How Much Does An Author Make Per Book
Authors’ earnings per book vary widely and depend on various factors. Contrary to the common belief that all authors are wealthy, most struggle to make a living from their books. While iconic authors like Stephen King may have substantial wealth, they are outliers. In 2018, the Authors Guild collaborated with 14 writers’ organizations and publishing platforms to survey 5,067 professional writers in the United States. The median income in 2017 for these authors was $6,080, with only $3,100 coming from book sales alone. For full-time authors, the median income, including all book-related activities, was just $20,300.
What to expect financially
When you’re starting, you’ll likely need additional income sources. Writing follows a ‘winner takes all’ pattern, with the top 10% of writers earning 70% of the revenues. For new writers, the outlook may seem challenging, but the beauty of writing is its flexibility to be combined with other income methods.
Let’s delve into the various financial outcomes you might encounter. If we talk about the exact amount of money then we can’t say a one-fix size that fits all. Because in every country there are many factors that depend upon the earnings of writers.
How much do authors make a year?
A University of Glasgow annual survey tracked author earnings over the last 15 years, revealing a notable decrease in average author income—from £18,013 in 2006 to £10,497 in 2018.
It’s important to note that most writers don’t rely solely on writing for a living. The same survey considered average household income to offer a broader perspective. The average household income for professional authors is £81,000 per year.
The research emphasizes that only 13.7% of authors earn their income exclusively from writing.
The difference between an author’s salary and book earnings
An author’s salary is all the money they make in a year. Book earnings are just part of that.
Moreover, many authors are also doing some part-time jobs and also do freelance work. This way, their reputation is strongly built.
For example, there is a website online named Patreon where fans directly support their favorite personalities.
Do you know that the peak time for authors is the middle of their careers? The biggest factor of their wealth is royalties. Because publishers take a big percentage of the money you earn. However, we suggest you do not use even a fancy name in your book.
The Rise of Self-Publishing
Nowadays, it is very easy to publish your own books because there are plenty of opportunities for this due to technology.
It just takes your time and a small amount of money. But you can utilize huge opportunities. Amazon is the biggest opportunity provider for every individual to publish their work.
Furthermore, the cost of publishing your book depends on various things. After publishing your book you can hire someone to promote your book on social media. In addition, you will have to spend some money on the packaging of your books. For this, you can buy boxes for books.
I ask these questions because if you go super cheap, your book might turn out not so great, get bad reviews, and not sell. On Amazon, good quality sells. And yes, quality needs some money. But you can find creative ways to save and still make a quality book.
What Does It Really Cost To Self-Publish A Book?
You can calculate the cost of self-publishing if you follow the steps. For this, pay attention to the three following expenses.
- Writing and Editing
- Publishing and Printing
- Marketing
When planning and budgeting for your book, you have to think about the different things that make up these three costs. Also, consider the format (or formats) you’ll publish. Self-publishing a paperback might cost different from self-publishing a hardcover. Things like printing and special formatting or cover design can affect your budget.
How Much Does It Cost To Self-Publish A Book
First, let’s check out a sample budget. These aren’t the highest numbers for self-publishing. You can spend however much you want. Below you can find some rough details to launch your new book. This will help you to publish a book in a reasonable budget.
- Cover: $5-$100.
- Editing: $200-$400
- Formatting [ebook]: $20-$60
- Formatting [Print]: $35-$60
- Promo Sites [Book Launch]: $40-$500
- Audio Book [optional]: $300-$900
- Author Tools: Courses, blog, domain names
How Much Does It Cost To Self-Publish A Book?
The cost to self-publish a book in the current year is around $300 to $3000. It depends on certain things because many authors spend a lot of money while others spend nothing at all. In addition below you can find the list of some publishing platforms where you can submit your content for publishing.
The self-publishing platform you choose
Indie authors need a self-publishing platform for their new books. Many are affordable and offer tools for designing and promoting your book. Some can help you find an editor and designer. The costs vary; the more you pay, the more features and promotions you get. Some platforms also act as aggregators, letting fans discover, buy, and review your book in a searchable database.
Below you can see some popular book publishing platforms.
- Reedsy
- Barnes and Noble Press
- Apple Books
- Nook Press
- Lulu
- BookBaby
- IngramSpark
- Amazon KDP
Marketing
To sell your book, you need to market it to readers. This part is often the most fun for indie authors (aside from the writing). Marketing can be done through social media, emails, bookstore readings, and book club appearances. You can also make flyers to share at local bookstores, coffee shops, or libraries.
Marketing takes time, but it can be cheap, thanks to free digital tools like Canva. These tools are great for self-published writers. Your publishing partner might give you access to some of them or offer discounts on Facebook ads.
