Selling Too Low

[Jonathan Phillips]

I suspect many of us here have aspirations of making some money out of our writing and I have recently begun researching the possibilities out there. I am shocked however, by how many supposedly professional organizations offer such pitiful fees. I have come across publishers offering $10 or $25 per story and recently an anthology being published that will pay $100 for a submission. This is shocking. I could maybe understand such insulting figures if you were to earn royalties on top, but that is not the case either. I even read an article that stated that Black Books - one of the most established publishers of women's erotica here in the UK - will only pay between $2,000 and $3,000 per novel.

I also read that one publisher relies on its erotic literature to financially support it's regular publications so there is obviously money to be made.

Now, my problem is not so much with the publishers, it is human nature to try to get as much as you can for as little as you can, but more with the authors who give their work away for such paltry sums, thus keeping the exploitation going. I know writers wishing to get published see exposure as being a good thing, but should we really be supporting such a disgraceful practice?

Free sites, such as this, I can understand - no one is making any money directly from the stories, but given the time and effort writers put in, surely they deserve to be paid appropriately?

I am hoping that I have simply stumbled across the unscrupulous publishers out there and that they are the exception rather than the rule, but I have a horrible feeling I may be wrong. If so, perhaps self publishing is the sensible route to take.

It would be very interesting to here of others' opinions on this subject.

Jonathan

 

[oggbashan]

The problem, as I see it, is the imbalance of supply and demand.

Since the advent of the PC, the number of people taking to writing as an interest has increased dramatically. Almost anyone can now write using a word processor, spell check, and print off a hard copy.

Writing with a typewriter and carbon copies was much harder. Editing was a real pain when retyping again and again was required.

The number of people buying erotic literature is still relatively small compared with the total number of books on sale. The costs of producing a new book are high, and the marketing costs are a major proportion of the total. If an author is paid $2000, the rest of the publisher's costs will be far more if the book is to sell enough copies to make a profit.

Selling the first book is the hardest. Building on success is easier.

Many classic authors made little money on their first book.

Og

 

[rgraham666]

Writing with a typewriter and carbon copies was much harder. Editing was a real pain when retyping again and again was required.

This is the only reason I can write at all. If it weren't for PCs the process of using a typewriter etc. would require more energy and time than I possess.

 

[Jonathan Phillips]

I see your point Og and I am in the same position as Graham - without my trusty spell checker I would be a laughing stock, but surely there is a middle ground whereby the publishers can make a decent profit and the authors are paid a sensible wage, $10-$20 is just insulting.

On the downside, with the advent of the internet, come sites such as this where readers can print off stories for free, but more positively, it also allows people the opportunity to buy erotic literature anonymously from the comfort of there own homes.

It is an acknowledged fact that erotica is becoming more mainstream and is a growth market in the publishing industry so surely the decent writers out there should be able to earn the money they deserve.

I sound like I am whining and am pretty certain I must have accidentally found the less professional publishers out there.

Jonathan

 

[impressive]

I don't think the publishers are making a killing, judging from the number of them going under.

 

[rgraham666]

I can't really judge yet, not having received any royalty checks yet. And believe me, you'll know when I do.

But I'm being realistic. Damn few authours make much money at this gig. All that I know have other sources of income. I'm hoping to make enough money to lead an independent lifestyle, meaning a place of my own, food on the table and pipe tobacco. Cockroach free would be nice, but unlikely.

If I achieve that, I'l have achieved all I want.

 

[Jonathan Phillips]

Good luck Graham I am sure you will have deserved it!

JP

 

[rgraham666]

Good luck Graham I am sure you will have deserved it!

JP

Thanks.