Don't authors deserve to be paid for their work?

1. 66

   Karen Wodkeposted 12 years ago

   Don't authors deserve to be paid for their work?
   
   A lot of people think authors should give away their books. But even writers have to put bread on the table and it's a lot of work to take a book from conception to completion. Your thoughts?

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2. 61

   L.K. Egoohposted 12 years ago

   Yes, they should be paid for their work. No mechanic would give away parts and labor. And no author should do that either; authors have spent time piecing together plots and dealing with publishing.

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3. 61

   emichaelposted 12 years ago

   I have a writing project of my own in the works and the more I work on it the more I appreciate all the work that goes into the process. Absolutely authors should get paid for their work! It is physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. Same as painters, animators, musicians, etc...

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4. 0

   Giselle Maineposted 12 years ago

   Fascinating question... I wish it were a forum post because I have so many more questions about it!!  Well, to answer I would definitely agree that authors should be paid for their work.  Authors should definitely not be giving away their books. Especially when it represents many many hours of work....!
   
   But what makes you think that people are thinking authors should give away their books?? Lots of people if they really don't want to pay for a book at the bookstore, can go to the public library. This is common knowledge, so why would someone think that they ought to be receiving free books from the author??  I'm genuinely intrigued by this.

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5. 0

   Indigitalposted 12 years ago

   Most books are written with passion, it's more of a statement then a price-tag. Like paintings and painters, they want people to look at their work, admire it. Not put a massive price-statement on it then take it away. It comes down to the author, if they want money for their books, then of course - sell them for profit. But many authors just want their books to be read, and money isn't a major thing for them.

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6. 62

   Dennis AuBuchonposted 12 years ago

   Most definitely authors should be paid for their books.  Books are created through weeks if not months of work and authors should be paid for the work they have written.  The method of payment and the amount is usually the problem in some cases as it is not the fact that they do not get paid but how much.
   
   Authors deserve to be paid well for their work but there is no one single way authors receive pay.  There are royalities received from publishers but there are also opportunities for authors to sell their own products and get paid directly.

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