The World of the Debut Writer
I've been traveling around the net since my June release of The Bull Rider’s Brother. Even traveling around the area for signings and events.
Life as a debut is nothing like I thought it
would be. You know, as a writer, you’d
think I’d research things like this before it happens. But like my breast cancer diagnosis, I only
could research the next step. So before
I sold, my focus was on more on researching publications in order to find the
right match for me. Not what would happen afterward.
So, let’s talk about what really happens in the world of the
recently contracted.
First, you get this legal contract that you have to
negotiate. Believe me, accepting without reading isn’t an option. But as a new author, your bargaining power is
comparable to an AAA battery taken out of a favorite toy the week after Christmas.
It’s
important though to read and understand what you’re selling. Because that’s what’s happening. You are granting the publisher the rights to
produce your story (we won’t call it a baby here, even if you feel that way.)
How long will they have these rights?
What will they pay you?
And when?
And, what’s the small print that could affect that sale?
Most publishers want the same thing as you as author want,
to sell a lot of books and make a lot of money.
Publishers know that authors are their supply chain. And if an author is burned by a publisher,
word spreads through the community quickly.
Your job, isn’t to be paranoid about the contract, but to understand and
hopefully, compare, offers between publishers.
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I’m publishing with two digital first publishers. For me, this career path made sense. I get great editorial support from both
publishers, even though they both handle edits in a completely different
manner. The royalties are handled
differently, paid on different schedules, and have different rates.
So now that I’ve talked too long and told you everything you
never wanted to know about being an author – I’ll open the conversation to the
readers?
Have you ever had a job that turned out to be totally
different than what you thought it would be?
Lynn
7 comments:
Short answer--yes. Many times. Writing has been a continual surprise. Totally agree about reading a contract. Read it, dissect it, ask about anything you don't understand. Nice post.
I love that we're on this journey together, Lynn. I hired a literary consultant to read the contract since this was my first, not that the publisher made the suggested changes, but it did give me peace of mind.
I used to teach science workshops in schools. In one workshop, we brought a life-sized blue whale(blow-up)that fit at least 60 kids inside. No one can prepare you for that :) It was pretty awesome.
LOL. I remember when I took my first official "cashier" job in high school. Little did I know I'd incur the rolling eyes of customers who were not amused by my question about what kind of fruit or veggie was in the bag (I truly didn't know most of the time) or that I'd get my hand sliced open by a bagged lobster. Didn't see that coming...
You're right, publishing is always a surprise. But as long as you keep on top of things, it can be a really fun surprise.
Hi Diane!
I think people fall into 2 camps on the contract - read every word and worry about everything OR don't read it at all and bitch later.
I want to know who I'm sleeping with. :)
Hi Sharon - thanks for stopping into New Kids. I think hiring someone is smart, if you can afford the price. But even if the publisher didn't make the changes, at least you knew what to ask for and why.
Love the whale. That's the start of a story right there. LOL
Laura, I got a fun surprise today in the mail when I arrived home. A check for an essay. Yay.
Yech on the lobster.
Nice article, thanks for the information.
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