Reliably, every year or so, you'll see headlines about new research that claims author incomes are on the decline. The most recent is from the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), a British nonprofit run by writers for writers. (Download the report here).
Before I continue with this epic-length post, here's the short version: I don't trust these surveys' results and I question their usefulness in improving the fortunes of writers. Too often it feels like promotion of a self-interested narrative from writers' organizations, with the outcome boring and predictable: There is media coverage that claims writers' incomes are plummeting, a few big-name authors come out and try to shame publishers or even society for not valuing writers properly, debate ensues, then everyone gets back to work-until a new study emerges.
