Power to the Pen: Why Authors Deserve More Than Just Royalties

Stop Exploiting Authors—Start Respecting Their Worth

Behind every Book that inspires, educates, or entertains lies an Author who poured their time, soul, and intellect into every word. Yet, despite their central role in the publishing industry, many Authors are compensated unfairly—often receiving a mere fraction of the profit their work generates.

This needs to change.

The Harsh Reality of Royalties

While the word "royalty" may sound noble, the reality for most Authors is far from regal. Traditional publishing contracts typically offer royalty rates ranging from 5% to 15% of the Book's retail price. That means for every ₹500 Book sold, the Author might earn as little as ₹25–₹75—while the publisher, printer, distributor, and retailer take the lion’s share.

Now consider the months, sometimes years, it takes to write a Book. Is ₹25 per copy truly a fair reward?

The Hidden Exploitation

Publishers often leverage the dreams of aspiring Authors. New writers, hungry for exposure, are sometimes pressured into signing unfavorable contracts with limited creative control, no ownership of rights, and vague promises of marketing support.

And then there's the rise of vanity publishers—companies that charge Authors exorbitant fees to publish their work, often without delivering real value in return. These setups are less about literary merit and more about exploiting ambition.

Beyond Royalties: What Authors Truly Deserve

Fair Revenue Sharing:
A more balanced royalty model, or even profit-sharing agreements, would ensure that Authors are rewarded in proportion to their contribution.
Ownership of Rights:
Authors should retain the rights to their intellectual property and be allowed to republish, adapt, or resell their work as they see fit.
Transparent Contracts:
Contracts must be clear, ethical, and favor mutual growth—not legal traps in fine print.
Marketing Support:
Instead of leaving promotion entirely to the Author, publishers should invest in campaigns, PR, and distribution that help Books reach their true audience.
Creative Control:
Respecting an Author’s vision and voice is crucial. Over-editing or commercial dilution often compromises Authenticity.

The Way Forward: A Publishing Revolution

It's time for publishers to move away from outdated hierarchies and adopt a creator-first approach. Authors are not mere content providers—they are brand-builders, community-makers, and cultural contributors.

Independent publishing platforms, self-publishing tools, and online Bookstores are slowly shifting power back to writers. But for true systemic change, we need a cultural shift in how the publishing industry views and values Authors.

A Call to Readers and Writers

Readers: support independent Authors, buy direct where possible, and don’t hesitate to recommend Books you love.

Writers: educate yourself on publishing contracts, know your rights, and never settle for less than your worth. Join Author unions, participate in writing communities, and raise your voice.

Publishers: evolve. Champion the creators who fuel your business. Without writers, there would be no publishing industry at all.

In the age of content, Authors are the true creators. It’s time they were treated like it.

Shrishty Sharma

Manager HR/ Author

Asiatic International Corp

Shrishty@Flying-Crews.com

Shrishty@Air-aviator.com

https://www.flying-crews.com

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