Joe Hill says he writes a screenplay each year for the health insurance

Alongside his novels, Joe Hill is paid every year to write a screenplay. But he doesn’t do it for the money.

Hill, whose new novel King Sorrow published in October, has also enjoyed success in the world of cinema and television thanks to adaptations of his work. For example, The Black Phone franchise is based on his 2004 short story, and King Sorrow is currently in development for television. While news of adaptations of Hill’s work are frequently reported in the trades, his screenwriting has not been widely publicized. Recently sitting down with Mashable to talk about everything from Stephen King references in his new novel to AI, he confirmed that it’s a big part of his professional life.

“I write a screenplay every year,” Hill told Mashable. “And I’m doing it for health care.”

Hill explained that he receives health care for his family through the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the union that represents screenwriters. To be eligible, you must meet the minimum annual income conditions. In 2024, Hill’s wife Gillian was diagnosed with cancer requiring surgery. Having insurance through the WGA saved the family tens of thousands of dollars.

“There was a whole series of tests, you know, and consultations before the surgery, but the surgery alone was $60,000,” Hill said. “Because I have the Hollywood health care that I get for writing screenplays, I only had to pay $700. So, in a very practical way, it’s impossible, for me personally, to put a value on the work that I do as a screenwriter, because it’s so important to have access to that health insurance.”

Hill explained that the script he is currently working on is an adaptation of his own work.

“Right now I’m revising a script that I was paid for for 2025,” he said. “The screenplay I’m currently working on is an adaptation of a previously unpublished short story that I wrote and which will eventually be published.”

Hill said there was a hiatus in his health coverage some time ago, which led him to scour Hollywood trying to find work — and writer/director Scott Derrickson, who directed The black phoneI wanted to help.

“He treated it like we were talking about her family health care,” Hill said. “He says, ‘We’ve got you a gig booked.’ And, you know, we talked about possibilities, and then I sent him this short story that I had written that hadn’t been published, along with an explanation of how I would adapt it, and he was excited. And he said, “We have to do this.” »And that’s how he suggested I write the screenplay. Now I’m reviewing it for Sony Screen Gems.”

“it’s so important to have access to this health insurance”

Hill’s wife has now made a full recovery, but Hill still considers screenwriting “the best thing I can do for my family.” He will continue to work on a novel each year, alongside his plan to write a novel each year in his 50s.

“The next two things I have planned are adaptations of other people’s words,” Hill said, “which I’m really excited about.”