SF/F Novel Advances, Continued
Posted on February 7, 2005 Posted by John Scalzi 7 Comments
No time for a long, involved entry today (I’m hip deep in Bon Jovi at the moment — and it smells like creaky leather), but if you’re at all interested in learning what science fiction and fantasy authors are really making, Tobias Buckell has compiled the current results of his genre advance survey for your edification, based on over 70 data points (otherwise known as “authors”) who offered info both on their very first advances and on their current advances (if they have more than one book). I’m happy to say that my advances seem to be either at or above the median for my genre, so I personally have nothing to get moody or depressed about, at least on that score.
I’ll also note that Tobias is looking for more SF/F writers to add their information so he can pare down the margin of error in the sample (which now stands at a not entirely acceptable 11%), so if you write science fiction and/or fantasy novels and get paid for it, why not add your information? Tobias will even allow you to enter your data anonymously. Seriously, Tobias is doing some yeoman work here, so help out the guy, already.
“I’m hip deep in Bon Jovi at the moment — and it smells like creaky leather …”
Sometimes the slash just writes itself.
Wow, looking at that chart, makes me want to rush out (yeah, that’s a little sarcasim on the rush)and get an agent. I thought it might be easier to get a good agent once I had something published, but it looks like without one, there is a high likelihood of getting it stuck to you.
Go figure.
From Buckell’s website:
“a high number indicate they got agents right after or during the sale of the book.”
Nothing like jumping on the back of a winner. :)
So if I get published before I get an agent I will buy a T-shirt that says piggy-back rides for 15%! :)
You can often get an agent once the book is sold, which will [statistically] raise your advance.
So just don’t do contract negotiations on your newly sold baby until you have an agent.
Hard to get an agent w/o a sale… and vice sa versa.
So, is the statistical difference between having and not having an agent larger than the cut an agent takes?
Actually studied the numbers and found that Mr. Buckell already answered my question. Please disregard earlier comment.