I suspect I'll be earning out my SNW stories when I'm about, say, 297. In which case I can interview actual members of the Federation for non-fiction Star Trek.
--Ted
--Ted
re: How do you get paid if you sell a ST book?
- Thread starter Cheapjack
- Start date
Of the stories I've sold for advances on royalties, I've never been able to collect beyond the advance. I always figured it was because I work in small-market anthologies. I am simultaneously comforted and wary to see the pros have the same problems.
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
I've collected royalties on some of my Trek work. As for others, it ranges from "No chance in Hell" to "Someday, maybe," depending on the title in question.
I'll simply echo what Dayton has said. Some of my work for Trek books has produced royalties; some has yet to do so.
No royalties here either. I thought they were a myth.
Dunno about for Trek books (yet!) but they're not a myth elsewhere - I've had them for all my novels with the exception of one which was a flat fee deal
Agreed, I like learning more about the 'biz. Thanks to all who replied to my question.
I always laugh when I get my Royalty Statement. SNW8 has to earn *how* much more before I get a penny beyond my advance?
^^^
If you're only writing Star Trek books, then no, it's not possible to be financially independent on that income alone. There simply isn't enough volume. A full-time author needs to diversify by selling original fiction and/or writing for other tie-in franchises. Even someone as prolific as KRAD earns extra income as an editor.
If you're only writing Star Trek books, then no, it's not possible to be financially independent on that income alone. There simply isn't enough volume. A full-time author needs to diversify by selling original fiction and/or writing for other tie-in franchises. Even someone as prolific as KRAD earns extra income as an editor.
If you're (name) I got your e-mail, I just haven't had the chance to reply.
If you're not (name), I never got your e-mail.
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Like Geoff said, there just isn't enough Trek fiction work for one writer to make a living off of. When you have 20 or so Trek books (including novels and anthologies) coming out in a given year, those books and stories are spread out over a bunch of authors.
Authors need to write other stuff, be it tie-in work or original fiction, to make a living at it.
And yes, many writers have day jobs. Gotta pay the bills somehow, and waiting for an advance check or royalty check isn't always good for the soul or the pocketbook. Insurance benefits are generally better with a full-time job as opposed to a freelancer, though I haven't researched that in detail.
And some of those writers in day jobs are diligently working and writing in an effort to eventually get OUT of that day job and write full-time.
Cheapjack,
Sorry not to respond to your email yet. Our dog had surgery on Monday and my girlfriend and I have been taking turns nursing her while trying to keep with up with our respective deadlines. As a result, I've fallen a bit behind in my emails . . . .
The short answer: no, you can't live on Trek novels alone. I need to write at least six to eight books a year to make ends meet and there aren't enough TREK slots available to keep me busy full-time. Right now, for instance, I'm working on projects for DC Comics, C.S.I. and Zorro, while keeping a close eye on the Underworld franchise. Meanwhile, I also work as a Consulting Editor for Tor Books, and write plenty of freelance advertising copy for Tor, Nightshade, Pocket Books, and other publishers.
Hope that answers your question!
Sorry not to respond to your email yet. Our dog had surgery on Monday and my girlfriend and I have been taking turns nursing her while trying to keep with up with our respective deadlines. As a result, I've fallen a bit behind in my emails . . . .
The short answer: no, you can't live on Trek novels alone. I need to write at least six to eight books a year to make ends meet and there aren't enough TREK slots available to keep me busy full-time. Right now, for instance, I'm working on projects for DC Comics, C.S.I. and Zorro, while keeping a close eye on the Underworld franchise. Meanwhile, I also work as a Consulting Editor for Tor Books, and write plenty of freelance advertising copy for Tor, Nightshade, Pocket Books, and other publishers.
Hope that answers your question!
amazing you can still keep shit straight, spinning around that many different projects at once! Especially with books in various stages of development, gotta be some late nights where the CSI investigator accidently investigates phaser burns, or Zorro chases the Klingons out of the town, etc. Enough to keep your editor on his toes, at least 
As for royalties, on Trek books or whatever, they're nothing you want to plan on or budget for. They're windfall money: a occasional nice surprise in the mail, but completely random and unpredictable occurences. The advances are what you live on; royalties mean you get to go out for dinner that night.
Just to put things in perspective . . . .
Just to put things in perspective . . . .
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