“I know many writers who were making a living twenty years ago now I don't know any. Even very successful indie writers in popular genres I've talked to aren't making what they did five years ago.”
You don't know ANY writer who's making a living? Yikes! I'm very sorry to hear that and I fully accept the validity of your experience, but I would not infer the whole state of publishing from that, any more than I would from the experiences of very successful authors.

It has never been easier to be published, regardless of the quality of one's writing, so I expect the proportion of writers who make a living from it to be smaller than before. But their absolute number is a very different matter. A decade ago print publishing was widely and loudly written off and predicted to be dead by now. We were supposed to be living in the Publishing Post-Apocalypse now! Instead I note new and interesting ways to tell and retell stories, some mentioned by commenters here, including short stories and movies.

And amen re the WGA! Tens of thousands of screenwriters organized and defiant. We could learn something from them, though exactly what I'm not sure at the moment.

Incidentally, this publishing debate echoes a more general debate about the economies of the USA and other countries. The statistics there are fascinating. Never before have so many people done so well while thinking they're doing worse and worse!

So! Write for the joy of it, for the writing 'magic', for the high, the rush of wonder, and for the kindred spirit who says, "I loved you story." Royalty statements come next week. And for the first time I have no idea what it will be. I haven't bugged my agents and I haven't pre-spent my money. If it's paltry, I won't take to my bed. If it's substantial, I will be pleasantly surprised.

thanks for the post and the reminder that I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Blessings on ya (and the rest of you too).

And I like your programming vs. line analogy...I think that's where the idea that it's okay for teachers to be paid less, because they're 'shaping children's lives', comes from - as if that's compensation.

It's not.

But until lack of adequate compensation influences teh number of writers offering books, I'm afraid supply and demand rules.

Interestingly, I recently read a report that said that the more skill a job requires (think computer programming vs. factory line) the less financial renumeration effects happiness and productivity. Opportunities to be innovative and work life balance we're shown to be much higher influences.

Very thoughtful reply, Elizabeth, thank you! Change is a disruption, and it's painful. The innovation of ebooks and self publishing was a disruption to the norm. But that market is maturing now, as well. The reason indies (I believe) aren't getting the notice they were, and they should, is the glut of books on the market. It seems everyone is writing a book, and there is innovative, brilliant work being done - and some true garbage (oh come on, you've read some too). I believe when the suppliers stop glutting the market, OR innovation makes it easier for a reader to cull good books from bad without actually buying them, the market will stabilize.

Wow! I love that idea "information about the hours spent writing it on the inside cover and then a pay pal account where, after I'd read it, I could contribute based on the enjoyment I'd gotten." I have to confess I've downloaded a lot of free books from Book Bub, and if I enjoyed them I usually either did a review or bought the sequel. I heard once that Dickens got paid a penny per so many words, which is why his books tended to be very long. If you work out the income for one book by a published author per hour of time spent writing, editing and marketing, it would probably be pennies per hour. No other occupation would stand for it. I think this is a message we need to keep hammering out to our readers. If you spend hundreds of dollars for a concert ticket that gives a couple of hours entertainment, why do you think a book that entertains you for a few hours should be free? It goes beyond the idea of trying to get a bargain. We all do that. We need to value ourselves and our own work before someone else will.

Glad you found the course helpful, Susan! I have a friend who has worked for Hollywood, reading scripts in the past for a producer. She has a pilot to pitch, but is waiting. She doesn't want to sign with an agent under the current terms, and if she goes straight to a producer/director, she'll be seen as a scab. I applaud the writers, for standing up for themselves, and I hope they hold out until they win.

And you know I'm rooting for you for that, too, Fae! That is a bit of a bright spot for some writers. I hear Netflix et. al. are looking for material!