11 %

[dr_mabeuse]

If someone offered to publish something of yours and offered you 11% of gross sales, would you take it?

---dr.M.

 

[Weird Harold]

If someone offered to publish something of yours and offered you 11% of gross sales, would you take it?

---dr.M.

Probably.

A percentage of Gross is a gamble when cmpared to a flat rate or a per/word rate but it can turn into a MUCH larger return on your work.

At this point in my writing career, I'm willing to take whatever is offered just to get the publishing credit in the resume -- in the long term, that could turn out to be where the profit lies.

 

[destinie21]

If someone offered to publish something of yours and offered you 11% of gross sales, would you take it?

---dr.M.

Well it would be better than the 0 % I'm currently getting

 

[Guest]

Yes. I would be glad to be published, regardless of what the percentage does w/re. to sales.

Perdita

 

[shereads]

No, I would make them exchange sexual favors for the right to publish my work. If I had any work to publish.

An offer of money would insult me.

 

[Couture]

Well, there are publishers that are offering more. But, there are also many that are offering less, if you know what I mean.

A lot depends on what format they will publish in. An ebook can be published cheaply. A book-book requires a lot more overhead.

I would say that you would be in a lot more powerful position to negotiate after your writing had made a contribution to their bottom line.

 

[Boota]

I just submitted an erotic horror story to an anthology and the only payment offered is an equal split of 50% of the profits among the contributors. I did it more for a credit and to find a home for a very extreme story more than anything. Any money would just be a bonus. Hopefully, if my story is selected, I can mention my novel in it somewhere and maybe get some sales for that as well.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Without question I would accept it. I just write for fun anyhow, and anything would be gravy. However, if it proved to be really popular and I got fan mail or other positive feedback, I would probably want a better deal on the next one.

 

[Belegon]

bargaining power

Is it a one shot deal? If it is I say go for it. Why?

As the owner of zero major league victories and a 68 mph fastball I have no hope negotiating with the Cubs. Greg Maddux, on the other hand, gets 3yrs at 24 million despite having a similar fastball ( well, almost) and being a similar age.

published and profitable=creditable=power

 

[snooper]

If someone offered to publish something of yours and offered you 11% of gross sales, would you take it?

Depends where it is. On a paper publication that is reasonable, I get 12½% but my son only gets 10%. On E-books it is very low. The lowest I have heard anywhere was 25% and the highest was 45%. Beware the 50% of profits people; if your book sells like hot cakes you can still end up with nothing if they have a few turkeys, and all the money they spend on promotion is yours, not theirs.

 

[SensualCealy]

Id say take it, you can always up the percentage when you submit your next book if the sales go well!
Cealy

 

[Pure]

On its face, it's not bad. The really bad deals are the 'flat fee' situations, where they can make money forever after essentialy buying you out.

However, I'd look at 'set offs'. Likely there are deductions against this % of gross; they might amt to 100%. Remember they can define the items the way they please, i.e., 'out of pocket' promotional costs, etc. Insisting on all relevant docs and figures would help.

Possibly you also want a time limit. I.e., they publish for 5 years andyou split the proceeds. Then there must be re negotiation.
AND If at any time they stop publishing, then one year later, all rights revert to you (you can re publish elsewhere).

 

[Boxlicker101]

On its face, it's not bad. The really bad deals are the 'flat fee' situations, where they can make money forever after essentialy buying you out.

However, I'd look at 'set offs'. Likely there are deductions against this % of gross; they might amt to 100%. Remember they can define the items the way they please, i.e., 'out of pocket' promotional costs, etc. Insisting on all relevant docs and figures would help.

Possibly you also want a time limit. I.e., they publish for 5 years andyou split the proceeds. Then there must be re negotiation.
AND If at any time they stop publishing, then one year later, all rights revert to you (you can re publish elsewhere).

Either I misunderstand the word "gross" or you and Snooper do. I would define "gross" as all the money taken in before any deductions for promotiion or any other expense. If total sales of this particular item total $100,000, then 11% of that would be $11,000 and that is the amount that would go to the writer. If the publishers or equivalent choose to spend $50,000 on promotion and other costs, that money comes from their share. If I were a very well-established writer, I might hold out for more but I would accept the offer. That is not to say that somebody else should.

 

[minsue]

Either I misunderstand the word "gross" or you and Snooper do. I would define "gross" as all the money taken in before any deductions for promotiion or any other expense. If total sales of this particular item total $100,000, then 11% of that would be $11,000 and that is the amount that would go to the writer. If the publishers or equivalent choose to spend $50,000 on promotion and other costs, that money comes from their share. If I were a very well-established writer, I might hold out for more but I would accept the offer. That is not to say that somebody else should.

That's what I was thinking, Box.

 

[mtnman2003]

seems a good number.........

Hey Dr. M:

About 18-years ago, I started an educational publishing company, focused on supplemental study guides to the core college courses. Total offering was to be about 110 classes.

Bottom line, in negotiating with other instructors, I offered between 7%-12% royalty for their works. My company provided framework for the guides requirements, but they were free to include items that they deemed important, subject to submittal and approval by my staff.

Percentage was based on gross sales as well.

Good, industry standard, all that.

 

[gauchecritic]

I have no knowledge whatsoever about percentages per sale but 11% sounds like a rip off to me.

I'd much prefer a one off fee and a percentage. Maybe an either/or deal whichever is the greater.

Ten or eleven percent sounds like an agents fee rather than an artists.

Gauche

 

[SadieRose]

Isn't the standard a variable advance and between 10 and 15%?

I guess it could be worse. It would depend on how much work your publisher puts into promoting his clients.

Sadie.xx

 

[sweetnpetite]

Isn't the standard a variable advance and between 10 and 15%?

I guess it could be worse. It would depend on how much work your publisher puts into promoting his clients.

Sadie.xx

Good point- what do you *get* out of the deal? I think the % is only part of the package.

What about distribution, rights sold vs. rights retained, copies printed, how long it will be in print, what happens to copies NOT sold, promotion, your responsibilies (will they want you to give interviews, will they expect another book in 6 months, ect.) and WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR %. Even if they *say* you get 11% of the gross, that doesn't mean they won't use some fancy contract language to stipulate that you have to pay for A, B, and C out of your cut.

If it's 11% and you are going to get nationwide exposure, decent promotion, and 10 minutes on Lenno, then yes.

If it's 11% of 100 copies sold in Podunk Florida and then out of print with all rights sold so your manuscript will never see the light of day- then it's not realy even worth it for the satisfaction of getting your name in print (unless that is your end goal rather than a stepping stone)

 

[snooper]

Either I misunderstand the word "gross" or you and Snooper do. ...

I certainly don't. Gross is gross and a percentage of gross is as you defined it. The second part of my posting cautioned against deals which are a percentage of profits specifically because of the problems you cited.

I'd much prefer a one off fee and a percentage.

In the paper publishing world you do get an advance, but it is just that, an advance on the royalties, and you don't get any more until that is earned. In e-books you never get an advance, but you tend to get royalties every month or two, instead of annually.

Another trick to avoid is the request to pay the publisher a set-up fee on e-books. Anyone who charges you to publish your book is a charlatan, or is in the vanity publishing business and publishing books that nobody wants.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I just asked because I really had no idea of what the usual author's percentage was on a paperback. I'd always assumed it was in the 40-50% range, but I was just guessing. I'd never talked to a publisher before.

The outfit is called "Ellora's Cave" and they have an e-book site and then put out a paper version. The e-books pay the author 40% of sales, the paper publishing pays 11%. They want to publish my "House on Charlevoix" series, which is why I had to take it off Literotica. (No one's going to pay for something they can get free.) Since 40%/11% is apparently in the right ballpark, I'm going to do it.

In any case, I get to keep the film rights, which I'm sure will be worth a bundle when Spielberg comes calling

---dr.M.

 

[Wills]

Hearty Congrat's Dr.

Hope it goes well for you.

Will's

 

[Pure]

Sounds great doc. Just make sure all rights end up with you, and if they stop making your work available, you can take it elsewhere. (i.e., suppose they virtually fold after one month, but the remaining inactive 'shell' holds all rights.).

 

[kellycummings]

The first time I got published (under my real name and not erotica) my only payment was a years subscription to the magazine and I was happy to get it. I felt then and still feel that as long as you can get your name out there then sooner or later someone with real money will come calling.

 

[sweetnpetite]

The first time I got published (under my real name and not erotica) my only payment was a years subscription to the magazine and I was happy to get it. I felt then and still feel that as long as you can get your name out there then sooner or later someone with real money will come calling.

This is basicly true, but just getting published doesnt' always 'get your name out there.' As noted above, publishers sometimes fold, and keep your rights or have limited copies and circulation. In your case, it *was* a good deal because it was apaently a good and reputable publication. Also, you have to be willing to take smaller payments to start, but eventually you don't want to be known as the writer they can get cheep either.

Congrats, Dr. M. It's probably best to pay for a couple hours of an attorneys time before you sign anything Good Luck. And let us know where we can buy it.

 

[Guest]

I just asked because I really had no idea of what the usual author's percentage was on a paperback. I'd always assumed it was in the 40-50% range, but I was just guessing. I'd never talked to a publisher before.

The outfit is called "Ellora's Cave" and they have an e-book site and then put out a paper version. The e-books pay the author 40% of sales, the paper publishing pays 11%. They want to publish my "House on Charlevoix" series, which is why I had to take it off Literotica. (No one's going to pay for something they can get free.) Since 40%/11% is apparently in the right ballpark, I'm going to do it.

In any case, I get to keep the film rights, which I'm sure will be worth a bundle when Spielberg comes calling

---dr.M.

Congratulations, Dr. M!

May it be the start of many great things for you. Seems like you've got a very reasonable deal there.

Will you be getting contrib. copies?

Also, you'd better let us all know how we can get hold of the paperbacks, I'm sure there's many people here who'd like a signed copy.

Lou