First Novel Sales: The Data from Writer Beware

Writer Beware is a publishing industry watchdog group sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America with additional support from the Mystery Writers of America. They've recently posted some data on their blog about the advances recieved for first novel sales and many other related facts and figures.

In the piece they ask some very pertinent questions:

What's the average advance for a first novel? How long does it take the typical first novel to sell? Do most first novelists...