In a recent conversation with Anna Marie Tremonti on CBC’s The Current, New York publishing consultant Mike Shatzkin said, “. . . a lot of people who write books don’t [ really care about making money]. They care about writing and being read.”
For the record, while the passion to write and the determination to write well, is my guiding light, when it comes to my chosen profession I also care very much about “making money” because I need to support myself. In fact, I do not know any of my writing colleagues who do not care about “making money.”
Many people love the work they do, but that doesn’t stop them from demanding—and getting—fair compensation for their efforts. Most writers work for two to three years on a book before it is sold to a publisher. After a year of editing and advance publicity, the book is placed on the market, and only after a full year of sales does the writer receive compensation. This is in the form of royalties—10-15% of book sales—and any advances that might have been received are deducted from these royalties.
The stories and/or histories in my blogs are available to readers at no cost. I do this, not for an ego trip, but because I hope to encourage those readers to purchase and read my published books and perhaps refer those books to other readers.
For the record, while the passion to write and the determination to write well, is my guiding light, when it comes to my chosen profession I also care very much about “making money” because I need to support myself. In fact, I do not know any of my writing colleagues who do not care about “making money.”
Many people love the work they do, but that doesn’t stop them from demanding—and getting—fair compensation for their efforts. Most writers work for two to three years on a book before it is sold to a publisher. After a year of editing and advance publicity, the book is placed on the market, and only after a full year of sales does the writer receive compensation. This is in the form of royalties—10-15% of book sales—and any advances that might have been received are deducted from these royalties.
The stories and/or histories in my blogs are available to readers at no cost. I do this, not for an ego trip, but because I hope to encourage those readers to purchase and read my published books and perhaps refer those books to other readers.
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