Whether you’re writing historical novels, contemporary fiction, or even fantasy, research photography is a skill worth developing (see what I did there…). Not only does it help with research, but photos also help writers connect with readers, supplement and inspire blogging content, and provide a library of images writers can use with articles and online. I’ve already written a…
Author: Susan Spann
Copyright Rules for Settings
In my day job as a publishing lawyer, I often get asked how copyright impacts an author’s ability to use a specific setting in works of fiction. Like many other copyright questions (and, honestly, every other question a lawyer gets asked), the answer is “it depends.” Fortunately, the applicable rules are fairly straightforward and easy to analyze. The…
A Few Words About Photo Copyrights
The topic of photo copyrights came up during several of my workshops at last weekend’s Colorado Gold Conference (one of the best Writers’ Conferences anywhere – and if you’ve never attended one, PLEASE join us next September, when the conference turns 35!). Authors often have a limited understanding of how copyright law applies to photographs…
Tips for Pitching Your Novel to an Agent or Editor
With Colorado Gold just around the corner (and other conferences happening around the country throughout the rest of the summer and the autumn), many authors are preparing to pitch a manuscript to a literary agent, an editor, or both. In hopes of reducing stress and helping you land a request for pages, here are some tips for…
How to Spot (& Avoid) “Pay to Play” Publishing Contracts
In recent months, I’ve seen a resurgence of some terrible publishing “offers” that business-savvy authors need to recognize . . . and avoid. Although these “deals” are legal if an author signs them, every time I see one of these contracts, I’m reminded of my law school contracts professor’s favorite saying: “You can make as good a deal, or AS…