Inspector Rebus creator fears for new writing talent as publishers cut advances and internet transforms industry
Ian Rankin believes tax incentives can help foster new writing talent. Photograph: Mirrorpix/Alamy
Ian Rankin, the author of the Inspector Rebus series, is calling for tax incentives to support new writers, as cash-strapped publishers cut advances.
Speaking ahead of an appearance this week at a festival celebrating first novels, Rankin believes that a scheme modelled on the artists' exemption arrangement in Ireland would invest in the next generation of creative talent.
"If you want to give new writers a start, then a tax incentive is one thing you can do," he said.
Under the 1997 Irish scheme, the first €40,000 (£33,000) of annual income earned by writers, composers or visual artists from the sale of their work is exempt from tax. As Rankin explained, the scheme was capped because some well-established names were "tempted to move to Ireland" to avoid tax.
Publishers are now so unnerved by Amazon's dominance, ebook downloading and the closure of independent bookshops, they can no longer afford to take much risk on new talent. In the past, they would pay an advance beyond a debut book's value because they recognised that they were nurturing a promising author but the tradition is disappearing.
Rankin said: "The internet has pluses and minuses. It's easier than ever to get your stuff seen by people. But it's harder than ever to make a living from it. Look at the money that publishers are paying for new writers … less than they paid 20 years ago. They know first novels don't sell many copies and, if writers decide … to sidestep the traditional publishing route and sell their stuff by themselves online, they're having to sell it for virtually nothing – 99p."
Full story at The Guardian.
Speaking ahead of an appearance this week at a festival celebrating first novels, Rankin believes that a scheme modelled on the artists' exemption arrangement in Ireland would invest in the next generation of creative talent.
"If you want to give new writers a start, then a tax incentive is one thing you can do," he said.
Under the 1997 Irish scheme, the first €40,000 (£33,000) of annual income earned by writers, composers or visual artists from the sale of their work is exempt from tax. As Rankin explained, the scheme was capped because some well-established names were "tempted to move to Ireland" to avoid tax.
Publishers are now so unnerved by Amazon's dominance, ebook downloading and the closure of independent bookshops, they can no longer afford to take much risk on new talent. In the past, they would pay an advance beyond a debut book's value because they recognised that they were nurturing a promising author but the tradition is disappearing.
Rankin said: "The internet has pluses and minuses. It's easier than ever to get your stuff seen by people. But it's harder than ever to make a living from it. Look at the money that publishers are paying for new writers … less than they paid 20 years ago. They know first novels don't sell many copies and, if writers decide … to sidestep the traditional publishing route and sell their stuff by themselves online, they're having to sell it for virtually nothing – 99p."
Full story at The Guardian.
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