So you wanna be a YA writer? Do you have visions of teen fans lined up a full day before your signing dressed in t-shirts that read, “team whatever your protagonist is named?”
Have you already quit your day job a full three months before the completion of your very first YA novel because you just know the moment the editor reads it she’ll fall in love and offer you a million dollars to publish it?
Well, you’re either high, stupid, extremely romantic, disillusioned, brave or have a tremendous amount of faith in yourself. Or–all of the above.
Or are you?
History has shown us that the impossible is in fact possible. You can be homeless and rejected by just about every publisher out there only to go on and sell millions of books about one of the most beloved boy wizards. You can have three kids and write passionately about sparkly vampires and tribal werewolves, get rejected by those who know better, then turn the entire industry (and pop culture) on its ear by selling millions of books in a few short years.
But these results are NOT typical. In fact, they are but two examples that just happen to have come in recent times–fueling the hopes and dreams of countless debut authors and even some established and already successful adult-genre authors.
Ask any writer and they will tell you, “it’s not about the money.” Ideally, most writers want to be able to make a decent enough living so that they can focus on what they love and do best–writing. When writing becomes the thing that pays your bills and feeds your family–then you are at peace as a writer and free to be creative.
Of course, I can’t speak for all writers, but I think that about sums it up.
As the founder of YALITCHAT–a young adult book publishing industry non-profit organization for the advancement of young adult literature around the world–I do my best to keep up with new YA works, debut authors, signings, releases, etc. I also track deals (in general) and talk to debut authors (and some not so debut) about their specific deals and business relationships. You’d be surprised how much misinformation is out there AND how candid the authors are about how much they make on each deal, how their deals are structured, when deals go awry, etc.
NB: I’ve spoken to YA authors whose deals have ranged from $15k to $300k per book. These deals were made within the past three years.
But are publishers really seeking debut YA novelists? According to editor Alan Rinzler they are. Here’s an article titled Publishers Desperately Seeking Insanely Great Debut Novelists from his blog. Mr. Rinzler also writes about the state of YA calling it RED HOT. Look for great insights from agents in this piece including what they’ve sold and where advances are at the time of the interview.
In case you think writing YA is easy–About.com has an article called, The Pros and Cons of Writing for Young People.
This article suggests big novel advances for debut authors is all media hype. What do you think?
Join us tonight for a lively discussion during #YAlitchat’s weekly twitter chat at 9PM Eastern! You may also leave comments below. Would love to know what you think!
Below are links from writers who have posted about their deals and or book deals/advances in general.
Stephenie Meyer
How Much Do Ya Authors Make by Kimberly Pauley
Nicole Peeler on Piracy, Debut Author Advances and Cleaning Her Room
Justine Larbalestier’s Two Cents on First Novel Advances (with other great links)
Publishing Money Myths by Jeaniene Frost
Wondering about deals for debut YA authors in the past few months? Below is a sampling of some of the most notable.
From Publishers Weekly
Seven Figure Deal for Allie Conde (Is She the Next Stephenie Meyer?)
Harper Teen Pays Seven Figures for New YA Trilogy
Debut YA Trilogy Sells in “Major Pre-Empt”
Debut YA to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Pre-Empt
Our Own Mandy Hubbard (as an agent) Signs First Deal (It’s a YOWSA)
From Publishers Marketplace April – June 1, 2010
YA debut in a 2-book very nice deal
YA debut at auction
YA debut in a 2-book deal
YA debut in a significant deal, in a 3-book deal
YA debut in a pre-empt
YA debut in a debut in a significant deal in a pre-empt, in a 3-book deal
YA debut in a pre-empt in a 2-book deal
YA debut in 2-book deal at auction
YA debut in 2-book deal
YA debut in 2-book deal
Ya debut at auction
YA debut in a very nice deal, 2-book deal
Eight other YA debuts without specific deal information
Join us tonight for a lively discussion during #YAlitchat’s weekly twitter chat at 9PM Eastern! You may also leave comments below. Would love to know what you think!xoxo-
Georgia
i missed the discussion this week but this post was great thank Georgia!
Posted by shelli johannes wells | June 6, 2010, 1:12 PMAuthors also make money from selling the film rights of their novel. Aprilyne Pike sold hers and her book Wings is being turned into a movie. Can’t wait to see it!
Posted by esmirelda | July 2, 2010, 11:55 AMI love this post! It sets the reality in. Everybody would love to be J.K Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Suzanne Collins, or now Veronica Roth
. But truthfully, it’s not possible. As the book/movie says, we’re not the exception, we’re the rule.
Posted by Jennifer Williams | July 2, 2011, 11:34 AMRock and roll.
Posted by georgiamcbridebooks | July 7, 2011, 3:20 PM