P&Ls and how books make (or don't) money

[alg]

Profit & Loss/Profitability & Liability: How Books Make (or Don't Make!) Money

A basic outline of what happens when an editor buys a book and wants to publish it. This is very much a basic look at publishing and publishing finance, with some explanation of terms commonly used by the marketing and sales departments.

Comments

[lonp.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting it. I was left wondering: What if any, significant differences arise on the YA side of the house?

For instance, often the books are shorter, so therefore probably cost less to print--is it enough less to affect marketing efforts/advances, etc.? I also suspect the distribution of buyers is skewed more heavily toward libraries and big chains than independents and general retailers. Do YA books tend to have a better sell-through, or the same?

Thanks again for such an educational post!

[alg.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

YA publishing works the same. I am unfortunately not familiar with the intimate details of the sell throughs and such, but, as I said in the post itself, this is just one example of what can happen to one book. This is average -- though, perhaps, slightly cynical.

[lonp.livejournal.com]

Good to know. Thanks again!