There's an article over on Salon entited, "My Amazon Best-Seller Made Me Nothing."
The gist of the story is that most writers don't make money. Even well-known writers. The money they make is much less than anyone is willing to admit.
They talk about a $5000 advance from major publisher by a well-established writer as being standard. (Which, if I remember rightly, isn't all that much better than it was 30 years ago.)
What was disheartening, as usual, were the comments, which amounted to -- 'Well, you must be some kind of loser because I happen to know that so-and-so (let's say Stephen King) made a gazillion dollars!'
They also talked about how it is nearly impossible to know if you're getting accurate accounts of what's selling -- which was also a big surprise to me 30 years ago. I didn't think of publishing as a potentially shady business.
The more I knew about publishing, the less attractive it seemed. Going into it, I was completely ignorant. And Ignorance was Bliss.
This isn't sour grapes. It's just the way things are.
But it certainly factored in my decision to skip the whole process and put stuff up online.
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4 comments:
Speaking of your stuff online, I finally figured out how to download Freedy Filkins and Death of an Immortal! Woohoo! And I added you as a favorite author. :D
Thank you, Martha.
Here is my silly thought on the subject.
I think deep down most writers don't care so much about the paycheck or the advance bonuses. Aside from the fact writers just love spinning yarns, I think one writes because they want immortality. They want the satisfaction of knowing that something they did is going to be around forever and ever to be a mark upon time that they existed and had a story to tell.
Even if the book doesn't sell or make a best seller list, you know it is there and always will be. Somebody, someplace and sometime will peruse the net and catch a glimmer or your name and the book..or see it in the $1 paperback shelf at a used bookstore...or at a library. And at that second, you are remembered and someone knows your name and sees you existed.
I think you're right, Kevin.
The internet facilitates that illusion.
I used to think my books were gone and forgotten -- and they mostly are.
But go on the internet and search Duncan McGeary, and it seems like my books are everywhere all over the world.
Very gratifying, even though in real terms it really isn't that big a deal.
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