A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Don’t Like Your Royalties? What Traditionally Published Authors Can Do

 


Every traditionally published author eventually opens a royalty statement, sees the numbers, and feels that familiar jolt of disappointment.

This is all I earned? After everything I did?

Traditional publishing can make authors feel powerless, especially because the reporting is opaque. But you’re not without options. You can’t change the contract, but you can influence the ecosystem around it.

Here’s what you can do when your royalties don’t match your expectations.

1. First: Understand What Your Publisher Can and Cannot See

This is the part most authors never hear clearly:

Publishers who distribute through Ingram cannot see:

  • Sales by retailer
  • Sales by channel
  • Sales by region
  • Amazon‑specific data
  • Library‑specific data
  • Indie bookstore breakdowns

Ingram provides only total units sold per ISBN per period.
That’s it.
No granularity.

So when authors ask, “How many copies sold on Amazon?” the publisher literally does not know.

What publishers can see:

  • Total units sold (all retailers combined)
  • Total returns
  • Total net units
  • Total revenue received
  • Total royalties owed

This is why traditional royalty statements look so blunt: the data itself is blunt.

2. If Your Royalties Are Low Because Your Advance Hasn’t Earned Out

This is the most common reason authors see “$0.00.”

Remember:

  • You don’t receive royalties until the advance earns out
  • Many books never earn out
  • This is not a failure
  • It simply means the publisher paid you upfront

If you want to accelerate earning out:

  • Keep the book visible
  • Encourage library requests
  • Promote backlist titles
  • Maintain a steady presence around the book’s themes

Once the advance earns out, royalties begin.

3. If Your Royalties Are Low Because Sales Are Low

You can’t see channel‑specific data, but you can influence sales.

Authors can:

  • Mention the book periodically in newsletters
  • Do podcast interviews
  • Share excerpts or stories
  • Engage with libraries
  • Speak about the book’s themes
  • Keep the book alive in conversation

Traditional publishers rarely sustain long-term marketing.
Authors who keep the book visible see better royalties.

4. If Your Royalties Are Low Because of Publisher Decisions

You can’t change the contract, but you can request adjustments.

A. Pricing

If the price is too high, sales suffer.
You can request:

  • A temporary ebook discount
  • A price promotion
  • A retailer deal (if the publisher participates)

B. Metadata

Metadata is often set once and forgotten.
Ask your publisher to revisit:

  • Categories
  • Keywords
  • Description
  • BISAC codes

Small changes can improve discoverability.

C. Distribution

If your book isn’t appearing in libraries or indie stores, ask your publisher to check:

  • Whether the book is in Ingram’s catalog correctly
  • Whether the wholesale discount is adequate
  • Whether returns are enabled

These factors affect stocking decisions.

5. If You Suspect Errors: Request a Royalty Audit

This is standard and professional.

Audits sometimes uncover:

  • Misapplied royalty rates
  • Incorrect discounting
  • Unreported subsidiary rights income
  • Miscounted returns

You have the contractual right to verify accuracy.

6. If You’re Unhappy Long‑Term: Rights Reversion Is Real

Traditionally published authors often forget this option.

You can request rights reversion when:

  • The book is out of print
  • Sales fall below a contractual threshold
  • The publisher stops actively distributing
  • The ebook is unavailable
  • The publisher fails to meet obligations

Once rights revert, you can:

  • Reissue the book
  • Self‑publish a new edition
  • Move it to a new publisher
  • Update pricing and metadata
  • Earn higher royalties

Reversion is one of the most powerful tools an author has.

7. What You Cannot Change

Let’s be honest.

You cannot:

  • Renegotiate your royalty rate mid‑contract
  • Force Amazon to stock your book
  • Control bookstore returns
  • Demand marketing budgets
  • Get retailer‑specific sales data (no one can—not even your publisher)

But you can influence everything around those constraints.

8. What You Can Change

You can:

  • Advocate for metadata improvements
  • Request price promotions
  • Request distribution checks
  • Keep the book visible
  • Build your platform
  • Audit your royalties
  • Request rights reversion
  • Strengthen your long‑term author identity

Traditional publishing limits control—but it does not eliminate it.

The Takeaway

If you don’t like your royalties, you’re not powerless.
You’re not trapped.
And you’re not at the mercy of a system you can’t influence.

You can:

  • Ask questions
  • Request changes
  • Advocate for your book
  • Keep it visible
  • Audit your royalties
  • Reclaim your rights

Royalties are not a verdict on your worth as an author.
They’re a reflection of a system—one you can learn, navigate, and, when necessary, outgrow.

The balance is found when the book speaks for itself—and you’re free to write the next one.These Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

 See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.



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