How Much Money Can Someone Earn With Writing Succesful Books?

[lombax123]

i've heard you can earn a lot of cash, if your book is succesful like harry potter.

[Tilly2]

Millions.

[albaqwerty]

who is to say what is a succesful book?

One may write a book and no publisher wishes to put it into print - JK and Harry Potter spring to mind....

[fiction-factory]

But becoming successful is very difficult, even if you are really good at it- many top authors spent years and years struggling to get their work published. Using your Harry Potter example, think JK Rowling had some difficult years and rejections before she found success

[albaqwerty]

oh, and being able to spell and use spell check can be helpful too if you are thinking of writing a succesful book lombax

[Tilly2]

Correct punctuation helps too. :-)

[Buenchico]

As has been indicated, if a book (or series of books) is really successful there's a lot of money to be made, particularly if the film rights can be sold as well. Estimates of J K Rowling's wealth vary but £600 million seems to be a reasonable guideline figure.

However, for every one author that makes good money from their writing, there are tens of thousands who make very little at all. Most books (which might have taken several years to write) make less than £1000 for their authors.

Trying to become a successful author is akin to trying to become a successful singer-songwriter. There are only a few people like Ed Sheeran in the world but there are vast numbers of singer-songwriters who feel that they're doing well if they can get a fifty quid pub gig every couple of months. Similarly, most authors are happy enough to sell perhaps just a hundred copies of their work on Amazon.

[jourdain2]

Lots - but normal returns from writing are paltry. I have 6 or 7 short stories on amazon, total earned is now nearly £10 in 5 months. I suppose you need to be advertised, which means monied supporters. I'm happy they are being read, but a bit more of a cash return would be nice. :)

[douglas9401]

On the other hand though, the example of Mr Sheeran shows that, with the right promotion any one trick pony can get lucky.

All you have to do is give it a go.