WILL WRITE FOR FOOD.

In 1989, I and four of my friends and colleagues (Janice Young Brooks, Jasmine Cresswell, Maggie Osborne, and Marianne Shock) founded an international writers' organization called Novelists, Inc. Since its inception, NINC has grown to become one of the most professional, most highly respected writers' organizations in existence. Its membership numbers well into the hundreds, and all its members are multipublished in popular fiction (NINC's average member has written sixteen novels).

One of the prime benefits of NINC is its monthly newsletter, NOVELISTS' INK, and it was the headline of this month's lead article that really caught my eye this week.

Why? What did it say?

WILL WRITE FOR FOOD.

It was a headline that made me smile with wry amusement---because as the lead article's author (Shirley Jump), I, and every other NINC member know, writing is indeed a terribly risky career and one that, unfortunately, is seldom very lucrative. Here's a brief excerpt from the article:

"Most unpublished writers dream of the day they sell that first book, thinking their contract is a one-way ticket to stardom and, more importantly, finally quitting the dreaded day job. Ha. Ha. Ha. Gotta love them for having hope, don't you?"

Yes, we do love them for having hope. But unfortunately, the hard reality is that like so many other authors and NINC members, Jump, despite having sold fourteen books at last count, still has her day job---because for most authors, day jobs and not their novel writing are what actually pay their bills. I've explained in some detail the reasons for all this in Ravenscroft Castle's Treasury, in one of my online writing-tips-and-tools articles, ADVANCES & ROYALTIES---HOW WRITERS ARE PAID.

One aspiring writer, after reading my own article, sent me a rather strident email, vehemently insisting that what I'd written about how writers are paid couldn't possibly be true, that I was simply jealous and zealous about my career and wanted to discourage any competition. After reading her email, I could only shake my head ruefully, because she wasn't the first aspiring writer who didn't want to believe me (or any other published author, for that matter), and she probably won't be the last. But if she ever does succeed in being published, she will undoubtedly be one of those who suffers a profound shock when she receives her first paycheck.

Nearly thirty years ago, I sold my first novel, NO GENTLE LOVE, for an advance of just $2,500. It had taken me two years to write the book. In case you're as mathematically challenged as I am *g*, that worked out to $1,250 a year in income. I'd like to say that first-time authors' advances have kept pace with both the times and inflation, but unfortunately, the truth is that a writer's first novel is still likely to garner just a $2,500 advance.

Many people believe that all writers are crazy---and sometimes, I think we indeed must be! *g* Except for the music industry, no other business is run like the publishing industry. There are real reasons for stereotypes like the impassioned writer, starving and freezing to death in some small, barren garret---all for the sake of the art.

Will write for food. For me and all other writers, that's food for thought.