Screenwriting : Is there anyone here that pays the bills as a freelance screenwriter? by WL Wright

I don't. But a famous screenwriter told me that I needed to wait. "Just give time to time". Unfortunately he was 34 year old and I was already 45...

Yes, but I'm retired with few/no bills. My house & car are paid for but I usually earn enough to pay my RE taxes & insurance.

For the past 30 years. A bunch of my old films from the 90s for HBO and Showtime are on Tubi tv (free), and I am quoted in a bunch of books, including film expert David Bordwell's "The Way Hollywood Tells It".

It is a very good question. I do not and never claim I do. My bills are considerable.

All the people that tell us how Hollywood works and what it take to be a professional should be answering this in the affirmative.

PS I know a few guys on here that live off writing income. But they tend not to be so preachy. They are more realistic.

Haven't earned anything as I writer so dunno. I had couple of paid gigs as an freelance actor, through, and considering my highest pay I would say not enough even with steady casting calls.

Yes, but my bills are deliberately kept very lean, I live in rural England, and I'm transitioning over to writer-producer which changes the nature of how the money comes in.

And a very good question, WL with some great and honest feedback from CJ, Barry and Claude. There was a time when it was a different ballgame and I can say I made the majority of my income as a writer either selling specs or being hired o write what someone wanted to produce. I think today writers should have an arsenal of scripts (perhaps in different genres) to show their stuff - but not have high expectations to sell a spec, but use them to show producers what your abilities are in different areas so when they know what they want (a stretch, I know) you're in their wheelhouse as someone they can reach out to and give you an assignment for hire. That's just my take on where things are today. I think of writing as a gift - something you can do without anyone's blessings or permission that hopefully, one day will launch something that not only employs potentially 100's of people but blesses the world in the form of a completed film. Best of luck to you and do not lose hope. If you love writing, write. I wouldn't put an income around it as you'll see that passion diminish and quickly.

What Shane said.

only one year where I put WRITER on income tax forms. Couldn't make enough to buy a Hot Pocket dinner.

Returned back to corporate Industry world of steady paychecks, health benefits, 401K

But you're STILL here Dan and that's what I like to see. I know the frustrations that come with this and it can be suffocating at times. Tell me you're still lending words to the page!

Freelance screenwriting is a weird one because you cannot make money (or considerable money) without makin a deal with a company or producer in order to sell the script; screenplays are meant to be seen, not read. I do know of a few people who have made enough money to support themselves through independant scripts, but they have help from other sources of income such as article writing. At the end of the day, you write for youself, and if someone likes the vision enough, they will buy it - try to get it sold to the best possible people, but writing should come first.

You all know the difference between a medium pizza and a screenwriter?...A pizza can feed a small family, a screenwriter can't.

I was furloughed from my full-time job last year because of the pandemic. After that, I started doing freelance writing work for some extra cash. It helps, but it does not pay the bills.

Feels like the right time to re-share this article I wrote a while back which was shared around by the head of AFM at the time; Check Your Ego: Getting Paid a Living Wage to Write Movies Is a Blessing.

There's about as many people making a living as a writer, just writing, as there are in the NFL... except there are a lot more people wanting those jobs.