How much does the average author get paid?

[J. Strnad]

I'm afraid that many people who happily download unauthorized copies of books, or who put them out for others, don't understand just how hard writers work to create a book, and how little they are paid in return.

Even if you have the day job and only write in your spare time, you are still working. I enjoy writing to an extent, but I enjoy reading, watching TV, playing with the dogs and just farting around much, much more. If I'm going to spend my time writing, which I hope brings entertainment to others, I appreciate it when people actually toss a bit of change my way.

Make enough sales and you can treat yourself to a dinner out with the wife at a place that doesn't post its menu on a big board over a counter, or maybe just fund your own reading habit!

[dadioflex]

Edit.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

Anyway... what bloggers get paid doesn't really have any affect on what fiction writers get paid. You may as well point at bankers or movie stars.

Well, my point is they are both writers. If a writer wants to get paid to write... it is a possible avenue. I'm familiar with a blogger that quit his day job and he only writes one blog post a week. I doubt he spends more than a day on each topic.

So, if your a writer and you want to get paid to write... start a blog... make it interesting and targeted. Once you've got a revenue stream from that... will you can work on a book. You will also have a built in audience to market it to.

BOb

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Well, my point is they are both writers. If a writer wants to get paid to write... it is a possible avenue. I'm familiar with a blogger that quit his day job and he only writes one blog post a week. I doubt he spends more than a day on each topic.

So, if your a writer and you want to get paid to write... start a blog... make it interesting and targeted. Once you've got a revenue stream from that... will you can work on a book. You will also have a built in audience to market it to.

BOb

Lessee, I started my blog about 3 years ago, because I'd read how you can make money from Google ads on your blog. To date, I've earned something over a hundred dollars. In 3 years. And that's mostly coming from ads on my website, not my blog.

I think this model works only if you happen to know a lot about one particular subject that a lot of other people are interested in. I write about a lot of different things, but much of it is book related. The ads I see on my blog tend to be for self-publishing, more than anything else. This does not bring in a great deal of money, I'm afraid.

I'm sure there are ways I could have targeted it better, and maybe plastered the ads all across the top my blog rather than discreetly along the sides. But mostly, I think it's just like all the other get-rich schemes. They maybe work for a few people. But for most? Uh-uh.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by starrigger

I think this model works only if you happen to know a lot about one particular subject that a lot of other people are interested in.

I agree. That's the way to go.

BOb