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Joe Hill says he keeps writing at least one screenplay a year not for the paycheck, but for the safety net it provides his family. A union contract, a timely gig and a well-timed director all combined to turn a writing assignment into access to lifesaving care.
Why a single screenplay matters more than money
Hill, known for his novels, treats screenwriting as a pragmatic choice. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) ties health coverage to minimum yearly earnings.
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When his wife received a cancer diagnosis in 2024, the difference between having and lacking that coverage became clear. Tests, consultations and the operation added up quickly. The procedure itself carried a six-figure sticker price.
Because of the WGA plan, the family paid a fraction of the full cost. Hill counts that relief as the main reason he takes on at least one studio assignment each year.
How an unfinished novella led to a studio job
A gap in his insurance once pushed Hill to look for screen work across Hollywood. That search put him in touch with director Scott Derrickson.
Derrickson, who directed The Black Phone, treated the situation like a family emergency. He urged Hill to pitch projects and then read an unpublished novella Hill had written.
After reading Hill’s pitch for adapting the unpublished piece, Derrickson got behind it. He helped arrange the paid assignment that made Hill eligible for WGA benefits.
Current assignment: adapting his own novella
Hill is now revising a screenplay based on that earlier novella. The project is moving forward at a major studio and is slated for work with Sony Screen Gems.
He says the script he’s polishing was paid for in advance for the 2025 season. That paid job maintained his union standing and kept the family’s healthcare intact.
Balancing novels and screenplays in his fifties
Alongside his studio work, Hill plans a steady novel output. He aims to write one novel and one screenplay each year while in his fifties.
His next two projects are adaptations of other authors’ work. He says adapting someone else’s words excites him as much as reworking his own material.
What the WGA safety net actually does for writers
Benefits that make a difference
- Health insurance eligibility tied to meeting minimum earnings each year.
- Access to union-negotiated plans that cover hospital procedures and specialists.
- Financial predictability in emergencies for freelancers and their families.
Practical tips from Hill’s experience
- Keep at least one writing gig that counts toward WGA thresholds.
- Maintain communication with peers and directors who can open doors.
- Consider unpaid or passion projects only after securing benefits-qualifying work.
Industry goodwill can translate into real security
Hill’s story shows how professional relationships matter. A director’s willingness to champion a writer turned a private crisis into covered care.
The decision to keep writing screenplays was, for Hill, the best safeguard for his family’s health. That practical calculus now shapes his career choices as much as his creative ones.
