Hello r2:
Thanks for the interesting question. I have had several non-fiction
works published by traditional publishers and was looking for the same
information as you are several years ago. :-)
While there are *many* different ways that non-fiction authors can be
paid, there are standard methods. Each publisher tends to have their
own standard contract that they will likely want to stick to pretty
closely (i.e., they are unlikely to allow a first-timer to deviate
from their standard contract).
All of the following are typical for a first-time author's contract.
Advance on Royalties:
Most traditional publishers will provide a "small" amount of money to
the author up front. Unknown authors will likely get somewhere between
$500 and $2500 (also depending on what the projected sales volume for
the work will be). This money is deducted from the first royalty
cheque(s) until such a time as it is completely paid off.
In most cases, this money will be paid directly after the contract
with the author has been signed. Occasionally, the advance will only
be paid after submission of the final manuscript.
Royalties:
A typical royalty in the non-fiction world for an unknown author is
10% of "the gross". This means that for each copy that is sold, the
author will receive 10% of the *final selling price*. If the work
sells for $50 - then the author gets $5. The publisher is responsible
for all costs, including set-up, production, marketing, distribution,
book-keeping, etc., etc.
This initial royalty rate can be higher than 10% if the author agrees
to take on some of the responsibilities of the publisher listed above.
It could also be lower if the author provides the manuscript in such a
way that it require extra production costs.
Depending on the type of work, sometimes the publisher may make "bulk
sales" to certain institutions. For example, 1000 copies @ $20 per -
in which case the author would get 10% of the reduced selling price
(or in this case $2 * 1000 = $2000) for that sale.
As well, sometimes the author can negotiate a royalty rate that
increases with sales volume. For example:
1 - 1000 copies @ 10%
1001 - 5000 copies @ 12%
5000+ copies @ 15%
As each new sales plateau is reached, the new percentage kicks in for
subsequent sales.
Royalties are typically paid once, twice, or four times a year, based
on the sales in the previous fiscal period. Each publisher has
standard payment dates and methods. My first publisher paid once a
year in April for the previous calendar year's sales.
[Keep in mind that, if you receive an advance, that the first few
royalty cheques will be diminished to "pay off" that advance.]
Typically that's all there is to payment for a non-fiction work.
Sometimes, if your work goes into a second or subsequent edition, that
is an opportunity to renegotiate your contract to get better rates.
Rights:
Before a publisher will publish your work, they will make you sign a
publishing contract. Most contracts will state that the author retains
"ownership" of the work, but that the publisher retains the "exclusive
right to publish" the work and any derivatives (i.e., subsequent
editions, similar books on the same topic, etc.).
This means that you have to continue publishing the work with this
particular publisher and can't just hop from one publisher to another
with it.
There are usually "escape clauses" built into such a contract. For
example, if a publisher decides they no longer want to continue
publishing a work - then the author regains *all* rights. As well, if
the publisher wants a new edition and the author is unwilling to write
it, then the publisher can sometimes "appoint" a new writer to update
the book. The original author would then receive a diminished royalty
amount for the new work.
The following is a standard example of a publishing contract.
http://www.indexbooks.net/publishingcontract.htm
Some further information:
Problems with Publishers' Contracts
http://www.adlerbooks.com/contract.html
I hope this information has been of help to you.
If you need any clarification of the information I have provided,
please ask using the Clarification feature and provide me with
additional details as to what you are looking for. As well, please
allow me to provide you with clarification(s) *before* you rate this
answer.
Thank you.
websearcher-ga
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