My eldest lass self-published a number of short stories on Kindle some time back, and recently received a notification from them that she would be receiving a royalty payment this month.

Three pence.  This means that someone probably read one or two pages of one of her stories.

She is delighted, but has promised not too go wild and spend it all at once on booze and riotous living  ;-)

Gyppo

Such a windfall!

OK, not a life-changer, but think what it means.  People have been willing to part with their hard-earned cash in order to see something she's made.  Not her mum, not her friends - people who don't know her from a hole in the wall.  That's significant.

My first PLR cheque was for £12.  My second was for £5.  I thought of the people choosing my books rather than someone else's off a library shelf and I too was proud.

Quote from: Jo Bannister on March 09, 2023, 08:10:18 AMOK, not a life-changer, but think what it means.  People have been willing to part with their hard-earned cash in order to see something she's made.  Not her mum, not her friends - people who don't know her from a hole in the wall.  That's significant.

My first PLR cheque was for £12.  My second was for £5.  I thought of the people choosing my books rather than someone else's off a library shelf and I too was proud.

Exactly...

You may not think you need or want the recognition, but once you get it you realise it's a valuable currency.

Tucked away somewhere I still have a photocopy of the first cheque I received for writing.  I never did get around to having it framed, but I intended to.  I knew it was special, a landmark on my journey.

I also photocopied the £10 cheque I got from the BBC for fighting in a studio.  A lot of money for one minute of fighting.  Plus I learned so much about how the TV business worked.  About half an hour in the studio for a two minute segment.  (That background knowledge is pure gold for a writer.)

Must admit it's amused me since to think that I got paid for laying into someone with a sword, but big name Jeremy Clarkson managed to get himself sacked for punching a producer ;-)

Gyppo

Craig's book sold to people he never knew. His Mommy bought a copy, but of course she did. But so did strangers. It is that part that is amazing. The amount of the check is a bit depressing considering the work, but the thrill makes up for it. Perhaps that's the plan.