Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalker8
Of course it provides incentive. Every sale means the author gets closer to the earning out. The more you sale, the bigger your advance will be on the next book. The less you sale, the less the next advance is and the less likely there will be a next book. It's not hard.
Yes, I know they don't have to pay it back if they don't earn out. So what?
Of course, that 70% figure you quote is a pretty good proof what how one can mislead people with numbers. I'm pretty sure that authors who don't earn out on a regular basis soon become ex-authors. That is how it works. I would guess that only a small percentage of my favorite authors fall into that category. That implies that you assuming that any book that I buy is likely not to earn out is a very bad assumption. So your main talking point is both wrong and a red herring.
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I make no such assumption about the books you buy. People on Mobileread are, as we have often discussed, not typical of readers generally. My point, yet again, is repeating the point made by fjtorres. That it is a fallacy that paying a higher price for your typical traditionally published book is a worthwhile incentive to an author.
Your assumption that authors who don't earn out on a regular basis soon become ex-authors is a highly doubtful one. It seems to be based on another fallacy, that a publisher makes no profit on books which do not earn out. No profit on 70% of its releases! I suspect Stephen King's new books and those by other mega successful authors are amongst those that never earn out. Yet Stephen King is still publishing. In fact, he just released yet another book a couple of days ago. How can this be?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZodWallop
I read the post about books earning out. It's missing the point.
Sticking only with tradpub authors who receive advances:
If an author writes books that molder on the shelves (physical or digital) until they are remaindered/marked way, way down, they will not continue to be able to publish and will therefore no longer receive advances.
The Big 5 takes chances on new authors. But they won't put out flop book after flop book by the same author. If you want your author to continue to be rewarded, buy their books rather than waiting and waiting for the price to fall. This behavior needn't be applied to every author you read. But favorites should be rewarded.
With indie authors: until a book earns out. until a book earns out.
I think everyone agrees if you pay $3.99 instead of $1.99, more of your money goes to the author.
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But 70% of books don't earn out! It is, as pointed out above, a fallacy to assume that a publisher does not make any profit on all books which don't earn out. The Big 5 did once take chances on new authors, but this seems to be happening less and less frequently. And I echo some of your plea. If you want to reward an author, buy their books. Or at least borrow them from a library. But if you're buying wait until they do come down to a price you are prepared to pay. Paying top price for a new release hard cover gives little incentive to an author. Certainly the extra money does not end up in their pockets. If you feel that you want to give an author a real incentive after you have borrowed or paid a low price for their book, which I seldom do, give a donation directly to them.
I totally agree with you on Indies. On a typical KDP e-book the author is getting 70% of the price the book is sold for. That is a real incentive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZodWallop
You are right. I will no longer discuss books as art. If you find people claiming that buying books is supporting the arts to be patronizing though, that is on you, not the speaker.
If there's a writer you particularly love, do not be afraid to pay more for their books than you normally would. It helps them continue to put out books.
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As to the first paragraph, I do not find your claim to be patronizing. I just think the distinction in the case of books is irrelevant.
As to your second paragraph? In the case of Indies, yes, it does. In the case of Big 5 and most tradpub, no, it does not.