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Insecurity
It's that time of year when we gather our tax information in preparation of paying with blood and tears.
“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”–Albert Einstein
My husband is a self-employed painter and I'm a self-employed writer so we always have to pay taxes rather than have any refunded. We do both have a lot of taxes withheld from our teacher pension checks but it's not enough to cover our other income. But as much as I groan at owing taxes, when I add up my writing income, I cringe. All those hours and so little money to show for it. What does that hourly rate work out to? About $.25 per hour. Add in the time spent promoting or the work I do for various writing groups and we're at about $.18 per hour. I'm making those numbers up but you get the idea. Why am I doing this?
I really do love writing. I like creating stories. I love it when a characters motivations and fears become so clear I can't wait to cause them more angst. I revel in that moment when my own writing makes me laugh or cry. I love being part of the writing community both those I attend in person and the online community I've come to know. I adore the emails I get from readers and the reviews from so many others. So few writers are actually able to earn a living from their writing alone. Most of us are like me, earning income from another source. But I'm going to keep writing. It may never make me rich but I didn't expect it to when I started. And who knows, maybe the SyFy channel will make one of my books into the next Sharknado. So I'll keep on trying.
Taxes
Yes, every time I go to Boston, I feel like spilling a little tea in the harbor. Except I don't like to waste good tea. Many of you know I live in Pennsylvania. I don't like to talk politics but our state government has yet to agree on and pass a state budget that was due last July 1st. The question in the street is why can't we fire the bunch of them? So it is with great resentment that Pennsylvanians fill out those state income tax forms this year. It's better to laugh about taxes than cry.
“The IRS spends God knows how much of your tax money on these toll-free information hot lines staffed by IRS employees, whose idea of a dynamite tax tip is that you should print neatly. If you ask them a real tax question, such as how you can cheat, they’re useless.”–Dave Barry
The difference between death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”–Will Rogers
Are you feeling insecure this month? Dreading tax season? (Why do taxes get their own season?) How much do you think you make per hour writing?
56 comments:
No, that's my greatest fear - that Asylum Studio will make my books into movies and sell them to the SyFy Channel!
Difficult to make a living off of writing. It's paid my mortgage several times, but I couldn't live off of it.
This year will be the first year I have to add my writing info to my tax information and I am dreading it. I didn't make any money yet, but like you, what if they ask me to pay them? I guess I will deal with that when I get to it. I think its so important for writers to love their writing and you still do. That is amazing. I hope the taxes will go well for you. Good-luck.
It's either love, or madness, that drives us to create. Both, perhaps.
Little money and a tiny chance at fame guarantees it falls somewhere in there.
And, since I haven't seen a good SyFy movie in forever... I would suggest you aim higher!
Great answer as to why you/we write! And I think that "glass" quote is wonderful - I've never heard it quite that way before.
I take issue with how the federal government is using our taxes. It's a bloated system that needs a good house cleaning.
I sell so few books that I don't think I actually make any money per hour writing. But I do it anyway, because I love doing it.
The glass quote is great!
My taxes came out fine. Phew. It's funny how we hate (or is that me) the IRS like it's a person instead of an agency that has more power than it needs. :)
Teresa
Somebody said it's not about the money, but I'm guessing they were rich to begin with. Great post, Susan. I write because I love writing. I pay taxes because I don't want to go to prison. Life finally makes sense! Yay. LOL.
I'm self employed but my husband has a job, so we tend to balance each other out in the tax realm.
Like Diane, my husband and I balance each other out. What's depressing is gathering my tax forms and seeing how little I made last year. Here's to a much better 2016!
I think it would be good to fire our representatives, especially if they can't agree on something like a budget after so many months. It does cause the people of the state, city, whatever insecurity when things like this are up in the air.
This is the first year we'll be doing our taxes early; usually I wait until April 14th (well maybe not then but at least the first week of April) but this year we're not sure what is going on with them, will we owe, etc., so we will get them done early but if we owe, we won't pay until April 15th :)
betty
Love this quote. Had to grab it for my quote file ("The difference between death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”–Will Rogers)
Also loved your refillable glass quote.
Yes dread tax season this year. It can be so depressing. Oh well, nothing to do about it. Loved Jolene's comment and agree.
Juneta Writer's Gambit
Love this quote. Had to grab it for my quote file ("The difference between death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”–Will Rogers)
Also loved your refillable glass quote.
Yes dread tax season this year. It can be so depressing. Oh well, nothing to do about it. Loved Jolene's comment and agree.
Juneta Writer's Gambit
Great post, Susan. We tend to blame the lack of sunshine for January blues, but we all know it's because it's tax time :) Have a great February and continue to enjoy your writing.
Taxes as a self-employed writer make me cringe. Its impossible to make a living as a writer unless you have a huge published deal. That's why I'm starting my editing services.
Hi Susan - I can believe all of that .. and budgets - it's disgraceful that Country administrators, or Government representatives do not get it right, nor get it done.
Good luck and just carry on enjoying the writing .. cheers Hilary
I try not to think about that (about how little I make at writing), if I do I'll just get depressed--but you've got the right attitude. It's more than just money that makes us write.
I love those quotes about taxes - especially the last one. My state doesn't like passing budgets either. Sigh.
I have no idea how much I make from my writing. I'm not sure I want to know . . . agh. Maybe .02 an hour? Idk. Thankfully, I love writing and creating.
Happy writing and creating!
No so insecure about writing, but taxes? I hate doing them, but it's never anything bad, just anticipating doing them. I don't what I hate more, doing taxes or going to the dentist. At least accountants don't jab you with a needle. BTW I am a new follower by way of Alex's IWSG.
Not looking forward to when I have to start doing these, if I ever manage to sell any of my stories!
ACK! I think I finally have all my forms and there is no more excuse to put them off. I have less writing income this year than I have for a few because I didn't have a traditionally released book in 2015, so hopefully there will be a refund to make up for that. My other income has adequate withholding.
Keep going. Many of us don't make much but we do it for the love of it.
Yeah, making a living off writing is a real no go. Same odds as our 649 lottery, which ain't good haha ugg to stupid taxes.
Of course I'm dreading it. Everything's so ridiculously complicated. Wouldn't it be nice if they just simplified it? Sigh...pipe dreams...
That is a perfect take on the glass metaphor. Love it!
I'm with you on loving to write. I have a pesky day job that allows me to be able to enjoy writing and publishing, which doesn't pay well. Love the quotes, especially the one about the glass being refillable.
Ha, yeah, we definitely don't write for the money.
I claim zero withholdings at my day job and that helps since the hubs is self employed. My writing income is always a loss financially, but I do so love doing it and I have high hopes that someday...you know. And, ahem, maybe there's some tea that you don't like that you could dump...
Too funny. I was thinking about hourly rates the other day. I figure I make at least a nickel an hour. Ha.
Ah, taxes. UGH And the IRS hotlines. Don't get me going about how frequently you can get opposing advice.
I agree that taxes are no fun.
I agree that taxes are no fun.
Great quote!
Self-employed taxes are killers. Have you tried moving your self-employed status into a small business? Just a thought...
If we didn't love it, we'd cry everyday for what we put ourselves through!
I hope you get through the evil season without too much angst. :)
Heather
At this point I make a negative income from my writing...so that's depressing. No actually, I'm playing the long game. I will keep writing and building my audience and will one day be able to say that I'm being supported by my writing. Until then, I won't think about the finances too much (or lack there of) and focus on producing more content. I love the quote!
I love your tax quotes. I'm self employed this year - well, I work for a specific employer but am a vendor. Everyone tells me not to worry about the expenses, I can claim them on my taxes. Ok, but I filled out my taxes and did not make enough money to benefit from the expenses. Bonus, I don't have to pay any.
Taxes are just another way the government keeps itself employed.
Fortunately, someone else does my taxes, so apart from gathering paperwork, I don't worry. Yay me! In 2014 I received an advance and ended up making about .50 an hour. In summer 2015 my book was released and I made -0- as royalties aren't paid until March of 2016. I try not to think about my dwindling savings and remain grateful for the opportunity to write.
VR Barkowski
Adding value to a reader's life is priceless - so why should we pay taxes since we make nothing anyway... and the trouble with firing everyone is more of the same or worse will take their places... an honest politician is hard to find because bureaucracy is contagious.
happy february!
Ooph, I feel ya with the inept state government. I'm in Illinois - which may very well lose its position as 5th most populous state to ... Pennsylvania. PA isn't growing, but IL is shrinking from migration to neighboring states where leaders have their heads out of their arses. *rant over*
I loved your list of reasons to write. :)
Every once in a while, I entertain the idea of giving up this writing gig...but it never happens. I guess I must like it.
Ug, taxes! By the time I figure up the cost of books, marketing, writer's conferences, etc. I'm so far in the red I don't even bother. Hope that doesn't bite me one day. :) I'd just like to get to the point where book sales equal the money I'm putting into it. The only way to do that is write more books! So, that's what I'm off to do so I can earn that $0.25 an hour. LOL.
Interesting how the things we need are attainable and usually affordable, it's the taxes that are the burden. I stopped calculating at .72/week! Good thing I have a part time day job and writing to keep me sane:-)
I so get your feelings this time of year. I dream of a day where money isn't an issue, much less taxes! Thanks for visiting my blog!
I have no idea yet how much I earn - my first check is due July, but I'm not holding my breath!!
Best wishes with the tax return and then happy writing!!
I have no idea yet how much I earn - my first check is due July, but I'm not holding my breath!!
Best wishes with the tax return and then happy writing!!
I hate tax time. I think any job in the creative sector requires love to continue :) I love writing and following a character on their path to the end. Here's to another year
Sounds to me like you know that writing's important to you, and as long as you have food and a roof over your head -- do what you enjoy! Life is too short to do anything else.
We had a visitor to our writing group two months ago. He announced that he was in it for the money, and wouldn't bother otherwise. To our credit, no one laughed. We didn't see him again...
I feel that writing is underpaid, and undervalued too. But if it gives one joy - that is more than enough - for most people. I don't write books, but self expression through my blog has been such an enriching experience in itself.
On a similar note - there are some authors who get tons of money, and can pretty much get away with repetitive, substandard work - just because they are famous - like Nicholas Sparks. I feel he recycles a lot of his stories. This is so unfair. Other writers need to get a chance.
Great interesting post, love the new image.
Yvonne.
Taxes suck. I am pretty much in the red with writing. :)
Great post, Susan. I've always dreaded tax season too. Since I am not published (yet!), I make ZERO dollars on my writing, but I don't write for profits either. It is a calling, a must. Good luck with your projects and the dreaded taxes.
Good post, Susan, we writers spend so much time writing, revising, editing and polishing our stories and books, and the money we make is pittance. It all boils down to passion, isn't it?
As a starving artist, earning $.25 per hour would actually be a lot for me. Haha, welp. It's a shame how writing and other creative pursuits result in so little, income-wise, most of the time. Thank goodness we all have muses to keep us motivated!
Maybe the SyFy channel will make one of your books into the next Sharknado. Wouldn't that be great?
"The glass is refillable." Love it.
Good luck with your taxes! Even on years where my numbers are straightforward, I still feel like I'm bound to make a mistake somewhere.
Love the Dave Barry quote!
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