Reblog: What not to say to authors (and what to say instead)
Originally posted by Author Allsorts:
NOTE: I LOVE being an author. I feel like the luckiest THING ever. This post is not a sign of my unhumbleness.
���However, since the wonder of being published, I���ve got one niggle. Whenever I talk to anyone about my books, people say the same things to me. Over and over. There are obviously a lot of myths out there about authors, so I���d thought I���d answer the main ones here, all in one go.
Myth one: Authors are all filthy rich��� like JK Rowling
What not to say: ���Wow, you���re an author? So, where���s your castle then, JK Rowling?���
The reality: Honestly, I���d make more money if I was paid a pound for every time someone brings up JK Rowling when talking to me about my career, then I���d ever make from selling books.
Here is the basic maths���
An average book costs, say, ��7.99.
An average royalty rate for an author is around 7-9% of the cover price.
So, if a book sells at full price, an author can make around 60p.
Oh, yes, and around 15% of that 60p goes to your agent.
And don���t forget Mr Taxman, he���ll be wanting another 20%
So, even if a book sells over 50k copies, an author would only take home around ten grand.
���And most books don���t sell over 50k copies. Most books sell less than two thousand copies.
Authors don���t do it for the money. And not just because WE���D BE FRICKIN��� MAD TO. We do it because we love it and we���re so very lucky to do something we love���but it���s usually not a living. It���s more like a ���hobby with benefits���. And no castles.
What to say instead:�����You���re an author? Golly, do you want me to get this round in then? And, yikes, you look cold. Here���s my jacket.��� *covers shivering author with jacket*
