How often have you read about all those poor, starving freelance writers ? Maybe it’s time to face the reality … that not all writers are struggling to put a meal on the table . Some writers are earning a very nice income.

But first before we look at writer income, let’s review how writers make their living. They write feature articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites. Some focus on copywriting or technical writing. And other writers specialize in writing resumes, short stories, poetry and greeting cards.

The fees that freelance writers receive for their efforts varies widely however, much more so than for other professions such as teaching or plumbing.

A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) revealed some interesting facts regarding the pay of freelance journalists. The results take into account responses of 473 freelance journalists who worked in USA and who considered freelancing to be their primary job.

Around 7% of these freelance journalists earned $100,000 or more . A further 24% earned $50,000 to $100,000 .  And close to 69% of these writers earned under $50,000 a year.

Now, the good news is that many of these writers are clearly not starving. And 7% of them reached the “six-figure writer” status.  In fact, 3% of the freelance journalists surveyed actually earned $150,000 or more !

The bad news is that many freelance writers are still earning under $50,000 per year . If you are a writer and that describes your situation, then here are some tips to increase your writing income towards that six-figure mark.

What Kind of Writing Do You Do?

By changing the kind of writing you do, you might be able to get better rates of pay for your work. One of the most lucrative areas of writing is copywriting. A survey of copywriters revealed 39% of respondents earned between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, and that's certainly a higher percentage than the 24% of writers above.

Other lucrative areas of writing include ghostwriting, working as a technical writer , and writing and selling your own ebooks and information products. 

Discipline and Perseverance

It takes a lot of hard work to build any business, and a writing business is no exception. Set your objectives in advance. Work out how many hours you will work and what amount you need to earn per hour in order to achieve your targets. For example, in order to earn   $100,000 this year, you will need to earn an average of approximately  $2,000 per week.  If you are going to work 40 hour weeks, then you need to earn at least $50 for each hour in order to reach your goal of $100,000 for the year.

Many people dream about becoming a full-time writer but don't know how to make it a reality . Do some due due diligence . Find out which areas of writing are likely to be better for you. Now go for it. Write. Write. Write !