Income Generated by Writers in the United Kingdom
Supporting Sustainable Writing Careers Amid Declining Incomes
A recent study by researchers at CREATe, presented trends in authors' incomes, revealing a marked decline in median earnings for full-time writers. The policy briefing, conducted between February and April 2022 for the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), proposes policy interventions to sustain and diversify the writing profession in the UK.
The researchers found that advances are becoming rarer, while 'buy-out' deals that provide a one-off payment are more common. This shift in publishing practices has contributed to the financial instability of many authors.
The study also highlighted that writing is an increasingly unequal profession, with the top 10% of earners taking home almost half of all income. To address this issue, potential policy interventions could focus on creating a more equitable distribution of wealth within the writing community.
In the context of the UK economy, stagnant employment, elevated cost pressures, and policy uncertainty impacting many sectors, including creative industries, are key factors affecting authors' incomes. The employment index is near a 13-year low, and firms face rising labour costs and tax pressures such as National Insurance Contributions. These factors limit income growth opportunities, particularly for writers who often rely on precarious contracts or freelance work.
Broader business cost pressures and cautious consumer spending may reduce demand for literary works and creative content, thereby reducing income opportunities for authors. The UK’s public spending outlook and aid cuts imply tighter budgets that could affect funding for arts and cultural grants or subsidies, which are vital supports for many writers.
While none of the search results specifically address policies to support authors’ declining incomes, common interventions to foster sustainable writing careers in this economic climate might include increasing or protecting arts funding and grants targeted specifically to authors, reforming tax credits or reliefs for creative work, encouraging literary and cultural partnerships, enhancing access to affordable health, pension, or unemployment benefits for freelance writers, and promoting government and private sector investment in digital platforms and marketplaces that improve authors' direct earnings and control over their work.
By implementing some of the proposed reforms, the UK could level the playing field between authors and publishers, empowering more people to sustain writing careers. The policy briefing provides an evidence base to inform policy decisions that would strengthen the health of the UK’s writing ecosystem.
It is worth noting that the UK television production sector is one of Britain's leading creative export sectors. However, fewer authors now earn their entire income from writing alone, suggesting this is becoming an unsustainable career path. Most authors feel unable to negotiate better terms in publishing contracts.
Another policy briefing is based on a PEC Discussion Paper about creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns. The research examines international trade in the UK creative industries and sets out areas for possible policy action regarding authors' earnings in the UK. Furthermore, the policy brief uses census data to provide a comprehensive analysis of audiences in Arts, Culture and Heritage.
The authors of the articles are Dr Amy Thomas, Professor Michele Battisti, and Professor Martin Kretschmer. Their work aims to support sustainable writing careers in the UK amid declining incomes, requiring tailored financial support, tax relief, and market development, set against a backdrop of a cautious and cost-pressured UK economy.
- The recent study by CREATe reveals a decline in median earnings for full-time writers, suggesting the need for policy interventions to sustain the writing profession.
- Publishing practices have shifted, with fewer advances and more 'buy-out' deals, contributing to financial instability among authors.
- The writing profession is increasingly unequal, with the top 10% earning almost half of all income, necessitating the focus on a more equitable distribution of wealth.
- Economic factors influencing authors' incomes include stagnant employment, elevated cost pressures, and policy uncertainty, impacting many sectors including creative industries.
- To support sustainable writing careers, potential policy interventions could include increasing or protecting arts funding and grants targeted specifically to authors, reforming tax credits for creative work, and enhancing access to benefits for freelance writers.
- The UK could level the playing field between authors and publishers by implementing reforms, empowering more people to sustain writing careers and strengthening the health of the UK’s writing ecosystem.
- The research on creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns suggests areas for policy action regarding authors' earnings, using census data for a comprehensive analysis of audiences in Arts, Culture and Heritage.
- The policy briefing on creative industries innovation is based on a PEC Discussion Paper by Dr Amy Thomas, Professor Michele Battisti, and Professor Martin Kretschmer, aiming to support sustainable writing careers amid declining incomes and requiring tailored financial support, tax relief, and market development.
- Internationalisation and digital platforms could offer opportunities for authors to diversify their income streams and control their work, but these require government and private sector investment for their development and growth.
