Does Writing Pay?

I wrote the following a few years ago, tongue in cheek, but it seems appropriate Heh heh!:

Does Writing Pay?

By Len Morgan

 A silly question!   If it didn’t pay, nobody would do it, would they?

You research your target journal or magazine; get to know the house style by subscribing to, at least, three issues.   You read them from cover to cover analysing their format, content, and target readership.   You get a copy of the contributors’ guidelines then phone to confirm they will accept your submissions.   You work up ideas, writing a synopsis then full-length article/story, pull them apart and rewrite two or three times until you are happy they are the best you can do.

   You submit a 300 word article and wait and wait and…   Sometimes you’re lucky you eventually receive an acceptance letter and, much much later, a cheque.   You receive £30 (10p a word) for six hours work that’s £5 an hour.   But you had three other similar articles rejected so that will reduce your hourly pay to £1.25.   Then there is the cost of magazines, phone calls, paper, electricity, typewriter ribbon (just kidding) and postage, let’s call it £10 in all.   That makes your income 83p per hour, less tax and NI (National Insurance) of course, that's 40%, let’s see that leaves you with just 50p per hour.   But, you know you loved it really, the late nights, the dogged persistence…  

Think I’ll keep the day job.  

[But, alas there is no cure for this writing sickness!]

Copyright Len Morgan