tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post2546428827073800563..comments2024-03-17T03:17:43.229-04:00Comments on David Anthony Durham: A MilestoneDavid Anthony Durhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-7068244329691014492008-11-19T15:44:00.000-05:002008-11-19T15:44:00.000-05:00This was a really interesting read - thanks!This was a really interesting read - thanks!Andrea Eameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15304706719936895188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-31695354705590271472008-11-19T02:22:00.000-05:002008-11-19T02:22:00.000-05:00Yep.Yep.David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-73608501911399351102008-11-18T19:21:00.000-05:002008-11-18T19:21:00.000-05:00It is odd to think that the quality of one's writi...It is odd to think that the quality of one's writing has only a marginal relationship with the success one gets from that writing. <BR/><BR/>It can make some people think they should be writing books that are less "craft" and more "workmanlike", just to get enough product out to eventually maybe make some money off of them. <BR/><BR/>At any rate, this is very welcome info. I have been paying attention to the way the publishing industry "works" for a while, and this just illustrates some things I was marginally aware of.Corby Kennardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06891081576090200925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-40195307387305504912008-11-18T17:02:00.000-05:002008-11-18T17:02:00.000-05:00Good to know folks find the information useful. Ce...Good to know folks find the information useful. Certainly, there are lots of different ways to get published and lots of different details to different author's contracts. It's not done exactly the same way for everyone, but I don't imagine my version of things is unusual. (If anything, the unusual part is that I actually earned out!)<BR/><BR/>I don't know about other industries, but publishing doesn't make it particularly easy to see how they do things. They're happy to announce that some new author got a million dollar advance, but the details of that remain fuzzy for the general public - and for aspiring writers who aren't even just the general public anymore. <BR/><BR/>But, yeah, that "advance" is just the publisher's monetary risk in one area of expenses - author royalties. That's totally standard, and a lot of times that million dollar advance can be a career killer. If you get that money in your pocket and then your book doesn't perform to expectations you can end up looking like a failure. Strange, because you could flip that around and say if that author had received 100k instead and then sold the same number of books he'd be considered a great success.<BR/><BR/>Of course, I'd have taken the million dollars at whatever point it was offered, but I'm aware looking back that everything has unfolded for the best. I can look to future book deals and know that my advance payments are based on a steadily growing track record. That's a good place to be, even if it took longer than I would have wanted 10 years ago.David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-405588191485710472008-11-18T12:46:00.000-05:002008-11-18T12:46:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this. I never thought about the...Thanks for posting this. I never thought about the pitfalls of being under contract and not knowing my full rights.<BR/><BR/>Congrats on making royalties though. That sounds so awesome!Meghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375626649089998707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-21410119797915466162008-11-18T00:22:00.000-05:002008-11-18T00:22:00.000-05:00Jeez David, I'm sure it meant a huge load a relief...Jeez David, I'm sure it meant a huge load a relief to you and the family when you saw the cheque(s). :-) I knew it was an intricate business, publishing, but man, only getting royalties after the advanace has been paid back? Now I know why I always thought that only people like Stephen King and James Patterson can quit their day-jobs! :-)<BR/><BR/>Congrats, David! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-61691498537035911372008-11-17T22:26:00.001-05:002008-11-17T22:26:00.001-05:00David,As an aspiring writer, I find this look into...David,<BR/>As an aspiring writer, I find this look into the financial side fascinating and it' not something I've heard much about before. Thanks for sharing a potentially murky situation so clearly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-19807161227211863982008-11-17T22:26:00.000-05:002008-11-17T22:26:00.000-05:00congratulations david! and thanks for taking the t...congratulations david! and thanks for taking the time to blog such terrific advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com