What do first-time authors make?

First-time authors typically earn between $5,000 and $15,000 for a traditional publishing advance, though this can range from $0 (small presses) to over $100,000 for high-potential deals. Royalties generally range from 5-15% for print and 25% for ebooks, but many authors never earn back their advance.

How much money does a first-time author make?

First-time authors' earnings vary wildly, from $0 to over $100,000, depending heavily on the publishing route (traditional vs. self-published) and genre; traditional advances can range from $1,000-$10,000 (small press) to $10,000-$100,000+ (Big 5), while self-published authors earn no advance but can get higher royalties (up to 70% on ebooks) but face high marketing costs and initial low sales. Many debut authors, especially with traditional deals, earn little initially as advances must be "earned out" through book sales before royalties kick in, making $0-$500 in the first year common for those with single books and limited marketing, while successful self-publishers might see $300-$1,500 monthly after building momentum. 

What company pays $200 per book read?

The most prominent company known for paying $200 for reading and analyzing a novel was WordsRated. This company ran a program called the Bibliophile-at-Large initiative from around 2022 through mid-2024. WordsRated is a non-commercial research organization focused on conducting data-driven literary research.

How many books do you need to sell to make $100,000?

If you're self-publishing, you'll need to sell roughly 25,000–30,000 books to hit $100K. For traditionally published authors, the number climbs to 60,000+ depending on royalties. The journey is long—but achievable. With the right strategy, even a first-time author can join the six-figure club.

Is being the first author a big deal?

To go back to your question, having publications as first author is important even if you're not planning on pursuing a career in academia. It shows that you are able to lead a project, design and conduct experiments, analyze data and write articles that pass the peer review process successfully.

8 Things I Wish I Knew When I was Writing my First Novel

At what age do writers peak?

While many writers only come into their own after 30, most won't start to rise until after 50. Half of those will continue to be prolific until 80. The same is true of journalists, whose average age at their peak is 47. Writing is one of those skills that takes a long time to hone.

What is the 50 page rule?

The "50-page rule" is a guideline for readers and writers: readers give a book about 50 pages (or fewer if over 50 years old, subtracting age from 100) to get hooked before quitting, while writers aim to hook readers by page 50 with compelling voice, clear stakes, and inciting incidents to establish momentum and conflict, making it a crucial early benchmark for a manuscript.
 

What is the 5 finger rule for books?

The number of fingers they're holding up by the end of the page tells them if the book is the right level: 0-1 fingers: It's too easy. 2-3 fingers: It's just right. 4-5 fingers: It's too hard for independent reading (best read aloud with a buddy).

Is selling 3,000 copies of a book good?

Research suggests that the “average” self-published, digital-only book sells about 250 copies in its lifetime. By comparison, the average traditionally published book sells 3,000 copies, but… only about 250-300 of those sales happen in the first year.

Can I make $1000 a month selling on Amazon?

Most Amazon sellers earn between $1,000 and $25,000 in monthly revenue, translating to roughly $200 – $5,000 in net profit after fees, inventory and advertising costs. Top 20% surpass $50k a month, while around 30% start under $500 but grow within a year.

Does Amazon pay you to read books?

No, Amazon does not directly pay customers to read books, but authors in the KDP Select program get paid for pages read by subscribers, and you can earn money by narrating audiobooks (ACX) or through other avenues like reviewing books for a fee or creating your own content that promotes books. 

Do authors make money from library check-outs?

If you have a hard cover book that costs $30 the author will get 10% of that list price sale even if that book sales to a library. 10% of $30 is $3. A hard cover book at a library has a maximum shelf life of around 25 checkouts.

Does Books-A-Million do book signings?

If you are interested in a book signing and your book is currently carried in our stores, please contact our event coordinator at [email protected] to get started.

Do self-published books make money?

Yes, self-published books can make significant money, with authors earning high royalties (up to 70% on eBooks) and some reaching six-figure incomes, but profitability isn't guaranteed and depends heavily on factors like strong marketing, quality editing, niche selection, and building a dedicated author platform, as many authors only earn a little or nothing.
 

What is a typical advance for a first-time author?

For a first-time author, the average book advance typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, though it can vary significantly from small amounts (even $1,500) to potentially higher figures ($25k-$50k+) for authors with strong platforms or in high-demand genres like Adult Fiction or Memoir, depending on the publisher's size and editor's passion. Most authors don't earn out their advance, meaning it's often their primary payment, with a smaller percentage achieving more significant earnings. 

Can you publish a $50,000 word novel?

The average word count for a standard novel typically falls between 70,000 and 100,000 words. A minimum of 40,000 words is usually considered the threshold for a novel, while the maximum word count can be around 140,000, depending on your book's genre. Keep in mind that these are not strict rules.

What 30 year old makes $1.8 million self-publishing on Amazon?

Meet Alex Rivera (not his real name, but his story is fiercely real). Alex turned 30 last year. He doesn't live in a mansion (yet), but he did pull in $1.8 million in revenue last year.

Are book sales still declining?

More softness in adult nonfiction in the second quarter and slowing sales in adult fiction combined to drop unit sales of print books 1.6% in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period a year ago at outlets that report to Circana BookScan.

What is the 3 book rule?

In his famous book the 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferris shares this theory that if you read 3 books on a topic from different authors, you'll become more knowledgeable about it than 99% of people you know. It's a bold claim but it makes sense. Tim's not saying you'll become an expert surgeon by reading 3 books on surgery.

What is the #1 most read book?

According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 6 billion copies sold and distributed as of 1995.

What is the 7 second rule book?

He discovered that when people were given 7 seconds or less to decide their opinion, they were more likely to base it on gut instinct rather than analysis or logic. The 7-Second Rule was first popularized by Thomas Corley in his book Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.

What are the 7 habits of a good reader?

To improve students' reading comprehension, teachers should introduce the seven cognitive strategies of effective readers: activating, inferring, monitoring-clarifying, questioning, searching-selecting, summarizing, and visualizing-organizing.

What is the Nancy Pearl rule?

Pearl, a famous librarian with her own action figure and author of Book Lust, acknowledged that the world of books is immense, but time is short. So “If you're fifty years old or younger, give every book about fifty pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give up.” Over fifty?

How fast did JFK read?

John F. Kennedy (JFK) was a famous proponent of speed reading, reportedly increasing his reading speed from under 300 words per minute (WPM) to around 1,200 WPM after taking a course in the mid-1950s, a significant jump that allowed him to absorb information rapidly and even encourage his staff to learn the skill. While some sources mention higher estimates (like 2,500 or 5,000 WPM), 1,200 WPM is the widely cited figure for his post-course ability.
 

What is the Page 69 rule?

Marshall McLuhan, the guru of The Gutenberg Galaxy (1962), recommends that the browser turn to page 69 of any book and read it. If you like that page, buy the book. It works. Rule One, then: browse powerfully and read page 69.