16-year-old promises to give her mom 25% of her earnings if she ever became a published author, mom holds her to that promise 6 years later: 'She threatened to sue me over it if I ever did get published.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Dec 9, 2025 11:00 AM EST

She's extremely profit-hungry for a book that doesn't even exist.

Some parents make it their life's mission to do everything they can to support their child, while also taking care of their own retirement so their child doesn't have to take on the burden of caring for them in old age. Other parents tell their children from age five that they need to succeed in life so they can support them through retirement and give them everything they deserve. There's obviously some middle ground between these two extremes, as well as some socioeconomic factors at play. Sometimes a parent really needs financial help from their adult child, and if the child is willing to give it, that's all well and good. But if a parent wants their child's money just because they feel entitled to it, because they raised them, their intentions are probably not pure. 

When someone suddenly becomes highly successful, their relationship with their family can change drastically. If you publish a book that becomes a bestseller, your Great Aunt Susan might start calling you a lot more after years of her dismissing your little creative projects. Sometimes, you don't know how success will change your relationships with your family until it happens, but other times, you can clearly see the writing on the wall. 

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  • A happy young female student sitting on sofa studying
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The mom in this story has been telling her daughter for years that if her daughter ever becomes a published author, she's entitled to 25% of her earnings. Her daughter agreed to that when she was 16, but now she's an adult who knows better.

  • Am I the bad guy for arguing about hypothetical money?

    Alright, here we go. So basically I (22F) write, and my goal is to be a published author one day. Not anytime soon, but one day. My mom (46F) doesn't really believe in me but still wants money from me if I ever do get published because of something stupid.
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • When I was like 16 or 17, I agreed to give her 25% of whatever I earned from writing if I ever got published, mainly just to shut her up about money. Ever since then, whenever I mention my writing or anything like that, she gets all excited about the hypothetical 25% she's going to get.
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • Woman in gray scoop neck shirt holding fan of US dollar bills
    via Sasun Bughdaryan

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Since then I've obviously matured, and have gone back on that, which caused an argument this morning where she threatened to sue me over it if I ever did get published because "she's more convincing than I am" and "she can just tell them I was 18 when I agreed to it" since I
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • told her that contracts "signed" by minors aren't legally binding. I also told her she should've gotten it in writing, which she just said "verbal agreements are just as good as written ones".
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • A persons mouth with teeth
    via Ozkan Guner

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Now, I might be the asshole, because I did agree to it, but also, it's just stupid and I feel like I'm right. If I'm in the wrong, then I'll accept it.
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • NTA 1) Minors can't enter into contracts, so this is a moot point. 2) I'm an author. There is no money to be made in publishing for 99% of writers. There are 44 million books currently on Amazon with millions more added every year, and fewer people reading for pleasure every year. Way too much supply. Decreasing demand. There are many NYT bestselling authors who still don't make enough to quit their day jobs. And they are the very very tiniest fraction of the upper 1%. So if you
    via u/dragonsandvamps
  • OP RaspberrySerious 5602 I definitely don't think I'll make a ton of money from writing, it's a hobby for me that I'd like to see out in the world one day. Honestly I'd even be happy with just a solid copy for myself to put on my bookshelf. My mom doesn't exactly understand that and thinks I'm the next Stephen King or something
    via u/RaspberrySerious5602
  • NTA KrofftSurvivor Minors can't agree to contracts because they are young, inexperienced, and easily manipulated. Even had you given her a written and dated contract at the age of 16, a ~pie in the sky~ promise to give her 25% of your future wealth should you become a fabulously successful writer would not be valid, nor is a verbal promise. But you asked whether or not you were an asshole for not following through. Nope. Your parents are supposed to protect you and your best interests - not mani
    via u/KrofftSurvivor
  • WhereWeretheAdults NTA. This is why minors aren't allowed to enter into contracts. They are easily pressured by adults who do not have their best interest at heart. You get published, you get money, why does she have to know. Mom has exactly zero reason to know anything about your finances. Mom's just greedy.
    via u/WhereWeretheAdults
  • Louis_Riel First off, for a contract to be legally binding there needs to be offer, acceptance, compensation, and intent. Compensation doesn't just mean offer to pay, it means BOTH parties need to receive something in compensation for a contract to be legal. She has no standing and a judge won't side with her 'because she's more convincing.' Secondly, NTA
    via u/Louis_Riel
  • Spare_Ad5009 NTA. It's really a silly fight. I'm a published author, I have won multiple awards, but authors don't make money unless they are in the top 1% of the top 1%. So she is fighting over hundreds not hundreds of thousands. Legally, you'd win. Just don't mention it anymore to avoid the ridiculous argument.
    via u/Spare_Ad5009
  • Straight-Note-8935 A verbal contract doesn't amount to much, and beside, in most places a 16 or 17 year old is too young to enter into a contract.
    via u/Straight-Note-8935
  • Sad_Inspection5434 NAL- 16/17 makes you a minor and unable to be legally bound to a contract verbally or otherwise NTA she sounds toxic as fuck
    via u/Sad_Inspection5434
  • giantbrownguy NTA. You need to shut the conversation down. Your mother has already said she's going to lie to steal money from you and is trying to hold something over your head from when you were a kid. You need to start asserting yourself more and just telling her "no". By engaging with her, you're just creating more aggravation for yourself.
    via u/giantbrownguy
  • tickleyourtooshy Your mom cares more about money that doesn't exist than you, NTA.
    via u/tickleyourtooshy
  • creative_usr_name NTA, but she is giving you plenty of material to write about.
    via u/creative_usr_name

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parents of teens author entitled parents published mother teenagers bad parenting reddit story raising teens contract daughter money writing entitled people
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