how much money does a writer make?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:35 am

Originally posted by fable:
<STRONG>Dean Koontz is a friend of a friend. He starved for more than a decade writing all sorts of fiction. Thrillers didn't take off for him. They only made money after he'd been working them for close to another decade.</STRONG>

I am aware of Dean Koontz' lineage (i actually own over 20 of his novels

) it was the first name that came to mind

Any better examples? The question is after reading a few of his last books, why does he still write, they seem to have the same thematic and character links that most of the others did.

Well some consider him a horror writer, not to sure about that compartmentalisation.

Shadow Sandrock · Post by **Shadow Sandrock** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:39 am

I might as well add that a good way to put up stories for amateur/some pro review is [url="http://www.fanfiction.net"]at FanFiction.net[/url]. You can post your own stories there too that aren't really "FanFiction". If you're more of a poet, you can earn cash, prizes, and get in books by using [url="http://www.poetry.com"]Poetry.com[/url]'s memory base. One of my friends got in a book from there

Saruman · Post by **Saruman** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:48 am

Having met and chatted to a couple of authors through various conventions and signings I think I can add my 2 pence into this.

Authors in the main make next to nothing out of their first book regardless of whether it is published, or how well it sells. As the publisher is, at least in it's own eyes, taking an enormous risk publishing material from an unheard of writer the publishing contract will be written so much in the favour of the publishing house so that if the book doesn't sell well the publisher can attemt to re-coup some of it's expenditure.

It is only with subsequent outings that the aspiring author really has any chance of making a return this is especially true when it is the publisher that comes back to the author with a request for another title to follow up on the success of the first. It is at this point that the balance of power shifts because the author has more control over contractual arrangements.

Shadow Sandrock · Post by **Shadow Sandrock** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:55 am

It's hard to find where to post poems on poetry.com but if you search hard enough, it's right in front of you....

BTW, here's the poem I entered in the contest... it sounds so corny but...

The right to live, a precious thing
Destroyed by hate, dream on, dream on!
Our country will stand great and tall
We will not fail! Dream on! Dream on!
The land our fathers toiled for
Is always free. Dream on! Dream on!
This precious soil means much to me!
I won't forget! Dream on! Dream on!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 5:55 am

@Saruman, i assume this doesn't apply to autobiographies and books written by already famous people.

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: Mr Sleep ]

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 3:37 pm

From what my English teacher told me, the only easy way to get your writings published is by working at a publishing company? Is that true?