Dr. Marcia Layton Turner on LinkedIn: Do ghostwriters get royalties? I'm frequently asked whether book… | 10 comments (2024)

Writers And Money (From my blog "Boobytrap")Being an author leads to many weird situations that involves the critical or just curious eye of people who might consider buying your work. Some of it we, the writers, do a lot to direct as we want it to be seen: Entertaining, ingenious or "something new to this planet". We go from our solitary workplace by the computer, struggling to give life to fictional characters and plots of our own making to go craving for some kind of publicity. Without publicity the book will still be there, but only for our own personal enjoyment and without the stamp of success: Sales that prove that we were right in calling this, our work, our bosom baby.A lot of people know that this makes us vulnerable to scams that tear into our finances, robbing us without giving us what we were told that we were buying: Publicity, contracts with good and legitimate publishers or, for instance, screen writers, etc., etc.. A lot of disappointments may be waiting for the hopeful writer and it's not fair to us or the trade as such.However, the publicity part of the game may be less burdensome moneywise if we involve ourselves in certain measures that we perform ourselves:1. I don't believe in listing people who might review our books for free, using emails to incite them to buy the book. To me that's looking unfair to those we approach as writers. However, honest reviews on platforms like e.g. Amazon and Goodreads are a wonderful boost to the sale process. Some writers may build a business partnership with other authors for cross-promotions or guest posts on each other's blogs.2. Attend book conventions: OK, but that's not cheap. I's been invited to two conventions in Europe, but did not feel tempted to attend ....3. a) Be a blogger or b) get someone who has a blog to read and review your book.4. One may utilize platforms like e.g. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to engage with readers. Maybe that strategy may even lead to the building of a community of followers, but that may be pushing one's luck too far ....5. Some writers participate in book club discussions of various art.And what have I done up till now? Not much, even though I, who have a long list of self published works, ought to do something about the actual promotion of my works. Well, sometimes I do sell something, but I wouldn't be able to make a living by writing books which also goes for many other authors: This is not an industry for most of the people who are out to get riches. Some do, but not most of us ....

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you find there’s another way for people to attempt to exploit would-be writers. One of my soon to be ex-connections asked me to get involved in a scheme - I can only call it a scheme - which sounded like vanity press meets MLM. He said I’d be a featured author and all I had to do was persuade 10 more people to write a chapter in a co-authored book. I’d get my spot for free; they’d have to pay $1300 apiece. And we were guaranteed bestseller status.I’m internet old, and my spidey senses tingle at anything that seems too good to be true. And this did, big-time, on many fronts. In addition to being outraged that he’d think I’d invite anyone to this “nopertunity”, I’m concerned that some people might fall for this, but it's definitely a case of "buyer beware". As far as I can tell:- The person who offered the nopertunity will be getting $13,000 per book - the writers get nothing up front- There’s a promise of an unspecified revenue share (not sure for what) plus 30% of online sales royalties (for comparison, I get 70% of the royalties on my self-published print on demand books)- My friend Jenn, who’s a whiz at these things, has detected a whiff of the link farm in how his site is set up (which will result in Google penalties)- It looks like after the book is published, you’re encouraged to buy more tools and services to boost sales (so more revenue for his company and less for the writers)That’s without even digging into who owns the book and the material in it, and other pertinent questions. For example, what if his company stops promoting the book? Because 30% of nothing is nothing. In short, the people contributing chapters would be getting the very short end of a particularly crappy stick, in my opinion. As a writer, if you decide to go the self-publishing route, it’s best to have your own platform. And while it makes sense to pay for some services, like professional editing and cover design, there’s a lot you can do yourself. No, you probably won’t become an instant bestseller (though you never know), but you will get all your royalties, and you’ll be able to sleep at night, too.cc Jennifer Mattern#publishing #selfpublishing

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I have a message for the people on YouTube bragging about how they hire ghostwriters to make cheap #books for a few hundred bucks and then turn them for five figures or more.For the record, I have no problem with someone hiring a ghostwriter and then making a profit. That's business and it's paid my bills. What I DO have a problem with is being seen as cheap labor and not receiving an appropriate level of compensation within the profit being made. Even worse is that these people then are trying to make even more money by peddling courses that explain exactly how to repeat the process they use. So...in essence, teaching more people to treat writers badly.So, how do you address this as a writer? Simple. Just don't accept a flat fee rate for books you write that you know are going up on Amazon or similar places. Instead, ask for an hourly rate plus a reasonable percentage of all earnings from sales. That way, no matter what the book sales are, the ratio of pay to profit isn't ridiculous. It's not all that different from getting paid an advance plus royalties in traditional publishing.Now, I won't dictate what your negotiated percentage should be. That really depends on elements like how much money is invested in the production of the book. And if the book is poised to do fairly well because marketing is excellent, it's a little tricky to measure what that extra exposure can be worth if you're acknowledged as the ghostwriter. But don't allow people like this to take advantage of you. Fight for what's fair, not only to protect yourself, but to protect the craft. Petitioning places like YouTube not to allow these types of ads is one option to start the fight.#WritingCommunity #Writing #Writer #Author #FairPay #Pay #Compensation #Profit #Ethics #Morals

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How much should a freelance ghostwriter charge?During the Gathering of the Ghosts Conference on January 22nd, our CEO, Kevin Anderson, moderated a conversation called The Money Dance, where the panelists–including notable authors and ghosts Dr. Marcia Layton Turner, Michael Levin, and Catherine Whitney–tackled the fundamentals of the ghostwriting business: building your brand, contract essentials, and, most significantly, how much to charge.You can find a summary of what was discussed in that panel here: https://lnkd.in/gsSy5Bn9

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So, you want to write a book?Since publishing my latest book earlier this year (link in the comments below), I've had many people reach out for advice on how to become an author, so I thought I'd share some tips and insights for anyone interested in writing their first book via a publisher: - First, you need to be very clear on the theme of the book and who the intended audience is i.e. who are you writing it for, and what do you want them to learn?- When pitching the idea to publishers, they'll also want to know why you're best person to write it, what your credentials are, whether or not you're an expert in the field, how you plan to promote/market it, how does it differ to similar books, what are the 3-5 key takeaways of the book, etc.- You may not have much power in negotiating royalty payments (which can vary significantly), but you can negotiate the number of complimentary copies you receive as an author to give away to family and friends, or as part of promotions/marketing. You may also be able to negotiate an advance. As with any small business work, you unfortunately need to be prepared to chase payment. My book was published over 6 months ago, and I still haven't received my royalties (at this point the publisher is no longer responding to me)!- Some publishers may only distribute the book via Amazon, and it may not be stocked by other book sellers in your country. It is worth contacting various bookshops directly to see if they'd be keen to stock your book.- In regard to which publishers to approach, I'd suggest focusing on the type of book you're writing. For instance, if you're writing a textbook, then try to choose publishers with expertise in your discipline, as they'll have editors with relevant technical expertise - and a relevant and established network and brand for to help promote your book.- Speaking of editing, even though you'll have an editor allocated to your book, they may not always have the capacity or background to edit technical content, so be prepared to do as much editing as possible yourself, and to enlist the help of experts in your field. I was very fortunate to have DrTania Churchill, PhDhelp me with editing, and given how much time she spent, I'm surprised she's still speaking to me...- Be prepared for the journey (aka suffering) of becoming an author. You'll most likely have milestones to meet (e.g. chapters due by certain dates) as part of the contract, and if you're waiting for reviews/edits at the same time, it will most likely mean late nights and deferring other work to meet these deadlines. Plan for this in advance, and make sure there are clear (and realistic) dates and deliverables in the contract before you begin. Deadlines will not always be met by the publisher, which will shorten the time you have to complete your milestones!I'd be keen to hear about the experience of other authors, and what advice they can share!Good luck!

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What measures must authors take to secure their stake in the field of book publishing?A Book Publishing Agreement is the blueprint that defines the terms of publishing, protecting the interests of both parties. One key aspect is the 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲, a critical element for authors seeking financial recognition for their literary creations.Royalty Payments:Royalty payments are the lifeblood of authors i.e. payments that are derived from book sales and are usually expressed as a percentage of the book's price.However, here's where it gets interesting: authors can negotiate the terms to maximize their earnings.Royalty percentage:While industry standards can provide a benchmark, don't be afraid to negotiate for a higher rate, especially if you have a strong bargaining position or a proven track record.Consider tying royalty rates to specific sales milestones. If the book sells a certain number of copies or becomes a best-seller, you can negotiate a higher percentage, promoting shared success.Digital and Audiobook:With the rise of digital books and audiobooks, it's essential to clarify how royalties will be calculated for these formats. Negotiate fair rates for digital and audiobook sales, keeping in mind that production costs for these formats are often lower, which could warrant a higher royalty percentage.Territory and Language Rights:Authors can explore negotiating territorial and language rights separately. This can open up additional revenue streams.Subsidiary Rights:Beyond translation and adaptation rights, consider negotiating subsidiary rights such as merchandising, video game adaptations, or educational use. These rights can significantly boost your earnings if your book becomes a hit in various media.Audit Provisions:To ensure transparency and accuracy in royalty calculations, negotiate the right to audit the publisher's records periodically. This gives you peace of mind that you're receiving the correct payments.6. Cross-Collateralization Clauses:Beware of cross-collateralization clauses that allow the publisher to offset losses from one book against royalties from another. Try to limit or eliminate these clauses to protect your earnings.Duration and Reversion Clauses:Negotiate the duration of the agreement. It's common for authors to seek a reversion clause that allows them to reclaim their rights if the book goes out of print or sales drop below a certain threshold.Competitive Works Clause:Consider adding a clause that restricts the publisher from releasing competing works by other authors that might divert attention from your book during the same period.The publishing contract is an author's lifeline, and the Royalty Clause is its heartbeat.#authors #contractdrafting #authorsrights #royaltyclause #bookpublishers #contractnegotiation

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Who put the “ghost” in ghostwriting? With all the new technology emerging, it’s easy to get caught up in the fervor and hire an online company to do your ghostwriting. But do you REALLY know who’s writing your book?I recently engaged in conversation with someone who hired an online company with complete packages, including ghostwriting. What we discovered is that their “ghostwriting experts” were none other than AI-based writing tools that weren’t human.A cautionary tale to drive awareness, if you’re writing and publishing a book, make sure that the ghostwriter you use is vetted and is ACTUALLY doing the writing themselves. AI-generated content can be flagged by print-on-demand platforms and they can refuse to publish your book, especially if you’re unaware that AI has been used to write it and you check the box that indicates that your book content was not derived from AI sources.Just be aware and do your homework. Similar to the pickle authors get themselves into by using an ISBN that was purchased or “given” to them, it can create legal issues down the road with who actually owns the copyright to the book. Due diligence is worth it’s weight in gold. Do your research! If you need a helping hand in unraveling a publishing contract or determining how legitimate a source is, feel free to reach out. My team of experts are superheroes at getting you back on track to protect your copyright and royalties.#ghostwriting #publishing #copyrights #authors #royalties #editing #books

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This rich writer follows 2 rules. Every solopreneur can learn from him. David Mamet is one of the world's best screenwriters and playwrights. But before he found success writing? Mamet worked in real estate. He turned his experiences on the job with cutthroat salespeople into the hit play Glengarry Glen Ross. His play depicts two days in the lives of four desperate real estate agents in Chicago. The play and subsequent film won multiple awards on Broadway and at the Oscars. Mamet's one of my creative heroes. That's because: He prescribes **two rules** for succeeding as an artist and a business person. He says, “𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺.” If you want to find success writing online, do one thing for your craft. An example? ↳ Write 300 words ↳ Publish one piece of content. If you want to earn money writing online, do one thing for your business, like: ↳ Asking followers to join your email list. ↳ Creating a sales page ↳ Positioning a service or an offer 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮?

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David received so many great questions during today's presentation, "Self-Publishing Foundations for Long-Term Success" with Jane Friedman. We'll share a few here, starting with a topic that comes up often:Q: What is a publishing imprint, and do I always need one, even if I'm using Amazon KDP?A: A publishing imprint is the name of your publishing company—the publisher's name displayed to the public wherever you sell your book and in distribution channels.Self-publishers can use their author name as their imprint name, but it is preferable to create a distinction between the author name and the publisher for public relations and brand-building reasons. It can be an invented name, the name of one’s existing business, or some variation thereof.Places a where an imprint is used:📚 Library of Congress filing📚 Copyright filing📚 Distribution accounts📚 Book sales pages (like Amazon)👉 For more details, including if you need to set up a formal business entity under your imprint name, see our Learning Center post, "How to Research a Name for Your Self-Publishing Imprint:" https://lnkd.in/gGSw_ri9Want more self-publishing insights? Recordings of the course are currently available for purchase: https://lnkd.in/gHWe2eBwNeed extra help? AuthorImprints's specialty is helping authors and businesses establish their self-publishing imprint brand and producing and distributing their books. Contact us to see how we might help you and your book.#selfpublishing #indiepublishing #bookpublishing #publishingimprint #indieauthors #selfpublishedauthors

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I would like to discuss individuals who are not writers but hire ghostwriters to write for them in their pursuit of financial gain. The fact that you are not a writer is already a warning sign. Because of this, you treat writers with disrespect. You seem to think that coming up with a story and putting it into writing is an easy task. You often say things like, "You need to make sure you sign a contract for this book," as if it is solely the writer's responsibility to handle such matters.A writer's main purpose is to create and publish a captivating book, even if it is often rejected by various platforms. Rejection does not mean that the writer lacks talent. Yet, you come up with statements like, "It was rejected, so I won't pay you," and then wonder why so many writers demand upfront payment.Furthermore, you don't even have a story idea; you expect the writer to come up with an outline and write 5,000 words out of thin air, all while ensuring it gets contracted. Let's assume that this is not an issue. Do you know where the real problem lies? The real problem lies in paying writers extremely low wages and acting as if they owe you their life.The worst part is when you state that you will only pay the writer once the platform pays. Have you ever stopped to consider why ghostwriters choose to ghostwrite in the first place? If they wanted to wait for an app to pay, wouldn't they have already done so?I won't dwell on this topic for too long. I am here to declare that I will never again write for non-writers. They will never truly comprehend the level of brainstorming and idea generation required to make a book exceptional. All they care about is the finished product and obtaining a contract.Perhaps I am one of the few writers who write because they genuinely enjoy the act of creating magic and discussing their characters as if they were real.Non-writers will never understand. My advice to ghostwriters today is to stop accepting contract jobs that require writing a specific word count, like 5,000 words. Instead, focus on completing an ongoing book. What is the purpose of writing an entire book for someone else when you can do it for yourself? They make more money from your work than they pay you, and they don't even appreciate your efforts and the time you invest.Dear ghostwriters, please take my advice into consideration. Stay blessed. Remember, it's best to only complete a book rather than start one. This way, you can safeguard your peace of mind.

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