| Re: Self publishing - a few thoughts!
A publisher does not pay an author what they need to live - they pay what they believe the book is worth to them in terms of expected sales. Around 80% of the authors with whom I've worked also have day jobs. Anyone expecting to make a living from writing should leave the room now!
Royalties kick in after the advance has earned out - they are usually something like 10% of the cover price on hardbacks and 7.5% of the cover price on paperbacks (although there are other arcane percentages involved too). And yes, once the advance has earned out, the author gets a royalty on every sale.
Sometimes a publisher sees a book that - for whatever reason - they believe is truly wonderful and one of the most commercial books they've seen for years. That's when large advances start to be discussed. Sometimes, one publisher wil make a very large offer to the agent to stop others getting involved - this is a pre-emptive offer, which they hope will be accepted immediately. At other times, more than one publisher loves the book and an auction ensues, which also pumps up the price of the book, of course.
It can happen in any genre. But it happens very, very seldom. I would say that 90% of published authors do not make a living entirely from their writing. Sheila Quigley is very much the exception, not the norm. I left London publishing in 2002, and I was paying authors advances of £10,000 and less per book far more often than I was going above that level. That has not changed since. |