Work & Money

This is what you really deserve for writing a book

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A smiling blonde woman in a light purple sweater with ruffles sits at a white table. She holds a dark green mug. In front of her is an open silver laptop and a stack of books, including one with 'CHANEL' on it. To the right is a large green houseplant. The background is white, with a window letting in soft light.
Good, yes. It is a dream come true. I have written two books and the latest one is now in stores. But dreams also come with a harsh reality, so to speak. Because writing a book? It earns you very little. ’You don't do it for the money,’ I always joke to family and friends. And it's really true, unfortunately. Look, those biggest writers in the world, they can live comfortably off it. The Dan Browns and JK Rowlings of the world, gosh, yes, they are millionaires. But all those mid-tier writers? Those ordinary writers, like me? Yes, it's not fun to call yourself ‘ordinary’. But honesty adorns a person. I'm certainly not the loser at the back, but also not the front-runner of the group. So be it.

What does a writer actually earn per book?

Good, that money then. Life is expensive and your savings account wants something too. What does it actually yield if you don't write a bestseller, but just a well-selling book in the Netherlands? Time to give that oh-so-sweet dream of many a reality check.

Annoying office terms

Office fb

What does an author earn per sold book?

Most Dutch authors receive their income through a royalty scheme: a percentage of the sale price of each sold copy.

On average, that is between 5% and 10% of the net sale price (that is the price excluding VAT and bookstore discount).

In practice, that means: €1 to €2 per sold book.

In short, you get only 2 euros per sold book, and an average book sells in the Netherlands around 1000 or 2000 times. And then you're already doing quite well, you know. Only a small minority (about 5%) reaches the threshold of more than 5,000 copies. Real bestsellers (more than 10,000 or even 100,000 copies) are rare.

So let's say you sell a thousand, then you keep a maximum of 2,000 euros. There is a small silver lining. If you're lucky, you get a fixed agreed amount for submitting your manuscript. Publishers certainly do this for the more experienced authors, but well, you can negotiate. This price is actually for all the hours you put into writing your book. But don't count yourself rich: you get about 2,000 or 3,000 euros for all your text. That's it — for months or sometimes years of work.

What does writing a book ultimately yield?

So what does writing a ‘regular’ book yield you all in all? Let's say you earn around 4,000 euros with an average book. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. A nice extra, certainly. But no we-are-going-to-the-Maldives-on-holiday-this-year and this-is-the-moment-to-quit-my-regular-job, unfortunately.

Sorry. Those beautiful childhood dreams can sometimes burst so delightfully apart when you grow up, huh?

Why you still keep writing

Ah, I write because it makes me happier, calmer, and smarter. Because I hope to help and inspire other people. And because I know I can make a difference, even if it's ‘just’ a few thousand people. Always keep fighting for what you want to do and say. Always stay close to yourself, and your dreams. Better a mediocre final score than never daring to play the game, right?

But if you still want to support me with a euro or two... You are always welcome on bol.com ;)

About Gelukkig Kind from Tessa Heinhuis

In Gelukkig Kind of Tessa Heinhuis discover how your choices truly help your child grow. In a world full of stimuli and performance pressure, children often become unbalanced. That's not surprising: we live in a time when we are always ‘on’. As a result, children are increasingly overstimulated, tired, and insecure. How do we nurture our children with the best foundation, especially now? How do we give them a loving boost for more self-confidence, courage, and fun?

Tessa spoke with experts and parents about raising children with more calm, self-confidence, and joy.

  • help your child grow in self-confidence and resilience
  • learn to deal with overstimulation, stress, and insecurity
  • get tools for more calm, connection, and joy in the family

A practical and loving book for every parent who wants to make their child stronger and happier.

View Gelukkig Kind on bol.com