british survey finds that nearly half of writers have experienced royalties arrears
2024-09-10
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still from becoming jane (2007).
according to the bookseller, of the 262 respondents, 52% (137 people) reported having problems receiving advances or royalties, with the average delay being more than a year, with delays lasting for years and even decades for many. about 18% (48 people) had problems with both advances and royalties, 17% (45 people) had problems with advances only, and about the same number (44 people) had problems with royalties only. a further 48% reported having no problems at all.
the average delay in advance payments and royalties is more than one year, with some delayed for several years or even decades. an author with 15 years of writing experience revealed that "the current arrears are the worst i have ever seen", while another writer said he was still chasing £30,000. many authors are frustrated by the lack of transparency and accountability of publishers and literary agents.
the survey found that delinquency issues appear to be similar between large companies and independent publishers (54% and 49%, respectively), but are slightly more common in nonfiction than fiction, with 70% of nonfiction authors experiencing delays in advances or royalties, compared to 50% of fiction authors.
according to the bookseller magazine, only 7% (14 people) of the affected authors are considering or have already started legal proceedings to protect their rights. most of them are demanding that the copyright be returned to the authors or that the manuscripts be seized. almost all authors said they are facing tremendous pressure.
many authors are frustrated by the uncertainty surrounding their books’ publishing schedules. these changes are caused by editorial workloads, staff changes, last-minute contract changes, or cancellations of hardcover editions. one novelist said, “advances are delayed by long waits for editors to get back to them, and delays of nearly a year can occur due to delayed publication dates and hardcover cancellations.”
still from "genius" (2016).
“if copy editors miss their deadlines, authors’ payments should still be made on time; this is beyond the authors’ control. the publishing industry has little sense of responsibility when it comes to money, and they do so because many authors are too grateful and afraid of getting in trouble to speak up. no one who is paid a salary can understand that an author’s livelihood depends entirely on the publisher’s efficiency and cooperation,” said one writer interviewed, calling for a fairer model.
lack of clarity and accountability is a major issue, with many criticising publishers for unclear royalty structures, reporting and sales figures. “the fact that your publisher never tells you when you’re going to get paid is basically financial terrorism,” one independently published fiction author wrote of a payment that was seven months late.
the fragmented nature of publishing revenue (in the form of revenue from translations, audiobooks, etc.) also poses problems for smooth payments, and some shady practices appear to be exploiting loopholes in the system. one fiction author wrote: "my agent told me that i have not made any money on our audiobook deal with amazon, even though it has been two years... these books are all bestsellers on amazon audiobooks. they contacted amazon directly, bypassing my agent, and i found out that they still owe me over £10,000."
other writers claim that publishers and agents have turned a blind eye to the financial difficulties authors have experienced as a result of being left unpaid. "my publisher hasn't paid me £30,000 for 18 months," said one author. "that's literally food taken off my table and the head of publishing obviously had no idea. i saw an email where he simply replied 'oh! how embarrassing'. it's devastating... it all seems like a joke to him."
while much of the survey focused on more negative feedback, it’s notable that about half of respondents had not experienced problems with payment. while some authors criticized digital publishers for their lack of upfront payments, many praised the monthly payment system they use — with many asking other publishers to follow suit. “i think it’s important to note that i’m an author with bookouture [a uk digital publishing company] and they are completely transparent about royalties and monthly reporting,” one novelist wrote.
despite the trend of delayed payment of authors' royalties, the bookseller said it would not publish specific criticisms of publishing companies at this stage. the magazine's editorial department has sought comments from the industry and will include constructive solutions in a later update.
references:
（1）Authors report 'worst ever delays' with advances and royalties as some forced to survive on loans — survey
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/authors-report-worst-ever-delays-with-advances-and-royalties-as-some-forced-to-survive-on-loans--survey
compiled by li yongbo
editor/luo dong
proofreading/mu xiangtong
