Lars Eighner's Homepage Writers' Workshop FAQ: Q. How much should they pay me?

Q. How much should they pay me?

Q. Is it better to only take royalties, or to take an advance?
Q. How much does a writer's first novel bring?
Q. How long does it take to get paid?
Q. I thought $300 was a good payment for reprinting my short story in an anthology. But I heard of someone getting $500 for the right to use his story in a college entrance examination. What should I get for reprint rights?
Q. I asked an agent am I considering about royalties. He said royalties would be 10%. How can he say this when royalties can be anywhere from 7% to 15%? Is this agent dishonest? What should royalties be?
Q. I've been asked to write a book about a person's life. How do I get paid what is going rate? How do we get it published? Per page in advance won't work for this person but she has a fascinating story. Any ideas for a contract, rate of pay etc.?