The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-08
THE BOOK BUSINESS.
THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS OF AU-
THOR AND PUBLISHER.

Plates and Printing-Press Notices--Pei
Cent. on Sales-The Subscription System
No firm accepts book and buys It in man,
uscript, unless it is sure that it will prove re-
munerative Several of the larger firms are
also publishers Of monthlies The custom Is
to buy manuscript that can first be used in
the monthly or weekly, and then sent out in
book form. In this way there is a saving in
the expense OF the magazine, and so wide ad-
vertisement given the story, or other serial.
that it is sure to sell we'll when published sep
arately. But the poor chap who pays for his
own plates and printing gets very little ad-
vertising. The firm holds it to be its first
duty to push its own books 1t gets so per
cent for handling "Jones' Essays and Re-
views" that handling consisting in advertis.
ing, mailing to purchasers and distribu-
ting to the press. But you may be sure that
as little advertising will be done as the
author will submit to endure. A sure way
Of determining which of the books pub
lished by any firm are its own property,
and which the property Of authors, is to note
which receive by the firm, the most extern
sive advertising If book is very thoroughly
and persistently pushed, it is owned by the
publishers. OF course there is a difference in
firms, and this discrimination is not often
carried so far that the firm can be charged
with dishonesty. But the so per cent. charge
In reality requires, and should secure for the
book, very earnest push. Every reasonable
effort should be made to get it before the
public, and keep it there As rule it is
thrust forward for couple of months, at the
f,aoct / ctin allow mn avnotnfion 20. fax
firms. After that it is never spoken of by the
publishers, or the slightest interest taken in
it, except to alphabetically locate 1t in their
catalogues. Ii it reach second edition, In
spite of their hinderances, there is seldom
any note taken Of it by the publisher, but his
80 per cent goes on.
Let us count up on specie basis. A book SELL
ing for $3.50 will cost the author, for plates
and printing 1000 copies, from $500 to 5000.
He now owns the stock with the plates, and
can do as he pleases with it. He can proba-
bly, do nothing without further aid Of the
publisher. He hires him to handle the book.
This includes sending to the press for criti-
cism, say $50 copies Fifty copies more will
be absorbed in the way Of furnishing those
distinguished people whose opinions will be
of value. You may deduct 200 copies from
your first edition, "handled" without any
cash return. But you get your press notices,
sometimes valueless and nonsensical, some
times antagonistic, but needful Your 800
volumes left we presume to be sold, which
will net $12 1000; you will receive 5000 toward
defrayiug the cost of publication. In nine
cases out of ten your book does not sell 800
copies in ten years. You can pocket your
loss and earn your bread some other way.
But If q second edition is demanded, you still
leave one-half the sales with your publisher,
and get out of the possible 81 800, $3.50. You
will now be recompensed for the original out
lay, and have from $500 to 500 over. The
"if," however, is very large.
The other plan, whereby the publisher
gives an author ten or other per cent. on
sales, is fairly and picturesquely shown up by
Mr.. Hawthorne. Let us look at this little
closer. A book, novel or otherwise, that is
of readable value, costs not less than six
close work. And there are few
books put on the market each year that en-
body the research, experience and thought of
many years. Suppose volume to have cost
its writer one year Of thinking, study and
Copying and proof reading may
be added as the positive torture part Of the
work-the appendix of fire. He then begins
to get his 10 cents copy sold. You may
take your figures from this point from Haw-
thorne. At the end Of the first year after
issue he gets 800. "Or, If the edition be the
unusual one of 5000, the authors share will
be $780," My object in this article is to help
to dispel the visions Of aspirants to author
ship. The successful novelists pocket from
500 to $500 year. You will do much bet
ter raising onions at 81 per bushel in Connec-
ticut bottom lands, or even corn in the river
bottoms of Kansas 1t is folly to fling your
self among the Bohemians with only hopes
md expectations to pay your board bill
Not one author in 500 is enriched; not over
,ne in 1C0 gets competence, while with many
t is out of pocket to publish.
For sure profit the subscription system Of
ers most advantages That is, the book by
agents is carried to and urged on purchasers,
while in the other cases 1t is left on the shelf
% wait for purchasers. The subscription
book often reaches 5000 copies; not seldom
4, 900 or rs, 900 and in some cases Of special
it passes to and above 100000.
There are many things TO be said in favor Of
his system, but with rare exceptions 1t is the
publisher who reap the harvest. He buys
,rains, and retails them in market Of bis
,wn making. it is simply question with
IN author whether he can do better than
make the sale. II he receive 10 cents
opy on the sale of 10000 copies, he receives
lis 81 900. The custom is to allow the per-
entage to diminish until 5000 copies or
more are sold, and then lapse altogether.
There are many forms Of contract entered |
nto between authors and publishers Of a CO.
operative sort. Some firms arrange as fol- |
ows: The writer Of book shall pay for the |
making of the plates, the publisher doing the |
'ress work and binding, with advertising |
n this case the author, not owning stock, |
eceives what copies he desires for private
Ise at large discount, say go to 10 per cent,
nd royalty Of Is cents on all copies sold |
II course this plan is capable Of any amount |
4 modifcAions. 1t is not likely, however,
n any form, TO enrich the writer Of book |
This leaves US the final, and not at all |
greeable, fact that he who writes book |
must seek something else besides cash returns.
he equivalent is often more than sufficient |
n the honor received.-"E. P. r." in Globe
Democrat.