There’s a discussion going on over on Dear Author about readers buying used books. Well, that’s not entirely the point of the discussion, which is why I decided to retreat to my own blog to think about one of the points made in relative peace and quiet. So, what got me to tapping my fingers and thinking about this way more than it deserves? Someone, I believe Alison Kent, said in a comment there:
Yes, the posts preached to many members of the choir – but, they could also reached a lot of silent people who have never realized how authors earn their money. One of the commenters on Rosini’s blog even said she thought authors were paid up front and that was it. So there are readers out there who don’t know about sell-throughs and royalties.
Uh, they’re supposed to know? Readers, I mean.
This is where my brain stops working apparently because I honestly don’t get why readers should be expected to know this information.
Or CARE one way or another.
Ever.
Is it not a huge presumption on the part of authors to assume that readers would or should care one way or another about whether they’re making any money off their books?
Yes, I know that sounds completely and totally heartless but maybe I am on this one. Then, again, I’m also trying to make a point so go with me instead of gasping in outrage.
Of course, I suppose any gasping in outrage would also be extremely telling because it would prove that some really do expect readers to know and care . . .
And don’t try to disguise that outrage behind the reasoning that readers should support their favorites so they’ll continue to be published because I’m not buying the need for encouragement on that any more than I suspect any devoted reader would. If an author really is a favorite, most readers can’t wait for their books to come out. Period. They do not need to be told to look for them new. They will.
Or they won’t.
What I strongly question, though, is whether knowing anything about the ins and outs of the poor author’s situation is really going to make a difference in that decision.
More than that, I also intensely resent the guilt trip being laid on for what appears to be no valid reason.
And people try to convince me that there isn’t a great divide between authors and readers . . .
This is where my brain stops working apparently because I honestly don’t get why readers should be expected to know this information.
Or CARE one way or another.
Ever.
It’s simple. So that when an author you would love to see rise to stardom quits writing, you’ll understand why. I don’t expect you to care where my income comes from. That’s my personal business. But authors do hear comments from readers wanting to know over and over again what happened to a certain author. Many times, this is what happened. She couldn’t afford to keep writing. All we’re doing here is explaining that.
I don’t know how authors make their money and to be honest, I don’t really care. But!!! I make a point of buying new – specially new authors and those who write in unusual settings because I’m afraid if I don’t, they won’t continue to get published and we will end up with nothing but Avon clones.
Yeah, I don’t care. It’s heartless and cruel but c’mon. You chose this as your career so buck up. Sure maybe some poor reader thinks ‘OMG, the poor author’ while others think ‘are you friggin’ kidding me?’
One sure way to make sure I won’t buy your book is to tell me I have to. Nope. Not gonna.
Before I ever got on the net I believed that most authors were making a decent wage and as yet, not one of them has proven to me they have not. There is an author grouping (they do well and never say they don’t) who have giant houses and grand vacations. I mean, things I sure don’t have so no, I don’t worry about authors I have heard of.
Now, there are a few newbie authors that I have met through blogging and I have bought their books but trust me, if the book blew, I wouldn’t feel the need to buy the next one!
CindyS
My understanding is this: Publishers try to estimate what the sell through will be and offers an advance based on that. They hope that the author does not sell beyond their advance because every time the publisher pays a royalty check (beyond the advance), that actually is a loss to a publisher. Reminds me a bit of an insurance company setting a reserve on a claim. I think the great majority of authors do not sell through their advance and receive royalties but I could be wrong on that.
I completely agree with you. My interest in publishing is pretty limited. Who goes around asking themselves if buying this book will support a trend or author? Answer: no one does.
Since the Internet has allowed readers and authors to correspond, we know more than your average reader but that doesn’t mean that I care to know the business of roytalties, sell throughs. All I care about is reading a good book. Period.
Well, I always thought that authors made money of the books that got sold. But as far as caring, well, if it’s a choice of me not paying the light bill or feeding an author you can guess where the money is going. Seriously, are they or any celeb worry about my bills and how much I get paid? I don’t think it’s my concern where or how they get theirs.
If I like a book enough and I can afford it at the moment then I buy new but most of the time I have to buy used. I read way too many books and there is no way I’d be able to read half as much if it was all new books.