Budgeting for an archive-based history book

The book required an estimated £16,000 of personal investment, and more than half of that had been spent before the publishing contract was signed. When teaching contracts arrived late or were cancelled, keeping the project moving eventually meant carrying about £6,000 in credit-card debt. A first-book advance will not normally cover costs on that scale. Archive visits require travel, accommodation, food, and time away from paid employment. The practical advice is to budget conservatively and include a much larger contingency than feels necessary because delays and changing circumstances are common.