Are professional writers an endangered species?
In 1998, a Canadian writer earned an average income of $12,879 from writing. Twenty years later, a survey, conducted by UNEQ in Quebec and The Writers' Union of Canada in the other provinces, reveals that the average income derived from writing now sits at around $9,000—$9,169 in Quebec and $9,380 in the rest of the country—according to 2017 earnings reported by writers. That represents more than a 30% drop in earnings, without adjusting for inflation.
The survey also reveals that nearly 30% of writers report doing more now to earn a living than they did in 2014, and I'm a living example of that.
How does a Canadian writer actually earn their living?
Their primary source of income is still book sales, in other words, royalties from publishers—10% of the list price of the book. Those royalties make up 40% to 45% of the income earned from writing.
The public lending right program and royalties paid by copyright collectives like Copibec account for between 20% and 25% of writers' income.
Public readings, workshops, talks and other such activities represent roughly 20% of their income.
Finally, some writers engage in freelance work or publish in literary magazines. Others are able to obtain grants and prizes, but not many.
A patchwork of sources make up a writer's income. By piecing together different sources of income, an author may have a shot at earning a decent living.
Let's not forget, writers are self-employed workers with precarious jobs who do not enjoy the same minimum labour standards as salaried workers. Nor do writers benefit from the protections afforded by a framework or collective agreement.