In Heinlein’s Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Kip hears that his father is getting a royalty check. A man arrives, but he doesn’t look like royalty. Kip decides that this king or prince must be traveling incognito.
Anyway, I got a royalty check today from Gary Thomas (actually, a paypal payment). I sold him two stories, one for Amazing Heroes II, and another for Amazing Heroes III. It was a nice project with cool covers and the first story was one of the best that I’ve ever written.
After two years of sales in these two anthologies I made $3.71.
Gary did a great job on the production side. Perhaps he did not do enough to market these, but I don’t know. I can’t blame him for the state of the market for Spec Fic. I think it is very hard to create an anthology and then get anyone to buy it at LuLu.com prices.
Let this be a lesson to anyone trying to sell their stories. Get the money up front and don’t buy into the royalties or share of the profit schemes. Outside of a very small number of venues, there is no money in spec-fic.
My visit from royalty was very, very, very incognito.
6 Comments
Sage advice Keith.
Some of us don’t do it just for the money anyway. The difference being a pro author and one that isn’t is a pro gets paid for their writing, no matter the amount.
But I also would want people to read my work to.
Hey, hey, “Crosshairs” has received 159 hits already. :-)
Jim
yzd
First…Jim, where is the story?
Keith,
You are a really good writer, and hey, at least you got a check! People will read you, but you gotta get the work out. (hint hint – submit submit and submit some more.
I got a helpful (lol) rejection today, one down, five more to go.
Chris
Chris:
The story at the moment is in it’s 6th draft but after reading some of the stuff in SM, it’s no way anywhere near the caliber of talent you have there.
I’ve got a long way to go to get my writing to that level. See “Cross hairs” in Sicencefictional. That story took 10 drafts to get it to where it is now.
Check out my story in Sicencefictional and see if my writing is an indicator of what you want. I don’t think my writing is there yet. I’m optimistic. I’m not on a pity party here either but I really don’t think my work is up to SM standards is what I’m trying to say :-)
Jim
Jim,
Read the story, liked the story. Talented people shouldn’t compare themselves to other talented people…we are after style, and you have to admit that you have style. Please send me the story when you are through.
Thanks!
Chris,
Thanks for the kind words. You gave me something too think about. The story will be off to you Christmas week. I should have it done then. As per usual guidelines.
Thanks again.
Jim
Great, I’ll be looking for it, thank you!
Chris