In the months between now and Colorado Gold, my guest posts here at the RMFW blog will take a lawyer’s eye view at some issues that may be relevant to authors trying to choose a publishing path or figure out who (and how) to pitch their work at conference. Today, we’ll kick that off with a…
Author: Susan Spann
Tips For Evaluating a Traditional Publishing House
The explosion of small and micro-presses in the United States (and elsewhere) makes it more important than ever for authors to investigate publishers carefully before signing a publishing contract. While even diligent research can’t help you foresee and avoid every possible problem, here are some tips to help you evaluate whether or not to accept a…
Beware of Hidden Dangers in Short-Form Publishing Contracts
Authors have a lot to watch out for when reading a publishing contract, but one of the most common dangers is actually invisible: the protections typically missing from short-form contracts. Standard publishing contracts run 10-30 pages, in little type, with wording that ranges from “difficult” to “possibly penned in Hieroglyphs.” Most authors don’t know how to approach the dense legalese,…
Understanding Your Ebook Rights
With a new year upon us, my #PubLaw for Writers guest posts here at the RMFW blog will focus on helping authors understand and protect their legal rights. Today, we’re kicking it off with a little more about ebook rights–what they are, and how they function in a publishing contract. Ebook Rights are Normally Addressed in a Contract’s “Grant…
How–and Why–to Write a Business Plan For Your Book
“Do you know how to eat a whale?” the old joke asks. The answer: “One bite at a time!” The same advice holds true for writing a business plan for your book. Many authors don’t actually take the time to write a business plan. Either the process seems too boring, too complicated, or “not worth…