How do you get paid for writing published works? (novels, etc)?

[Theguyacrossthestreet]

Upon publication? After it has been accepted and edited? How?
I should say not how but when* lol

 

[snmmmmfmirlyoddm]

You sometimes get an advance on the story, as well as royalties for each book sold.

 

[Redstar]

It depends. You are sometimes paid an 'advance', ie a lump sum, by the publisher, but this is offset against royalties (ie, you don't get any percentage of the cover price of the book until after your book has earned back the money the publisher gave you as an advance). After the book has earned back its advance (if it ever does - plenty of books don't) you then get royalties, which are a small percentage of the cover price of each book sold.

Royalty cheques notoriously arrive infrequently and late.