I mean fiction writers. I know there are several esteemed non-fiction writers here. Have you ever written, published or unpublished, a fiction piece? I just finished writing my first science fiction short story, about 13,000 words. I've written and had published several non-fiction articles over the past 30 years, but this fiction stuff is hard!

So, you accomplished or aspiring writers, speak up.

OK, I think I have my answer.

I've written and published fiction and at one time thought it was a useful way to spend time. Then I counted up my friends and acquaintances who were (1) quite well-known names and (2) turning out one popular novel after another, and picking up the odd award and (3) slowly starving to death.

So I turned to nonfic. Doesn't necessarily pay any better but at least you can claim to be making a contribution to the intellectual holdings of the world.

On what basis are fiction writers paid? Percentage of the total funds generated? If so, what is a typical percentage for a beginning author?

I realize rate is negotiable if you are already a superstar author or perhaps not an author but a very famous person who everyone wants to read a book by/about, but is rate at all negotiable if you are moderately successful author? or is it stratified into a schedule based on prior success and with little flexibility?