01
Plain definition
A royalty is the share of each sale paid to the author. On self-publishing platforms it is defined as a percentage of the list price, sometimes after delivery or printing costs are deducted, and it is paid out on a schedule.
02
Why it matters to an author
It is the number every price decision is really about. The list price is what the reader pays; the royalty is what you keep, and the two can be far apart once platform share, delivery costs and taxes are taken out.
03
Where it appears in the publishing workflow
The percentage and any deductions are set by the platform and can change. The Kindle royalty calculator on this site lets you enter the current terms yourself and see the amount kept per sale.
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