The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Shooting the Shit About Your Deepest and Darkest Book Money Questions: PART ONE
Dec 22, 2025
Dive into the taboo of money in the writing world! Explore what advances really mean and uncover the truth about six-figure deals. Learn why some royalty reports can be deceiving and how agent emotions play a role in success. Discover the signs of high offers and the various ways authors can supplement their income. Is a big advance a blessing or a gamble? This candid discussion breaks down the financial realities that every writer should understand.
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Six-Figure Deals Are Skewed News
- Publishers Marketplace reports skew toward headline six-figure deals and misses many unreported deals.
- Reported six-figure deals cluster more in the $100k–$250k 'good' range than in major categories.
Decode Deal Labels Not Just 'Six Figures'
- Publishers Marketplace labels: 'major' $500k+, 'significant' $250–$500k, 'good' $100–$250k.
- These categories help decode vague 'six-figure' mentions in press reports.
Use Clues When Publishers Stay Silent
- Look for clues like preempts and descriptive words when publishers don't disclose exact ranges.
- Preempts often imply a competitive, likely higher offer that agents accepted to avoid auction.