So how much do writers REALLY make???





So, it’s been  brought to my attention or I’ve heard a lot about authors making big bucks once they sign a contract. So I wanted to post about it as well after doing some research.  To summarize my research in one paragraph, a lot of people think that all authors get big advance checks  of $50, 000 or more. Well, some do, but all that money isn’t handed to you all at once. Advances can run between$ 2,000- 20,000 or $50, 000 depending on the size of the publishing company. You must know that all that money doesn’t come in your hands all at ONCE. For example, let’s say a new author signs with big publishing company and signs a contract with a $50, 000 advance against royalties. You get half of it, then the other half once the book is released. BUT, if you have an agent (most do), the agent gets %15, which is about $7,500, the government will get about $15, 000,  and you need part of the money to go towards expenses such as promotion,  shipping, and office supplies which will probably be about 1,500. So it comes down to about $25, 000-27,000, which is considered pretty good for new authors.  So until your books sells and equals the amount of your advance, you won’t be getting more than that unless you’re also getting foreign right royalties or have more than 1 book out a year. Advances are non returnable, so you won’t owe any money to the publisher if your book doesn’t earn out the rest of the advance. Now once your book sells more than the advance, then you start getting royalties checks quarterly or twice a year between % 7 to %10.

So writers don’t write for the money as you can see! They do it because they love it. I know I do it because I can’t see myself doing anything else. I love to write and it brings me satisfaction, joy and makes me happy! So don’t quit your day job yet (lol) until you have about three books out, and make a decent income! I don’t have a day job, but I am a student, so don’t worry, I’ll stay in school.