How much do Writers make

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Blunderer

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Does anyone have an idea how much an author can make froma fising book? What sort of royalty deals are paid?

I know it is entirely dependant on Sales of course, but does anyone have any idea how much in the pound would be paid to an author? Would it be 10% ish?

I know there is lots of fishing literature out there and my guess is that something by an independant like The Medlar Press would only sell a few thousand at the most.
 
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Gary Newman

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From what i know of this the answer would be not a lot unless you decide to self-publish, which involves putting the money up in the first place.
If you went through one of the bigger publishers have heard of people getting ?1 per book sold, which isn't going to make you a fortune.
As long as you are well-known enough for it to sell and can put up with sending them out yourself, then the only way to make serious money would be to self-publish and then sell direct to the public.
It is also worth noting that leather-bounds are a good way to make money, often these go for around ?150 so sell 50 of those and you've got a reasonable return already.
Most write a book because they want to see themselves published rather than doing it for the money.
 
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Sean Meeghan

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Dave Tipping is a mate of mine and he hasn't packed in the day job yet. If you sell reasonably well you stand to make a few thousand, but the problem is getting into the book sellers.

But I have heard a rumour that Marsdinn and Wintle have both been seen driving round in BMWs ......
 
Mark Wintle

Mark Wintle

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Let's put it this way, I could make more working a couple of Saturdays than writing a book - a lot less hours, too. But the sense of achievement getting a book published is priceless.
 
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keora

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In the new biography of Richard Walker, the author explains that most of Walker's writing was aimed at publication in periodicals - he had quickly realised that you could get a lot more income that way, than labouring over a book.

Some of his Angling Times articles were reprinted in book format and they sold well - I've just bought a reprint of **** Walker's Trout Fishing.
 
Peter Jacobs

Peter Jacobs

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"How much do Writers make"

Far be it for me to cast Nasturtiums on authors of our aquaintance, but a certain gentleman is currently on his second holiday this year (?)

Mark, if you can earn as much by working a couple of Saturdays, then I'm changing my business accounts!


[insert U-No-Wot - - - - - > RIGHT . . . . . HERE!]
 
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Peter Bishop

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Gents the mechanics are thus. If a publisher approaches an author, he is entitled to an advance based on anticipated sales, upon signing the contract. For angling books that wouldn't even buy you a decent pole.

If you as author approach a publisher and he then offers you a contract no advance is payable.

Thereafter, royalty payments are usually calculated at around 10-12.5% of the discounted price to the retailer, not the sale price. It is usually calculated twice yearly and payment is received about three months after. On average you might get less than a £1 a book, so you won't get rich. If its the money and fame you want write a sequal to Harry Potter.

Finding a publisher for an angling book other than 'a how to do' one like Mark and Graham'sis as much luck as anything. I was lucky that my manuscrpit dropped on the desk of a specialist sports publisher who wanted an off beat amusing work based around an angling life. It sold around 4000 copies.

Mark is right that seeing your work in shops is a great buzz but if you were doing it for the money dont bother.

One word of caution. Avoid both vanity publishers who promise to publish you book for money up front, and the Little Egret Press who make promises and then dont deliver. I wrote a book three years ago for them, at their instigation...its still sitting on the shelf...
 
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Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)

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If you want to make a bit of cash out of writing, articles in magazines are the way to go.

In a letter to me ca 1963, **** Walker told me that for all the hard graft, he made "next to nowt" (his words)out of Still Water Angling.

He would never say how much he made from Angling Times for his weekly column but he did say that it helped him buy his first car!
 
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Peter Bishop

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Its already been done Ray, 'Harry' Wintle and Professor Dumbledore Marsden wrote a wizard book.
 
Graham Whatmore

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Peter, is it possible to tout the book yourself after having it published by a third party and if so what would be the price percentage wise of the book to the author. I was thinking of trade shows and competitions such as Fishomania etc.
 
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Peter Bishop

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Ho Ho ho! No, Cakey 512 pages like me! We may have only a few trophies to chortle on about but we at least gave the nation the greatest goalscorerfootball has ever known, theincomparible Dixie Dean. What's your team?

Not sure what you mean Graham. Publishers will sell you discounted copies in batches of 20-50 as they would to a shop for 'personal use' but you arenot supposed to resell them for profit and undermine their sales.

Touting and publicising the book is very much a part of your contractual agreement, you will come up with leads and so will an experienced pubisher, who will probably send out upwards of 50 review copies.
 
Graham Whatmore

Graham Whatmore

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Could you become your own salesman or wouldn't the publisher be prepared to offer you an endless supply of books for onward sales is what I meant Peter but you seem to think they would frown on this. It seems strange to me because supplying you with books at wholesale prices is exactly what they do when supplying shops and their profit is thus guaranteed. Surely the more books you/they sell means more coppers in the bank for both parties or am I missing something?
 
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Cakey

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Ive just finished reading The Essential History of Liverpool by Alex Murphy and Eric Doig

but I found it a bit hard going here and there
 
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Peter Bishop

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A third attempt to post. Each time I am blown out by the Magic error page.

Cakey, why am I surprised? Reds everywhere but its so easy to support a team which wins trophies -except the won you really want.

Graham,E mail me direct and I'll give you chapter and verse on what it says in my contracts. Short answer is yes, but you have to buy first and sell with their permission. Not sale or return, like shops.
 
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