How much are we talking? Page 2

I not so sure about these people going 'It's not the money'. No one from the BBC is going to read this forum and go 'This fella will do it for free, lets give him a call'.

You need money to live. As far as I'm concerned I would like to be making money from it. I want it to be my career.

I would say that if or when my career kicks off, it's not going to be a prime time sitcom commission so I wouldn't be able to quit my full time job. Only when my earnings would be more than working full time would I be able to do that.

Working writers seem quite coy about the figures (I never know why people are so coy about wages generally.) It doesn't bother me if people know what I earn in my job in the events industry . . . £14,523 if you're asking . . . And when-if I make it was a writer, be safe in the knowledge I'll be telling everyone how much I earn, because we all want to know. I'm very crass in that respect.

Quote: Seefacts @ October 6, 2007, 12:04 PM

I not so sure about these people going 'It's not the money'. No one from the BBC is going to read this forum and go 'This fella will do it for free, lets give him a call'.

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It wasn't an advert to the Beeb It was just my attitude towards why I write, twas all. I don't write for fun, never have, I write because I'm driven to do it.

If I was given the choice between either a) cash and no audience or b) little cash and huge audience, there's only one choice I'll make as a writer. As a career option then the choice will be different. If it's (ideally) a case of cash plus audience, even better. But at this moment in time, exposure is the key not compensation. For me, I hasten to add.

I'd rather die poor but heard than rich but unheard. That's the way I am. As I said, I know it sounds lofty and idealistic. So apols.

Well its all a bit unrealistic as you wouldn't get the choice. If you had a huge audience with your sitcom you would get money. If you didn't get an audience you wouldn't get loads of money.

I just want it as a career, I'm not driven to be heard or popular, just to enjoy writing. I don't have a choice whether my writing will be popular as i can only write the way I do and hope others will like it enough for a career. Of course I would love if everyone did like it, but I wouldn't start changing my work to be like others.

But money is important as there are usually other things to consider, like family costs, property, old age etc. So I would hope to earn enough to cover all of that.

Re: the choice - it was only a hypothetical to emphasise where I see the priority (for myself). I was only saying that if they were the stark options then I'd choose x. The complexities of the real world (as you rightly point out) are far more muddy.

Agree with you re: the fame - that I can do without.

I've never understood the writing for fun idea. For me, writing is like a cruel sadistic dominatrix. It stands over you, beating you mercilessly as you search for the right combination of words and yet I still crawl back to it after each bloody and violent encounter. The bits that make me laugh are the best, usually when brainstorming the ideas (that's why I write in a partnership. SlagB makes me laugh like no one else can.) But those moments come at a price. Personally speaking.

Other writers have different motivations and different rewards.

The thing is though you don't want to make money and finally get recognised AFTER you've died. Like that bloke Elvis Presley or something.

Quote: SlagA @ October 6, 2007, 2:09 PM

I've never understood the writing for fun idea. For me, writing is like a cruel sadistic dominatrix. It stands over you, beating you mercilessly as you search for the right combination of words and yet I still crawl back to it after each bloody and violent encounter. The bits that make me laugh are the best, usually when brainstorming the ideas (that's why I write in a partnership. SlagB makes me laugh like no one else can.) But those moments come at a price. Personally speaking.

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LOL! I agree with all of that, but never put is so sweetly.

Great thread, thanks Bullet for starting it off.

I do enjoy writing comedy, but I do have mortgage, child, wife that is just about to go part time at work.

I really enjoy teaching but it is pretty bloody hectic, I am fortunate to be at a very nice school with good kids (I know most aren't)

My ideal would be to maybe work in teaching part time 2/3 days a week but then have comedy writing interests to make up the difference. I've never been bothered in lots of dosh if I was then I would have stayed working in IT in Banking.