Like many people, cultivate a passion for writing and aspire one day to see published my book.
Vanity, you know, is one of human weaknesses and I do not know whether to call myself vain rather weak anyway I am human and as such act.
illusory hope of landing in some kind of cultural flaps and see me as an author, took part in literary competitions.
time ago, one of these competitions had to participate with a novel of at least 50 folders editorial. For the uninitiated, the folder is publishing an A4 typescript, containing 1800 characters in 60 columns by 30 rows.
For reasons unnecessary to mention that I believe, reduces me to write this novel about ten days before the deadline.
Of course, he wins nor the song is reported among those deserving.
However a few weeks after the conclusion of the competition, the publishing house that he had promoted, sent me a letter stating that my "work" (I use their term), would be carefully scrutinized to assess the possibility of publication in their collections of books, if I do not specifically excluded.
not excluding a short time later I received a second letter, in which the publisher assured me that my "work" could well return to their publishing programs, but it was necessary, for my part, a "collaboration" (The terms mine), consisting in direct or third party, a limited number of copies at full price to cover.
The letter concluded that, if involved, without any effort on my part, they were going to send the agreement to issue.
This time I reply, pointing out that I was obviously interested in the offer, membership of the knowledge of economic issues.
Spend some 'time and I delivered a package containing the agreement of edition, the magazine-catalog, they posted an essay and a book written by one of the owners of the publishing house, including advice Useful for new authors.
All packaged in a very professional way.
The "cooperation" required is to purchase about 270 copies of my "work" to the cover price (ie full) of Euro 07.06, for an outlay of about 1800 Euro, payable immediately, with release of the book in three months, or even a great rate, in which case the book would be released after six or seven months. In any case, the balance of the amount of "collaboration."
The book written by the editor, however entertaining, was nothing more than a sum of arguments and justifications to show that the "collaboration" Debut author with the editor was indispensable.
I come to know that we say a cover price of 100, goes to the well 10, 30 distributors, 35 to booksellers, publishers are only 25 remaining. These twenty-five are, however, considering the gross and general expenses, contingencies, late returns, interest expense and other frills, the poor publisher are yes and no 4 or 5. Provided that you have sold all the books in circulation.
If we consider, this is unfortunately true that in Italy there are more writers than readers, that in a year is spent on books on average slightly less than the cost of a dinner at the restaurant, which is often buy some books just because of the trend, can not be explained by the fact that there are 4000 publishers and almost every day, there is a new publishing house.
love of literature?
spirit of sacrifice to promote the culture?
Masochism?
course not!
Money.
just money.
Take my editor and writer. I asked to contribute substantial purchase of 270 copies on a print run of 2500-3000 provided for, say, an average of 2700.
secure the sale directly, without intermediaries such as distributors and booksellers, and exclude the contract for the copyrights on those copies, he just gets Euro 1800.
From this revenue must be deducted the cost of printing, general expenses, depreciation, etc..
Puri printers (ie, not publishers, but companies that print books on demand of the authors themselves), they ask about U.S. $ 1,500 to print 2,700 copies, which is approximately 56 cents per copy, including VAT, 130x90 mm in size, with hardback, 100/120 g uncoated paper, together with color cover with plastic, including the assignment of the ISBN.
Considering that they are simple and printers that take their income from that activity, ignoring the amount of 25% reasonable percentage to cover overhead costs and profits of the business. Still cost 42 cents per copy, that the total cost of 1134 Euro, rounded to 1200.
In our publisher are now remaining 600 Euro.
deduct the cost of production beyond the press, namely the time spent on this book: the secretary who writes the letters (2 hours), who makes the first critical reading and draws a card on the account (8 hours) the editor for proofreading (8 hours), messenger and so on. (2 hours), for a total of 20 hours, gross pay 25 Euro for a total of 500.
In our publisher are now remaining $ 100 that cover other general operating costs (electricity, telephone, rent, depreciation, interest expense, etc.) Always for the part on the book in question.
In practice, the "collaboration", the publisher comes out equal, not having to pay taxes on revenues corresponding to zero.
Well, if you really committed to the promotion and support of the book, that he gets only becomes useful on which to pay taxes.
assumption of being able to sell 1000 copies to 6-7 Euro per copy, you get a total revenue of approximately 6700 Euro (a real success for a rookie) and considering conservatively 20% of the total, the revenue it deserves, it follows that our publisher incamera about Euro 1340 on which pays 50% (esagero!) fees that allow a pure profit of 670 Euro, as it happens on 10 % of revenues true.
Without risking anything of his!
Yes, because the costs I've paid them to him with my "cooperation".
course I rejected the proposal, but we suppose that vanity has claimed a dozen victims, including the writers and at least five of them have managed to sell 200 copies.
only for this task, the publisher will have to provision 36,000 Euro (20 Euro x 1800) for printing, 10000 Euro to be paid to their employees (20 x 20 hours for 25 euros) and will derive a net profit of 670 Euro.
are not big money, but are limited to 20 suckers who believed him.
But if the fools in one year, become 50?
And if any author has really happened and sells 10,000 copies?
Sure, it might instead go bad and no newcomer to sell any books.
Well, the publisher will have covered all expenses for printing, a part of the general ones, will demonstrate to the banks to have a turnover to justify the credit lines and delay the fall, will include a budget losses take taxes to pay and the gains from the sale of books written by authors known for magazines, advertising space, etc.., campers well, boasting that the only "friend" of writers.
Their patron!
To be fair, not all publishers who are looking for a "collaboration" by the authors, they are just real sharks.
There are small and medium-sized publishers that while calling this "collaboration", consisting of a modest contribution to economic or waiver of copyright for a certain number of copies of books sold, the authors support their debut presentations by organizing or participating in exhibitions with the volumes of these newcomers.
Others, however, forfeited the above "collaboration" without lifting a finger for the benefit of emerging authors.
All this tirade, with the sole aim to provide advice to those engaged in the path as a writer of very careful when he was offered a publishing agreement, trying to find out from every channel available on your publisher. For example if it is known at the bookstores, where organized presentations of their authors, if participates in fairs publishing, reading a few books already published by this publisher to check the quality of printing and editing (I've read novels by emerging authors, full of typos, a sign of total absence of the work of proofreading, Editor's prerogative).
Just want to avoid the clutches of "The Cat and the Fox publishers."
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