Cost Benefit Analysis, Otherwise known as Who Are You Kidding?

WHAT DOES THE ADVANCE BUY?


- by Susan Shea


I still recall the thrill of being able to say, "Yes, my publisher has agreed to an advance..." "Oh, look, my advance check has arrived. I must hurry to the bank..."

It sounded so professional, so financially satisfying. Only later would I figure out what a fool's game this turned out to be. Now, lots of writers get really good advances. Some break even, some actually make money. But for this then newcomer, the first advance was about how much it cost m...