I’ve been looking for a website, blog anything that is honest about what goes on behind the publishing doors. Also one that goes beyond generic answers. I’m aware every experience is different and that’s really what I’m looking for. An experience more like mine. Or more like my writing buddy’s.
I want to know it without rebuff from the publishing community. “Author is ruining his/her career by asking/saying/implying *insert your choice of crash and burn*.
Well, we’ll see how it goes.
So, tell me did you jump up and down your first royalty check or sob?
*Of course, you can answer anonymously*
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21 comments:
I didn't cry but I was unpleasantly surprised. I had visions of "being published" and they didn't involve checks less than $5. LOL.
Since then, I've seen an increase, but I recognize money isn't growing on trees in publishing.
I also had visions of rolling in dough. Or at least selling hundreds of books.
Snerk. My first royalty check was 27 bucks. Despite the low amount, I cashed that sucker proudly.
I crawled back into bed. What does that tell you?
How about, I made more money promoting the dang thing on Gather than I did off the royalties.
I also noticed that another author from my house has vanished since the statements came out. Based on my numbers and how close we were in the best sellers list, I'm thinking she took up knitting.
I was very pleasantly surprised. I had no idea what to expect for my first royalty check, but even halved (it was a co-written novella) we each had a bit under a grand to play with. Let me tell you, I'm looking forward to my first solo novel royalty check. :)
I was quite happy! My first royalty came from my short story in the Ellora's Caveman Anthology, and I i still receive royalty checks, even though it's been nearly two years since it came out!
I have only received flat rates so far so can't comment on this yet, but thanks everyone who did.
I was chuffed and delighted. That was way back when in 2005-money was worth more then LOL
My first royalty check was about $438.00 and I was pleasantly surprised. Since then I've had ones that wowed me and ones that depressed me. It's a rollercoaster that I can't seem to get off of.
I had no idea what to expect for my first royalty check, but even halved (it was a co-written novella) we each had a bit under a grand to play with.
I thinking it has a lot to do with the publisher and what you write.
But that is damn good for a first royalty check. I'm sure someone with a big NY didn't see that much money with their first royalty check.
even though it's been nearly two years since it came out!
That's very impressive.
I have only received flat rates so far so can't comment on this yet, but thanks everyone who did.
This will definitely be a subject I'm going to jump on. So stick around.
That was way back when in 2005-money was worth more then LOL
You could still buy candy for a penny back then. Lol.
It's a rollercoaster that I can't seem to get off of.
Truer words have never been spoken.
I thinking it has a lot to do with the publisher and what you write.
But that is damn good for a first royalty check. I'm sure someone with a big NY didn't see that much money with their first royalty check.
I agree it definitely has to do with who your publisher is and what you write plays in as well. Ours is with EC and it's m/m, both of which equal more sales than some. Course, we like to think it's because it's a really good story too lol.
And the big NY author thing, well I figure it balances out. They get an advance, we get bigger, faster royalties. It dropped quite a bit after that first month's, but seems to have plateau'd out at around $100-200 a month total. Which is still, imo, pretty darn good for a novella that's been out for almost 6 months now. I'm interested to see how its sales are affected by the two new EC releases I have coming up. I hear new releases give good boosts to backlist sales. :)
i think it's important to consider your publisher when looking at the numbers of books you sold. it's very hard to know if you're making comparatively good money at a publisher or not when they don't tell you info on what to expect. basically, if i know i'm falling in the average range of sales, i'm happy. if i'm not, i can consider my genre and my heat level.
For instance, Samhain lists top sellers, so if you spend any time with a new release in that zone, you can expect to look at that check and know that it's going to be fairly high, comparatively, with later checks. Or, you can recognize that if you didn't make a bestseller, you have the ability to earn a whole lot more.
Liquid Silver actually tells authors EXACTLY how many books their top sellers sold, so you can compare your numbers. It's wonderfully reassuring sometimes, to know you missed out on the top 10 by 4 sales, and it can be crushing to know someone is outselling you by 1,000.
Loose Id does neither. The only gauge i have to know if my book sold well is emily veinglory's stat site, which gives you an average.
They get an advance, we get bigger, faster royalties.
True on both counts. I think the appeal to going NY is that it has a larger audience, you get an advance, and it's still more respected than e-presses.
i think it's important to consider your publisher when looking at the numbers of books you sold.
Absolutely. My writing buddy reassured me that my numbers were good not only for the publisher I was with, but the genre I was writing.
And, that's why this blog exist. To inform those who DON'T know.
My 1st royalty check was for $1.50.
My 2nd - haven't received it yet. Still waiting to hit that magical $25 mark. My friends keep saying that I'm going to have to take them to dinner when I get it. I laughed. Cause it'll be more like gas money or lunch for one for the day - the one being me. And this is from a "reputable" and "respectable" publisher. Sure I hadn't heard anything bad about them when I first published with them and they were recommended highly by a "writer friend". One I respect and admire. So I went for it. Big mistake. I guess everyone's experience is different though. Now I'm struggling to finish 2 more novellas for them and maybe do a few more to build a back list. But I'm wondering - is it worth it? Should I just chuck it as a lost and go for 1 of the bigger ones - one of the top tiered - top 5?
I don't have dreams of quitting my day job. Maybe not having that "have to work, need the money" thing going on. Praying for OT and not seriously contemplating getting a 2nd job to help pay the bills. Cause a 2nd job will seriously limit my writing time even more than the 1st job does. I guess I don't need 6 to 8 hours of sleep a day. And I'm all for sacrificing but at some point it gets ridiculous. I don't think I can cut out any more than I already have.
Christina Jones is talking royalties here http://christinajones-writing.blogspot.com
She is a respected UK novelist with a major publisher who sells well.
Nerdsnark, perhaps NY publishers are slower in issuing royalty checks, but the distributions is far better and the advances, except for a few places, are far bigger. Some e-publisher authors do very well, particularly through Elloras Cave and a couple others, but I would rather have a $10-$20K advance than a faster royalty check of $2K.
My ever first check, I cheered and skipped around the kitchen and took the family out for a really nice steak dinner.
The second, I took the kids to sonic and had to dig in the ashtray thingie for a couple of quaters to make up the diff.... (but even as it fluctuates between the two, I have yet to--knockwood--not get a check)
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