Young House Love

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How Much Money Do You Make When You Write A Book?

Let’s take a second to chat about how the book bid-ness works, at least for us. Sometimes we get hilarious and adorable comments like this: “Holy cow, your book was a New York Times bestseller! Congrats! You must be rich!!” …

Instagram Bestseller

… and it makes us realize that other than fleetingly mentioning how the whole book deal thing works in this blogiversary video (around 17:10 near the end), we haven’t really talked about it at all. So since folks have been requesting more behind the scenes details on the subject (even from as early as September of last year when we did the Q&A video below) this post is well overdue. Let’s dive in and over-share, shall we? Spoiler alert: we’re cheap-os and we know it (please sing that to the tune of “we’re sexy and we know it” out loud in whatever room/office/subway car you’re currently inhabiting).

As we mentioned in the video, this book thing has always been for the fun and the amazement of seeing our names in print. It has never been about money, which is a good thing since that’s not usually what comes a-rollin’ in when you’re a first time author (well, not unless you’re Lena Dunham apparently).

The way that a book usually works is that the author gets a fee for all of the work that they do before the book comes out. This is called an advance. In our case, being first time authors, it was a modest advance. Someone like Stephen King might be able to buy a yacht with his. Ours… no yacht. Actually, if you break our advance down across the time over the past two years that we’ve spent outlining the book, writing the proposal, pitching the book, writing the manuscript, revising the manuscript, doing projects for the book, shooting the book, and editing the book we probably made around five dollars an hour while working on it (we didn’t keep a time log or anything, but that’s our best guess). So yeah, John probably earned more per hour at his high school library job of shelving books than he did writing one (especially since he’s splitting that $5 wage with me – ha!).

ShootDay1 Manuscript Ready

But you won’t see us complaining. It’s an amazing opportunity (one we’d almost be happy to have done for free – just don’t tell our publisher) so that’s why we said “holycowyes!” to a book. If you’re a first time author like us, we actually wouldn’t recommend writing a book for the money (you’d probably be really let down if you were just in it for the dough). Instead, I’d recommend doing it for the experience and the thrill of seeing your words in a bookstore and your book on your mom’s coffee table… that’s a pretty freaking awesome moment.

Book Dummy Closed

The way it works, at least how it worked for us, is that first you get that modest advance (paid out in smaller installments throughout the book-writing process) and then a few years later after the book is out in print (it typically takes around 2-3 years for it to go from concept to being printed) you get into the “book royalty” area. We’ve been told that many authors only earn their advance but never “make it” to receiving royalties, since it necessitates selling enough books for the author to hit their royalty point. See, the publisher actually doesn’t pay us a penny until their book sales earn back all of the advance they paid us plus money they spent on the illustrator, the photographer, etc. So it’s not until they earn all of that book-making money back that we’ll start receiving royalties (which are also pretty modest since we’re first timers).

We’re nowhere close to hitting that royalty point. Maybe in a year or two we’ll get there. Maybe sooner. And maybe never. But assuming our publisher eventually makes all that money back, they’ll start issuing our little royalty checks twice a year. Once we hit that point we’ll make around a dollar or two per book (royalties are a very small percentage of the heavily discounted price that a bookstore pays per book, which is usually around half of the book’s cover price – and it can vary by vendor). But as of today, we haven’t seen a book check since the last installment of our advance came a year ago.

Cincy Sherry Amongst Books

So we thought that was an interesting tidbit to share. We never really knew how it worked, so learning that an author doesn’t get paid when the book comes out or with the sale of each book was enlightening to us. And a year ago if we saw someone get on the NY Times bestseller list, even for just a week, we’d probably assume they no longer use toilet paper and prefer to use hundy dolla bills to wipe their bestselling author buns. It’s so not like that around here. We use gold bars. Just kidding. Those would be cold.

We also always assumed authors got paid when they toured – even just a little bit to offset the work they’re unable to do while on the road (our tour stretches over four months) but that isn’t the case, at least for us it’s not. But they cover the travel expenses and dude, we’ve had the opportunity to meet so many of you! And I’ve achieved my lifelong goal of getting to sign ceramic animals! And that, my friends, is the beauty of book-writing. Plus, you know what they say: Mo money, mo problems ceramic animals and then your husband wants to kill you.

Cincy Signing Greyhound

Another reason we thought this post would be helpful is that we don’t want to embark on any big projects without explaining that we’re paying for them in the same way that we’ve always paid for things (the old penny-saving-over-time method that we know and love). Our book agent actually said it’s somewhat rare for a first time author to make more money on the back end of a book than on the front end (meaning that your modest advance is usually the most any first time author will see from a book) so we’ve known that from day one, which is really nice when it comes to setting expectations and all that good stuff.

As is the case for a lot of other things in our life, we did this for the love. Corny but true. The fact that you guys share photos like this with us? Seriously, it makes our chests all swelly and bursty. Even John’s stony man-heart.

YHL Reader Grid2

Plus when it came to the actual deals that publishers were offering us, we wanted to choose who we worked with based on things other than the money. For example, a few other publishers wanted to create a big $50 coffee table book with us, and we felt a lot less comfortable with that. So one huuuge reason that we went with our publisher (thereby choosing this deal) was because they “got us” and allowed us to be our dorky selves on every page while slapping an approachable price tag on the thing.

Book Us In Door1

So all of this is just to say that we’re more committed than ever to keeping it real, saving cash whenever we can, and squirreling away extra pennies towards future projects, just like we always have. There’s no Rolls Royce and Beverly-Hills-ish plastic surgery in our future but I fantasize about completely different things anyway. Like Clara’s big girl room. Dude, who’s excited about Clara’s big girl room?! $herdog is beside herself (you know she only uses the third person when she’s really hyped). Last night I was making up rap names for the whole family. Burger could be Potato Skinz. And Clara could be Small Fry. Catchy, right? And I tried to change John’s name from J-Boom to Applebeez or Bloomin’ Onion but he wasn’t having it.

Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job. 

Comments

  1. jenny says

    wow-never knew the in’s and out’s of all of that before. I have thought about writing a book for a while now and plan to someday, but only for the love. SO I totally get it! ;)
    I totally appreciate how real you both are. I think that is part of the reason why you have been so successful. Keep keepin’ it real! ;)

    Reply

  3. Stephanie says

    What a great post – thanks for sharing in such a down to earth manner! I’ve always wondered what sort of magical unicorns or wizards were involved in the whole publishing process. Thug life unicorns, of course. #rainbowbeats

    Reply

  4. Jaye says

    Aaaaaaaaaaand this is why your blog is often imitated, but never duplicated. You guys are the real deal. You’re honest and you don’t put on airs.

    As a reader, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

    Keep up the great work, I (bought and) loved your book and hope it’s the first of many.

    Reply

  5. Sydney says

    I really love this! Thanks so much for being so honest and transparent about the process. I never actuall even knew how this worked and just assumed that every NY times best seller was bringing in big bucks. I’ve challenged myself to one house project a month this year, so here’s to putting your book to good use! (if only you got paid in how many projects out of your book got done, that’d bring in those gold bars ;))

    Reply

  7. danielle says

    How is it that you guys can tell me to sing alternate lyrics to a LMFAO song out loud wherever I am and I’ll do it? Your decorating and DIY talents have more power than you know I guess. Thankfully you use that power for good.

    Reply

  8. Allison says

    Definitely love the openness of your blog! I wouldn’t want to wipe my buns with gold bars either, I prefer the superior Charmin’ Ultra Soft haha! :)
    I totally get excited about Clara’s Big Girl Room too! And when my 2nd daughter was born (we didn’t find out the gender) I was so totally estatic after giving birth because I was going to be able decorate the cutest room for my girls. For reals, there’s a video tape of me exclaiming, “I get to go shopping for two girls now!”

    Reply

  9. kim says

    Do you guys have to buy copies of your book or do you get some freebies/all you want/discounts … ? So interesting!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Part of an author’s contract says how many books they get when it comes out, so it’s part of the “deal.” I think ours was 16 books? So we had those for family gifts, and we donated a few signed copies to great local causes here in Richmond!

      xo
      s

  10. Meaghan says

    Thanks for all the helpful info! My sister co-blog together at 2 Sisters 2 Cities and we hope to one day pull together a cookbook. It’s overwhelming to think about where to start sometimes, but I think blogging really helps.

    -m

    Reply

  11. Shawn says

    Aww, isn’t it the case that doing something for the love is the best way to end up successful anyway – people can tell when your heart is in it. Thanks for the reminder.

    Reply

  12. Alyssa says

    Thanks for sharing this info, this is all so interesting to see how behind the scenes book writing stuff goes.

    As a kind of related subject, I’d love to see a post on “bloopers” type stuff with the book…you know, like projects that didn’t turn out as expected, paint colors you thought would be beautiful and then totally didn’t turn out, photos that may have caught you guys, Burger or Clara in the back ground on accident. Stuff like that:) any chance you may post about some funny out takes?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man, that would be a really fun post! I’ll have to dig around to see if we have pics of the projects that didn’t work (sometimes we were so sleep deprived we just fake cried and tossed things into the garbage, haha) and see if there’s enough for a post!

      xo
      s

  15. Samantha says

    “It’s so not like that around here. We use gold bars. Just kidding. Those would be cold.”

    oh my!…..was really and truly laughing out loud when i read this line. lol!!!! so loud i woke our 2 year old from her nap :-(…and :-)

    thank you!!! always love your posts – but don’t always comment. so thank you for bringing me out of hiding to comment. :-)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Such an interesting read! And wow, that’s crazy about print runs. Our first printing was around 20,000 I think. Nowhere near that mythological 100,000!

      xo
      s

  17. Cheryl says

    You guys are awesome — royalties or not. I loved the book and gave it to my daughter for Christmas she is also a HUGE fan), but of course there is a copy on my coffee table! I know most of your readers are probably in the same age demographics as you are, but you need to know that there are grannies out here that love you too! I enjoy your style and love to watch how you are making your home come together — and watching Clara grow up as my granddaughter lives in another state and I don’t get to see her as much as I would love to. I’m a former Richmond resident as well (go VA!) but now live in FL — you have to get your book people to set you up with a book tour to Sarasota!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s a two book deal, so there’s another one on the agenda, but they take so long to come out that our best guess would be maybe three years from now :)

      xo
      s

  19. Lori says

    I love those names Potato Skinz and Small Fry. I call my kids Tater Tot and Hash Browns. I can’t wait to see Small Fry’s big girl room. Tater Tot is 2 1/2 and needs her big girl room done.

    Reply

  20. Brenda says

    Thanks for sharing! I’d been wondering about the $ aspect of the bidness. When I gave my BFF the book for Christmas, she said, “They must be rich by now, huh?” Lol- you’re still real people like the rest of us. : )

    On another note, I am buying a new house this summer and can’t wait to show it some love with ideas from the book! The area I am moving to is full of old houses. In the past I would have looked and said, “Ugh-paneling” or “Gross- floral print wallpaper.” Now I look at the rooms and imagine painting the paneling to lighten up the room or ripping down the wallpaper and stenciling! Thanks for giving me such a positive perspective on the fixer-upper!

    Reply

  21. Sandy says

    I had a children’s book published back in ’08 and can attest to the fact that first timers don’t do it for the money. People assume so much when you get a book published but you can’t do it with the expectation of buckets of money pouring in. For me, and I’m sure it’s the same with you, just seeing people (little people for me) enjoy your book is the biggest payoff. It makes my heart happy and that is enough. The thing most people don’t take into account is how much you are putting yourself out there and it can be downright scary at times. Unfortunately there are always the snarky people who can’t be happy for anyone about anything. But in the end the majority of people are happy, supportive, and genuinely interested and they make all that other hard stuff not matter. I love your book! You guys did an awesome job. Can’t wait to see the 2nd one although, you guys probably want to take a little break, I’m sure! It is a ton of work!

    Reply

  22. Mary | lemongroveblog says

    Funny how we don’t know much about different worlds (like book writing!) until you’re immersed in it! Seems like a pretty rad adventure though! Although I’m sure touring the country has been tiring, what a fun way to sight see! Especially staying in all those sweet hotels! ;)

    Reply

  23. Anna, Sydney says

    That was interesting to hear about how these things work. Who would’ve thunketh? That is takes so much work and then you don’t get any moolah for it. I’m sorry to hear you’re not yet getting the big bucks, you totally deserve it. On a different note I really enjoy hearing your refreshing approach to saving up for stuff and doing things on a budget.

    When you DO get filthy rich, please keep up those saving/budget posts and inspirations for us that don’t have it in us to write a best selling book.

    Love your work.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Anna! And not to worry, we love living on a budget, so that’ll always be the way it goes. If there’s ever any extra it’ll just go in Clara’s college fund and our retirement account :)

      xo
      s

  24. Erin says

    If it helps, your book is on my coffee table, er under it, but I’m cleaning it off and maybe on it is a great place to keep it. I love it and so does my husband!

    Reply

  26. Elaine K says

    I know how hard it is to make money from writing books. My dad wrote 5 historical biographies and has made very little from them. Only one (about Grant’s secretary Ely Parker) is still in print. But I know he loved writing them and didn’t care about the money. I’m thinking your book will do a lot better though! After all it’s a NY Times bestseller! That is so cool.

    Reply

  27. Colleen says

    Very cool of you to share the details. My husband and I used to own a children’s bookstore and found out about the royalties, etc. from our publishing reps. What a surprise that was. Children’s authors struggle to make pennies off their work too! Also, bookstore owners usually make 1/2 from each book and then any discounts they give to the customer come off of that. Also, when you take off 2-4% fo
    r credit card sales, the profits shrink even more.
    Usually though, the large majority of writers are like you and do it because they love it and their readers.
    Can’t wait for your second book!

    Reply

  28. Belinda says

    Ok… you twisted my arm… but my husband and I are willing to share ‘Small Fry’ with you guys. Our little man is ‘Small Fry’. We’re only willing to share because you’re helping keep my spirits up about building our entire basement – as we speak!

    Reply

  29. Britiney @ Consider the Lilies says

    I don’t comment often but had to take this opportunity to tell you how awesome your book is. I’ve been reading your blog a long time – since back when it was *the name that shall never be mentioned lest ye be slapped with a silly lawsuit by insecure PBS guys*. I got my sister hooked on your blog and just knew your book would be the PERFECT Christmas gift for her & her hubster since they just bought their first house last summer. I was able to get one online (yay!) and when it came I spent. some. time. looking through it. And let me just stop here for a deep sigh because it took everything (every. thing.) I had to actually give it to them!! I knew it would probably be pretty cool, but it FAR exceeded my expectations and. . . well. . . I just want you to know how awesbomb I think it is. Way cooler than I ever imagined (even tho I know you’re amazing.) And how sad I don’t have one of my own. Yet. ;O)

    Just one teeny tiny eensy weensy note of sadness: can’t you please bring your book tour to Boise??? *grin*

    Reply

  30. Barbara says

    Well, rich or not, I’m very bummed. We had a serious financial emergency and I’m not going to be able to see you in the bay area. T’would be no fun going without getting a book signed, and the gas to the bay area is also precious right now. I hate when life throws you curve balls.

    So please….PLEEEZ, come back to Northern California (hint hint Sacramento) some time. I’ll make you fudge.

    Reply

  31. Laura says

    Ew. I just looked up the “get off my Internet” website others mentioned and I feel personally offended. Don’t go there! Your blog is the best! Love you guys!! Love your style (home and writing!!)

    Reply

  32. Koliti says

    Hey, Sherry & John, in the lottery of life, I’d say you’ve already pretty much hit the “MEGA MILLIONS”! Your health, your family, each other, Clara, Burger, your talent, your sense of humor, working your passion!!! Everything else is cake and ice cream. Enjoy!! And may your ice cream bowl over-floweth!

    Reply

  34. Gretta says

    I just loved your book. I couldn’t make it out when you came to Miami but went to Books & Books in Coral Gables and got a signed copy. Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us, it feels like we know you.
    Wishing you much success.

    Reply

  35. Kerrie says

    Ok, so I have a completely random question…. Why did you guys start using your last names when you post? Planning on getting other John’s and Sherry’s in on the blogging mix? LOL.

    Congrats on the book, even if it doesn’t get you money – bragging rights to be being New York Times Best Sellers are way better anyway! Right? :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      John read something about this Google Authorship program, but to use it the format shows our first and last names. It still looks funny to us but it’s supposed to make our site more searchable or something? Not sure how it works though! Haha.

      xo
      s

  36. Sophia says

    I LOVE that you are so down the earth and really keep it real! Either way it is an AMAZING accomplishment! Seriously, would love to have my own book someday!

    Reply

  37. Stephanie Nelson says

    Thanks for oversharing to all us readers! I wasn’t really wondering about your take home because you have mentioned that you guys weren’t rolling in it. But to maybe not see any other money for a year, maybe two?? That is crazy! You HAVE to do it for love!! :)

    Reply

  39. Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says

    Pretty much ever since 4th grade I have had 2 books written in my head. My dream is to get them published one day. I am intrigued by self-publishing right now so who knows? This is so cool to know from someone in the know how the bid-ness really goes down. Thanks for this Sherry Petersik (the fact that you put your whole names at the top of the posts now trips me out and makes me snicker all in the same second).

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

  41. Katherine says

    Most everyone wants to be a rock star because on the outside it seems like so much fun. The truth is that most of us end up singing into our hairbrush ……. before we go to work pouring coffee at the local cafe.
    Your book was beyond tons of work and little financial payoff {so far} …… but it has been huge on ‘dreams come true’. Enjoy every moment of the fun… making new friends… and living your dream.

    BTW – for ‘us’ on the hunting the bookstore end of things – it gives us a little jolt to see your book on the shelf. Just so you know!

    Reply

  42. Tarnya Cook says

    Hi Guys
    Its amazing that your post today is about the book, when I cam into work this morning I opened the blog and read your latest post as I do every morning. As you know maybe from my previous comments, I’m Australian. I work in the Melbourne CBD and I just went out to get my lunch, at the bottom of the building I work in there is a Chemist (Drugstore) and its a bit of a gift shop too. Anyway at the counter where I was standing to pay for my drink was guess what?!?
    A copy of Young House Love for sale. I actually had to say the sales assistant I can’t believe you’ve got that in here..
    Lucky for me I haven’t had to wait that long and got my copy a while ago from Amazon but thought you might like to know you’ve hit the Australia retail shores…lol.
    I should of taken a photo of it to send you, doh.
    Tarnya xx

    Reply

  43. Meg says

    Thanks for all the info. So interesting! Are you able to tell us (or do you know) how many copies you’ve sold so far? It’s one thing to get bajillions of blog hits, but it’s another to know how many houses have a copy of your book! I know mine does! :-)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We wish we knew! We hope to get some info on that someday! That would make an interesting post too, about how many were in the first printing, how many sold the first year, etc.

      xo
      s

  45. Leigh says

    I had no idea how the book business works so I loved learning this. This may sound crazy, but after Carrie Bradshaw wrote a book on Sex and the City, I starting thinking about what it would be like.

    I am totally excited on Clara’s big girl room. I can’t wait to see what you do. My son is only 18 months and I am constantly pinning pics for inspiration.

    P.S. John, I also worked in the library shelving books – but I was in college. Virtual high-five!

    Can’t wait to see you guys in Atlanta!

    Reply

  46. Jessika says

    Thanks for coming to Portland again (I’m about two hours south)… but I won’t be at that signing because United Airlines just came through with my flight credit (from a previous flight elsewhere) which means I get to: a) to the San Jose signing, and b) with one of my best of friends who had a new ADORABLE baby a few months ago whom I haven’t seen! So, thank you YHL– I get a baby cuteness overdose and a ton of DIY goodness. California here I come! I’ll have to introduce myself as the “Displaced Oregonian”…

    Reply

  49. tempest says

    I love you guys but are getting kind of sick of the book tour/fab freebie posts, traveling, non decorating posts. I would love to see more decorating, before/afters posts like your blog used to be. That’s how it got big in the first place. Not from book signing posts. I’m not trying to be mean or anything- just keeping it real:)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      So sorry Tempest, did you see yesterday’s post? We painted a room! We only do that a few times a year, so that’s a big exciting thing for us. We’re beginning on Clara’s big girl room and this morning’s post is about decorating that room as well. Our pace has always been 2-3 projects each week and then a smorgasbord of other things (we’ve never shared a decorating post every day since starting this blog, and have had giveaways for years and posts about our travels/life/side gigs since the beginning). We’re only sharing book tour posts once every two weeks even though that’s pretty much all we’re doing all the time, so behind the scenes we’re working overtime to keep up with the blog and share other things. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Jennifer! One thing we’ve learned with this ol’ blog is that one person’s favorite post is another person’s least favorite, so we just share whatever feels blog-worthy to us since that’s what has gotten here in the first place :)

      xo
      s

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