Does writing pay?!

[Chui]

Anyone have any idea about rates given by publishers for, eg, novels? By word, book, etc, however its measured?

[saxy_jag]

How long is a piece of string?

If you have an exceptional first novel, a publisher may decide to make you an advance of several thousand (or not). You will pay back the publisher via royalties. If you don't sell enough to cover the advance, then the publisher will have to write it off as a loss, which is why they're very picky. Once your royalties (a very small %age of the cover price) have paid the advance, you will then be able to keep any extra. However the chances are that if you are an unknown or first time novelist, then you'll be lucky to get a few hundred quid, and that's if yours happens to be among the 1% of manuscripts deemed publishable.

Of the published authors I've met - and I'm not talking bestsellers here, just mediocre but relatively well-known names, most have to supplement their income by teaching, personal appearances etc etc. Unless you're of the Dan Brown/JKR/James Patterson ilk, you will not become rich by writing.

Of course, all this goes for novels/fiction. I know very little about the journalistic side, but if you check out the trade bible, Writers and Artists Yearbook, you'll find all sorts of useful articles and guides to payment.

[nickmo]

If you want to get a grip of what writing can pay, have a look at the NUJ rates at: http://www.londonfreelance.org/rates/index.htm l and this offers updated rates for books, mags, features etc. Click each section for rates.

The WAYB is a good source of reference for contcats and info about publishers - if you submit manuscripts (MS) there are certain recommended guidelines like only send a synopsis, not the whole book, the MS should ideally be double spaced, do enclose an SAE if you want it back, and do not be put off by rejections.

Probably every author gets rejection after rejection before landing a deal - and the deal could be for �100 to start with by the way, so don't plan the move to the country just yet perhaps..

On the whole though, plenty of people do make a living at writing and if you are thinking of getting published, do have a shot. And do not self publish by the way - vanity publishing is all but ignored for any but the most vain writers and the titles are virtually never stocked by any book shop, library or book club. Just not worth it. And do get your MS vetted by someone who is not a friend who will be objective, not just saying its good to make you feel chuffed. . .

Loads of good info on the web as well for writers, so good luck . .

[DaSwede]

Lots of info here for the American market. Writer's Digest is a 'paper magazine' as well, not just online.

[LeMarchand]

Pretty sure it's by book, though you have to factor in advances and (if sucessful) multi-book deals and other rights sales.

That said, I think it was John Jarrold who claimed that most of his authors when he was the editor for the Gollancz SF range were still living with their parents...