If you were an author and you were granted a wish

Format C: · 06-28-2012, 08:27 AM

I'm the Genie from Aladdin's lamp, and I grant you only one wish.

I know, what you really want is one billion happy readers who buy one billion copies each paying one billion dollars for each copy.
But that, I cannot give.
So choose: wealth or enduring fame?

CallOfCth'reader · 06-28-2012, 08:47 AM

Looks like I'm the first to choose option 2.

QuantumIguana · 06-28-2012, 09:35 AM

I voted for wealth, you have to eat.

RainingLemur · 06-28-2012, 09:59 AM

Eh, I went with the first option. Yeah, getting paid would be great, the actual exposure from the billion readers could lead to them purchasing my follow-up book and others picking it up on recommendation. Yes, I realize that there's an incredible risk in that, but it's one I'd be willing to take. I figure the enduring fame would ultimately lead to wealth.

tubemonkey · 06-28-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I voted for wealth, you have to eat.

My sentiments exactly.

Money = bananas

tecweston · 06-28-2012, 10:17 AM

Option 1. I get way more excited when someone says they like my work, than I do when I get paid.

JoeD · 06-28-2012, 11:46 AM

If I were an author, I'd go for option 2.

That'd give me enough money to no longer worry about selling books. I'd be happy to then work for free and give away future books.

If I made that kind of money selling software, I think I'd take the same approach. I'd still make it since I love the work, but I'd give away the product and source. I contribute to open source now and then but just can't bring myself to give away everything yet, eating is important

Catlady · 06-28-2012, 11:58 AM

Show me the money.

Ekaros · 06-28-2012, 12:25 PM

2. Even at one tenth of cent per copy it's 1 million euros. With tens of cents per copy it's hundreds of millions...

Billion copies is such huge amount that royalties are also massive.

On other hand with 10-100k range I might go with free...

DiapDealer · 06-28-2012, 12:33 PM

I'd like to teach the world to sing ...

Spoiler:

tubemonkey · 06-28-2012, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'd like to teach the world to sing ...

Spoiler:

I'm suddenly thirsty

BWinmill · 06-28-2012, 12:40 PM

Option 2. Authors, like everyone else, need to have their basic needs met. While a billion readers may satisfy some psychological needs, it won't satisfy others. A billion non-paying readers won't put food on their table either, nor provide the table, nor provide a roof over that table, nor provide a piece of land for that roof to rest upon.

As a reader, I also have to wonder about the quality of authors who prefer readership over earning a living. Paying for a book involves an implicit contract: the readers provides an author with compensation for their work, they provide the reader with something that they want to read. Authors who write for vanity are simply trying to fulfil their own needs without considering the readers needs.

Quexos · 06-28-2012, 12:57 PM

It's a trick question, nobody can honestly say he'd give up money altogether.

But the answer would depend on the person's personality. Are we talking about someone with a huge ego or someone that is practical. Former answers A, latter answers B
End of story.

carld · 06-28-2012, 01:06 PM

#2 I'd rather be rich than famous.

CallOfCth'reader · 06-28-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

It's a trick question, nobody can honestly say he'd give up money altogether.

But the answer would depend on the person's personality. Are we talking about someone with a huge ego or someone that is practical. Former answers A, latter answers B
End of story.

You can also do a lot of good with the royalties from one billion full priced books.

Of course, if the content of the book was potentially life changing, then one billion non-paying readers is a good start on reshaping the world.

View Poll Results: If you were a writer, what would you choose for your book?
One billion actual readers who really enjoy your book, all sharing a single copy of it.	29	48.33%
One billion buyers, all paying the full cover price but never reading a single word of it.	31	51.67%
Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll

06-28-2012, 08:27 AM	#1
Format C: Guru Posts: 746 Karma: 1496807 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Third World Device: iLiad + PRS-505 + Kindle 3	If you were an author and you were granted a wish I'm the Genie from Aladdin's lamp, and I grant you only one wish. I know, what you really want is one billion happy readers who buy one billion copies each paying one billion dollars for each copy. But that, I cannot give. So choose: wealth or enduring fame?

06-28-2012, 09:59 AM	#4
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,360 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Eh, I went with the first option. Yeah, getting paid would be great, the actual exposure from the billion readers could lead to them purchasing my follow-up book and others picking it up on recommendation. Yes, I realize that there's an incredible risk in that, but it's one I'd be willing to take. I figure the enduring fame would ultimately lead to wealth. __________________ "Can't judge a book by another man's treasure."

06-28-2012, 12:33 PM	#10
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,818 Karma: 23139990 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 2	I'd like to teach the world to sing ... Spoiler: Yes, I know it wasn't an option. __________________ “Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

06-28-2012, 12:57 PM	#13
Quexos Freethinker Posts: 1,442 Karma: 7012494 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: European Union Device: Glo, Aura HD 2.5.1	It's a trick question, nobody can honestly say he'd give up money altogether. But the answer would depend on the person's personality. Are we talking about someone with a huge ego or someone that is practical. Former answers A, latter answers B End of story. __________________ . "All in all you're just A-nother brick in the wall" (Pink Floyd)

06-28-2012, 08:47 AM	#2
CallOfCth'reader Cultist Posts: 157 Karma: 2110238 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 505, 4th gen iPod Touch, iPad 3, Kobo Glo	Looks like I'm the first to choose option 2.

06-28-2012, 09:35 AM	#3
QuantumIguana Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 14424170 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle	I voted for wealth, you have to eat.

06-28-2012, 10:17 AM	#6
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 530 Karma: 1079133 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook STR, iPad, iPod touch	Option 1. I get way more excited when someone says they like my work, than I do when I get paid.

06-28-2012, 11:46 AM	#7
JoeD Guru Posts: 824 Karma: 4151842 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Hanlin v3, iPad, Kindle 4NT	If I were an author, I'd go for option 2. That'd give me enough money to no longer worry about selling books. I'd be happy to then work for free and give away future books. If I made that kind of money selling software, I think I'd take the same approach. I'd still make it since I love the work, but I'd give away the product and source. I contribute to open source now and then but just can't bring myself to give away everything yet, eating is important

06-28-2012, 11:58 AM	#8
Catlady Wizard Posts: 1,964 Karma: 4986732 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: jetBook Lite, Libre Color	Show me the money.

06-28-2012, 12:25 PM	#9
Ekaros Illiterate newbie Posts: 440 Karma: 1439102 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Finland Device: Sony PRS-T1	2. Even at one tenth of cent per copy it's 1 million euros. With tens of cents per copy it's hundreds of millions... Billion copies is such huge amount that royalties are also massive. On other hand with 10-100k range I might go with free...

06-28-2012, 12:40 PM	#12
BWinmill Wizard Posts: 1,119 Karma: 8384072 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kobo	Option 2. Authors, like everyone else, need to have their basic needs met. While a billion readers may satisfy some psychological needs, it won't satisfy others. A billion non-paying readers won't put food on their table either, nor provide the table, nor provide a roof over that table, nor provide a piece of land for that roof to rest upon. As a reader, I also have to wonder about the quality of authors who prefer readership over earning a living. Paying for a book involves an implicit contract: the readers provides an author with compensation for their work, they provide the reader with something that they want to read. Authors who write for vanity are simply trying to fulfil their own needs without considering the readers needs.

06-28-2012, 01:06 PM	#14
carld Wizard Posts: 2,649 Karma: 3273499 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, Droid Razr Maxx HD	#2 I'd rather be rich than famous.

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