Many of us harbour dreams of publishing a book, whether it's a novel or a collection of true-life stories. However, securing an agent or a publishing deal is just the beginning of the journey to success. Ariadna Arias, an author, recently took to TikTok to shed light on the harsh realities of turning writing into a profitable career. In a brutally honest video, she disclosed the paltry sum she earned from selling hundreds of books.
She revealed: "I have sold 270 copies of my book. How much money have I earned? Very little." You might be puzzled as to why her profits were so meagre, and there's a valid explanation. Out of those 270 books, 240 were sold on Amazon, with a staggering 205 given away for free. From these Amazon sales, Ariadna made a mere 50 Euros (around £41).
Direct sales proved slightly more lucrative though. About 30 books were sold on Instagram, paid for in cash without any promotional discounts. Ariadna shared: "I earned 90 Euros net (around £75) from those.". All in all, her literary debut has left her with roughly 140 Euros (approximately £120) in her pocket. This isn't a substantial amount, particularly when you factor in printing costs, shipping and commissions. Ariadna disclosed that 100 Euros (£83) had been spent covering these expenses, leaving her with just enough for a coffee and pastry.
The Spanish author remains undeterred by the financial prospects, though. She added: "My goal was not to get rich with this book, but to share my message and my experience. Knowing that I have connected with more than 270 people is worth much more than any figure.".
