Question Home

Position:Home>Books & Authors> Can someone become reach just by writing a good novel?


Question: Can someone become reach just by writing a good novel!?
If someone wrote a great novel, so great that it sold millions of copies, is that enough to make him/her rich!? and if a movie is made out of this story, will he/she get paid!? and if yes, how much will he/she gets out of this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Mmkee,

Absolutely!. The author usuall gets about 15% per book sold!. If a book costs $15!.00 and it sold a million copies or so, the author would make at least $225,000!. If a movie right came into the picture, it would all depend on what amount of money the author sold the rights for!. It would probably be in the neighborhood of a million dollars or so!.

So that's already $1!.225 million dollars!.

PJ MWww@QuestionHome@Com

The answer is "NO!" And keep in mind that this is why most parents say exactly this when they learn that their offspring plans to write the Great American Novel!. Here's why:

There are hundreds of marvelous novels currently on the shelves in bookshops across America!. Few will sell!. It is most likely that none of the authors of those books will "become rich!."

Very, very few writers reach the status of, say, Stephen King, John Grisham or James Patterson!. VERY, very few!.

"Great novels" rarely sell "millions of copies," unless you count those that are considered today to be classics long after the impoverished writer is dead and buried!.

Great novels do not sell millions of copies!. Rubbish is what sells: "Twilight," "The Davinci Code" and similar crap!.

The American reading public is, as a rule, not sophisticated and not drawn to great literary works!. King, Grisham, Patterson, et all are not writing "great novels!." They are writing mainstream fiction that appeals to a very broad audience!. There's nothing wrong with that!.

Back to your question, though: when an author makes a publishing deal, how much "he/she gets out of this" is predicated on the manner in which the deal is struck and the contract is written!. Details like advances, royalties, other rights, etc!. are all covered in these agreements!. THEN the book has to do well, which today has more to do with luck and marketing than it has to do with being a "great novel!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you publish with a traditional publisher and sell millions of copies, yes, you will get a SUBSTANTIAL amount of money!. Not OMGRICHMANSIONSANDLIMOS but a good chunk of cash!.

If a movie is made, they will profit from that as well!.

How much!? It's relative!. It all depends!.

But those who sell millions of copies and get rich!? They're the top !.9% of writers!. Most writers don't make a damned thingWww@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not really sure!. I think it would depend on exactly how you published the book!. I mean, you have to give your editor some money as well as your agent and if you do it through a company, they might get all the money!. This is something you should research futher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It doesn't even have to be good!. See 'Twilight'Www@QuestionHome@Com