Literary works are a cultural product of a nation. As a pillar that nourishes the soul of its people, literature plays an essential role in society. However, the reality faced by most writers is disheartening.
Many cannot rely solely on writing to earn a living and are forced to take on additional jobs to survive.
Therefore, the government is urged to provide more support and recognition to advance the creative industry in the field of literature and improve the welfare of writers through grants, increased royalties, and the purchase of literary works.
Professor of literary sociology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), Aprinus Salam, stated that writers today, and even in the past, could not rely solely on writing fees to sustain their livelihoods. He noted that it is rare for an artist or writer to make enough money from their work to support themselves.
“Of course, not all cases are the same. Some writers achieve success through their work, particularly those able to meet commercial requirements, enabling their literary works to generate sufficient income,” said Professor Salam at the UGM campus on Monday (Jun. 2).
According to Professor Salam, these commercial requirements vary for each literary work. Many literary works that can be successfully commercialized tend to align with the ever-changing preferences of the market.
“Sometimes we don’t know what kind of work will sell now or in the next few years,” he explained.
Professor Salam identified several major challenges that prevent writers from making literature their primary source of income.
First is the low level of appreciation for literary works from both the government and the public. Second is the general assumption that fiction and imaginative writing are not important. Finally, writers must produce works of such high quality that they “disrupt” or “intervene” in the public’s general understanding of literature.
“In the past, the state considered literature important, as evidenced by the fact that some literary works were banned. That meant literature mattered. Ironically, those banned books ended up selling well. But even that didn’t improve writers’ economic conditions if royalties remained small,” he said.
He outlined concrete steps the government or cultural institutions could take to support the livelihoods of writers. These include providing grants, purchasing quality literary works at fair prices, and increasing royalty payments. Another option is for donors to provide grants to skilled writers, allowing them to focus solely on writing.
“That way, the writers won’t have to worry about their family’s finances. But this might be difficult, again, because there is still little appreciation for literature,” he added.
Professor Salam expressed hope that in the next 5–10 years, the government would promote the advancement of Indonesian literature and improve the welfare of literary practitioners. He emphasized that literature is a national product, not merely the work of individuals.
“The strength of a nation can be seen in the strength of its literature. And outstanding work needs support from all parties,” he concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: Freepik