How Much Does the Average Author Make?

The Not-So-Glorious Truth About Author Income

Spoiler alert: It’s lower than you think

Okay, let’s get real for a second. The image of the rich and famous author lounging in a villa while royalties roll in? That’s Stephen King or J.K. Rowling — not your typical writer. The average author, according to several surveys (like the one by the Authors Guild), earns around $6,000 to $20,000 per year from their writing.

Yep. That’s it. Not even enough to cover rent in most cities.

And here’s the kicker: a lot of that income comes from side gigs like teaching, editing, ghostwriting, or speaking engagements. Writing books alone? Tough game.

Traditional vs. Self-Publishing: Huge Gap

Traditional authors: advances and tiny royalties

If you land a deal with a traditional publisher, you might get an advance — anywhere from $1,000 (yep, seriously) to $100,000+ (rare unicorn alert). But here's the catch: you don’t earn royalties until your book “earns out” the advance.

And even after that? Royalties are usually 7–12% of the list price. So, if your $20 paperback sells, you might get... $1.50. Oof.

Self-published authors: higher cut, more hustle

Now, self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP give authors up to 70% of the sales price. Sounds amazing, right? But you gotta do everything yourself: cover design, editing, marketing, the whole circus.

Some indie authors make six figures — really, they do. But they’re often writing fast, in popular genres (like romance or thrillers), and publishing multiple books a year. Think of it as being a content machine with a creative twist.

Genre Matters. A Lot.

Fiction vs. nonfiction vs. niche writing

Nonfiction authors (especially in business or self-help) often do better financially. Why? Because they use books as marketing tools for courses, coaching, or speaking gigs. The book opens the door — the real money’s elsewhere.

Fiction? Super competitive. Unless you’re in a high-volume genre (like cozy mysteries or fantasy romance), the money’s slow. That said, some authors build loyal fanbases and rake in serious income over time.

A friend of mine writes niche books on plant-based nutrition. Her sales aren’t massive, but she lands sponsorships and interviews all the time — which brings in more than the books themselves.

One Book vs. Many: Don’t Count on a One-Hit Wonder

It’s a long game, not a lottery

Most successful authors don’t make it big with one book. They write series, build email lists, re-release updated editions... It’s not glamorous, but it’s sustainable.

Statistically, the more books you publish, the more likely you are to see stable income. Think snowball effect: each book builds your brand, trust, and sales funnel.

One author I met at a writing conference told me, “Book 1 made me $300. Book 5 paid my mortgage.” That stuck with me.

Other Income Streams Authors Rely On

Diversify or die (financially speaking)

Truth is, writing alone rarely pays the bills. Most authors mix their writing income with:

• Freelance writing or journalism

• Patreon support from fans

• Teaching writing workshops

• Running a Substack or newsletter

• Selling online courses

• Podcasting or YouTube content

It’s all part of the “authorpreneur” hustle. And honestly? Some of it’s kinda fun.

Conclusion: What Can You Actually Expect?

So, how much does the average author make? Somewhere between “barely enough” and “just scraping by” — unless you treat writing like a business, not just an art. The money can come, but it takes time, strategy, and more than one great manuscript.

If you’re writing for passion — awesome, don’t stop. But if you’re hoping to quit your day job? Start building a plan, not just a novel.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.