From Edie: Learn how to respond with wisdom, gratitude, and faith when your royalty statement arrives—whether the numbers make you sigh or celebrate. This practical and encouraging guide helps writers view their sales through God’s perspective and outlines meaningful next steps for your writing journey.
How Writers Should Respond to Their Royalty Statements: Encouragement, Wisdom, and Practical Next Steps
by Lori Hatcher
You’ve opened your latest royalty statement. Are you sighing or celebrating?
Every writer I know holds their breath when the much awaited/much dreaded royalty statement appears in their mailbox. Will it show phenomenal book sales or pitiful ones? Will we find a check with lots of zeroes or a sales report with lots of zeroes? Will our book have (finally) earned out its advance or is it selling slowly, ten books at a time?
So many questions swirl as we slide our fingers under that flap and peek into the document. Some flip immediately to the last page—check or cringe? Others methodically page through all the details—Direct sales, Special Sales, Trade Books, and Non-Returns. If our numbers are good, we cash the check, take the family out for dinner (or at least Starbucks), and celebrate. If the numbers are bad, we question our skill as a writer, bemoan the state of readers everywhere, and sigh—loudly.
Whether you’re sighing or celebrating as you review your most recent royalty statement, allow me to share a few helpful actions writers can take.
4 Helpful Things Writers Can Do with Their Royalty Statement
1. Give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The very fact that you’re holding a royalty statement means a publishing house thought enough of your writing and your message to offer you a book contract. Some writers never get the chance to be traditionally published. Thank God for the chance to share your thoughts through the medium of book publishing. Don’t ever take a contract—your first or your fiftieth—for granted.
2. Pray (Philippians 4:6).
Every number on that royalty statement represents a prayer point. Number of copies sold? These are people. Pray that the message God gave you goes down deep into their souls and accomplishes His purposes. Dollars paid to you? Ask God to help you spend them wisely—for His glory. Copies returned? Pray for your publisher, who must absorb that loss. Dollars needed to satisfy your advance? Potential copies available to readers. Ask God to connect your book with the people who need its message. Amount paid to agent? Pray for your hardworking agent who works hard but only gets paid when you do.
3. Seek God’s Wisdom (James 1:5).
Ask Him to help you brainstorm creative and Spirit-inspired ways to connect with your audience and market your book. Confess any spirit of laziness or apathy and determine to do everything you can to help your book reach the people God ordains for it to impact. Ask Him to do what you can’t do, but commit to do what you can.
4. Write (Psalm 45:1).
If God called you to write, He has entrusted to you a gift and a message. He who has been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Some authors struggle to write as they ride the wave of popularity, affirmation, and high sales numbers. They feel the pressure of creating another masterpiece. Others find it hard to write as they slog through self-doubt, discouragement, and struggling sales. They question their craft and their calling.
But we’re professionals, and professional writers write. Even more important, we’re Christians, and Christians faithfully live out the calling God has placed upon our lives and use the gifts and talents He has given us.
And so, dear writer friend, are you celebrating or sighing over your latest royalty statement? Or maybe you’re wishing you had a royalty statement at all. Regardless, give thanks, pray, seek God’s wisdom, and write what He has placed on your heart—for others’ good and the glory of God!
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