When it comes to making money as a beginner author, the amount you can expect to make per book depends on a few factors.
The first factor is the size of the advance. Publishers typically pay a $5,000 to $10,000 advance to good first-time authors. This means that the author will receive this amount of money upfront, before the book is even released. This advance is typically split into two payments: one when the book is accepted for publication, and the other when the book is released.
The second factor is the book’s retail price. If the book is priced at $20 per copy, then the author would need to sell around 1,000 copies of the book to break even after printing and distribution costs. If the book is priced higher, then the author would need to sell fewer copies to break even.
The third factor is the royalty rate. This is the percentage of the book’s retail price that the author will receive for each copy sold. Typically, authors receive a 10% royalty rate, so if the book is priced at $20, the author will receive $2 for each copy sold.
Finally, the fourth factor is the number of copies sold. The more copies sold, the more money the author will make. If the author sells 1,000 copies of the book, they will make $2,000 in royalties. If they sell 10,000 copies, they will make $20,000 in royalties.
In conclusion, the amount a beginner author can make per book depends on the size of the advance, the book’s retail price, the royalty rate, and the number of copies sold. With a $5,000 to $10,000 advance, a $20 retail price, a 10% royalty rate, and 1,000 copies sold, a beginner author can expect to make around $7,000 per book.