder and pray that I become one of them. At least in the bottom margarine of those who do. I don't ask for much in life. I dont' even have an ipod. For now all I want to pay for is school, and maybe (if they really like my book and I get a descent advance) be able to start a mortgage account. That's a realistic goal for a first book don't you think?