05-23-2012, 07:50 PM
The value of publishers letting authors focus on writing books can't be underestimated. Charles Stross reckons that he would have to cut his rate of publishing in half if he had to act as a one-man publishing house hiring marketers and editors and printers and so on. We've known since Adam Smith (or Plato) that letting people specialize in something they are good at is beneficial.
Publishers also take on a lot of financial risk for authors with their advances. Most fiction or popular nonfiction authors need the advance from the last book to write the next one. Publishers can afford 5% of books selling much worse than expected, because 5% will sell much better than expected; an author usually can't afford to live on half their expected income for a year!
Publishers also take on a lot of financial risk for authors with their advances. Most fiction or popular nonfiction authors need the advance from the last book to write the next one. Publishers can afford 5% of books selling much worse than expected, because 5% will sell much better than expected; an author usually can't afford to live on half their expected income for a year!
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
