Author facts for kids
An author is a person who creates a book, an article, a play, or other written work. Think of them as the original creator of a story or information.
When someone creates a work, they usually own the copyright to it. This means they have special legal rights over their creation. If more than one person creates a work together, it's called joint authorship. Copyright laws can be different in various countries. For example, in the United States, copyright protects "original works of authorship."
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What Rights Do Authors Have?
Being an "author" of a creative work gives you special rights. These rights mean you, as the copyright owner, have the exclusive power to make copies of your work or share it with others. If someone else wants to use your copyrighted work, they usually need to ask for your permission. Often, they might also need to pay you for using it.
Copyrights don't last forever. After a certain time, the work enters the public domain. This means anyone can use it freely without needing permission or paying fees. Over the years, copyright laws have often been changed to make this protection period longer. This is especially true in places like the United States, where industries like entertainment and publishing are very influential.
Even after an author passes away, their copyright can be passed on to someone else, like a family member. This person isn't the author, but they get the same legal benefits from the work.
Sometimes, authors might give different rights to different people or companies. For example, they might allow one company to turn their book into a movie, but only if they change the character names. This could happen if another company already has the rights to those specific characters for a TV show or video game. Also, if an author is hired to write something, like a city tour guide, the company that hired them might own the copyright to the finished work. This is called a work for hire.
Different Ways to Think About Authorship
Who is the "Author" of a Text?
In the world of literary theory, thinkers like Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault have explored what "author" truly means. They wondered if knowing about the author's life helps us understand a text.
Roland Barthes, in his essay "Death of the Author" (1968), suggested that the language in a text is what truly "speaks," not the author. He believed that a text is made up of many ideas and references from different cultures. Because of this, he felt that the words themselves create meaning, not the author's personal thoughts or feelings. Barthes argued that readers should focus on the text itself, not on the author's background. This way, the language can be understood more freely.
Michel Foucault, in his essay "What is an author?" (1969), said that while all authors are writers, not all writers are authors. For example, a private letter has a writer, but not necessarily an "author" in the same way a published book does. Foucault believed that the idea of an "author" helps society organize and understand written works. He suggested that an author's name tells us about the importance of a text in society. However, he also warned that focusing too much on the author's name might limit how we interpret a work.
These thinkers suggest that when you read something, you don't always need to look for the author's personal meaning. Instead, they encourage you to let the language and words of the text guide your understanding.
How Authors Work with Publishers
Authors often work with publishers to get their books out to readers. There are a few main ways this can happen:
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing is when an author handles everything themselves. This means they are in charge of paying for, editing, printing, and distributing their own work. The author acts as their own publisher.
Traditional Publishing
In traditional publishing, a publishing company takes on most of the work. The publisher handles all the arrangements for editing, printing, and selling the book. They also cover all the costs and financial risks.
Authors usually get paid a percentage of each book sold, called a royalty. Sometimes, successful authors might receive an advance payment. This is a lump sum paid before the book is even published. This advance is then "earned out" by future royalties. This means the author won't get more royalty payments until the book sales cover the advance they already received.
Vanity Publishing
Vanity publishers are different. They typically charge authors a fee to publish their book. They offer a way to sell the book and then take a percentage of each sale. The author gets the rest of the money.
This type of publishing is often looked down upon in the professional world. Critics say that vanity publishers will publish almost anything if the author pays them. This can sometimes lead to lower quality books being released.
Authors and Editors
Authors often work closely with an editor at the publishing company. This relationship can sometimes have its challenges. For a book to reach its audience, it usually needs to impress the editor first.
Editors help authors improve their work in several ways:
- Proofing: They check for grammar, spelling, and typing mistakes.
- Story Editing: They might suggest changes to the plot, characters, or overall story. This can sometimes be a sensitive area for authors.
- Layout Editing: They make small text changes to fit the book's design, making sure the meaning stays the same.
Editors play a big role in deciding which books get published. They act as "cultural investors," looking for books that they believe will be successful and popular. Some studies suggest that editors' expectations can influence how authors write. This can sometimes put a strain on the author-editor relationship.
How Authors Get Paid
Authors earn money in several ways, including advance fees, royalty payments, and fees from speaking engagements.
A typical author contract includes an advance and royalties. An advance is a payment given to the author before the book is published. This money is paid in one or two parts, like when the contract is signed or when the finished book is delivered.
Royalty payments are what authors earn for each copy of their book sold. This is usually a percentage of the book's price, often around 10-12%. However, self-published authors can earn much higher royalties, sometimes 40-60% per book.
For example, if an author gets a $2,000 advance and earns $2 in royalties for each $20 book sold, they need to sell 1,000 copies before they receive any more money. Publishers often hold back a small percentage of royalties in case books are returned.
In some countries, authors also get paid through government programs. For instance, in Australia, authors receive a fee based on how many copies of their books are in educational or public libraries.
Many authors also earn money from other activities. These include giving public speeches, visiting schools, teaching, or receiving grants.
Some writers, like ghostwriters (who write for others without getting credit), technical writers, or textbook writers, are paid differently. They usually get a set fee or a rate per word, instead of a percentage of sales.
In 2016, about 130,000 people worked as authors in the U.S. They earned an average of $61,240 per year.
See Also
In Spanish: Autor para niños
