Reading Books is trending..and I'm all about it...how much money do authors make?

[Anonymous]

I'm a librarian. It's always been a thing.

[Anonymous]

I’ve self published and made six figures (very rare situation and it’s still kind of surreal). I’ve made way less in traditional publishing. If you’re not a super famous author you’re lucky to get a $10,000 advance these days. As others have said, a small minority make a livable income and they are the names you likely know. I do know some self published authors with cult followings who are making a great income off writing alone. They have to continue to put new books out and most of their revenue is through kindle sales and not print.

[Anonymous]

You know what? I think it's fantastic that TikTok is getting more young people excited about books. Let's not snark about it - it's great.

There's a whole range of what authors earn. I've had two novels published and got a pittance for each - a $7500 advance. Other authors have books that "go to auction" - meaning there is a bidding war among the publishers - and they can get a six or even seven figure advance.

Best thing to support authors is to read their books - whether that means buying the book or taking it out of the library - and then tell others about the books you've really liked. Word of mouth really makes a difference!

You can post on social - or just tell people in real life if there's a book you've really enjoyed. Reaching out to an author to let them know you liked their book is also really welcome! Writers are sensitive creatures and it's wonderful, and keeps you going, hearing from someone who liked what you poured your heart into. Please don't reach out to tell an author you didn't like their work, though. It happens, and it's terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve self published and made six figures (very rare situation and it’s still kind of surreal). I’ve made way less in traditional publishing. If you’re not a super famous author you’re lucky to get a $10,000 advance these days. As others have said, a small minority make a livable income and they are the names you likely know. I do know some self published authors with cult followings who are making a great income off writing alone. They have to continue to put new books out and most of their revenue is through kindle sales and not print.

I'd love if you did an AMA sometime!

[Anonymous]

OK, I'kk bite. I'm trad published and get about a $50k advance for each book I write, plus royalties, of which I have yet to see.

I also got money form having my work optioned and that varies greatly from $10-50k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what? I think it's fantastic that TikTok is getting more young people excited about books. Let's not snark about it - it's great.

There's a whole range of what authors earn. I've had two novels published and got a pittance for each - a $7500 advance. Other authors have books that "go to auction" - meaning there is a bidding war among the publishers - and they can get a six or even seven figure advance.

Best thing to support authors is to read their books - whether that means buying the book or taking it out of the library - and then tell others about the books you've really liked. Word of mouth really makes a difference!

You can post on social - or just tell people in real life if there's a book you've really enjoyed. Reaching out to an author to let them know you liked their book is also really welcome! Writers are sensitive creatures and it's wonderful, and keeps you going, hearing from someone who liked what you poured your heart into. Please don't reach out to tell an author you didn't like their work, though. It happens, and it's terrible.

I agree. I'm not on TikTok, but I've seen book chat increase on Instagram and amongst some of my friends. It's all good. I'm just over here with my head in a book like it has been for the past 40+ years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'kk bite. I'm trad published and get about a $50k advance for each book I write, plus royalties, of which I have yet to see.

I also got money form having my work optioned and that varies greatly from $10-50k.

Do you ever have to return any of the advance if sales are less than expected?

[Anonymous]

I know two young women who’ve published or are about to publish books. One got 100K advance and the other got 500k advance and also had the film rights optioned. These are YA fantasy books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'kk bite. I'm trad published and get about a $50k advance for each book I write, plus royalties, of which I have yet to see.

I also got money form having my work optioned and that varies greatly from $10-50k.

Do you ever have to return any of the advance if sales are less than expected?

No, but if you get a big advance and then don't sell enough books, it can hurt you down the road when you try to sell your next book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'kk bite. I'm trad published and get about a $50k advance for each book I write, plus royalties, of which I have yet to see.

I also got money form having my work optioned and that varies greatly from $10-50k.

Do you ever have to return any of the advance if sales are less than expected?

No. My publishers are happy with my book sales. They did earn out. I was exaggerating about royalties, but really they are a joke. It took me more than a year to earn out my first book and then it's about 50 cents per paperback after that.

But the next poster is correct that if you get a $200k advance and don't earn out you can be screwed because no one wants to give you a new contract, and if they do, it's like for 20K and you get no publicity and a small printing and of course it's not a hit -- they call this the death spiral.

[Anonymous]

Have 16 year olds infiltrated DCUM
again?! WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems reading is fun again...I love it...but with sooo many books, and sooo many authors..any idea what kind of money is in this enterprise.. Just curious if anyone in the publishing industry has the intel on the writer's net income? Where have all these authors come from and are they making banK? Shall I hole up in an airbnb in the woods and start typing the latest thriller on my mac?

I've published a book. Here are some stats:

Most writers get royalties of about $1 per book. The proportion of authors who sell more than 30,000 is less than 1 percent. Advances and fellowships help a bit, but only in one chunk and typically not enough income to survive for even one year.

The vast majority of people I know who have published books also have day jobs.

One "working writer" I know writes genre fiction (thrillers), writes a book per year. He makes six figures.

I know another with two books that made the NYTimes bestseller list -- he still keeps his dayjob as a reporter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have 16 year olds infiltrated DCUM
again?! WTF?

Why do you say this? I am a traditionally published author (haven't answered the question) and know that so far the answers are corrected in themselves, but there is a wider range than expressed here. But again, why do you think this is a bunch of 16 year olds? Curious.

[Anonymous]

Honey, kids were excited about reading well before it became TikTok famous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every published author I know has a day job. Go write a book if you want to.

Same, even the ones that have name recognition