Indy Comics Writer

I’m guessing that I’m not alone in wishing 2008 a hearty “good riddance.”

This was one tough year financially. The majority of my income doesn’t come, unfortunately, from writing comics. Instead, I get most of my yearly money from writing non-fiction stores for newspapers, magazines, Web sites and trade publications. And of this, much of my income comes from magazines covering the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Now, that was great news during the housing boom that lasted in the United States from roughly 2001 through 2006. But during the housing slump, during which house sales have plummeted and housing prices have fallen just as much. At the same time, the real estate magazines that I write for are struggling, with ad sales at record lows. That means fewer pages, and fewer holes for a freelance writer like myself to fill.

I have hope, though, that the second half of 2009 will see some improvements in the housing market. And when that happens, those magazine sales and pages will increase, along with freelance-writing opportunities at them.

I hope, too, that your 2009 will be better than your 2008.

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