what are the chances of being taken advantage of? I have a publisher interested in my manuscript but I dont know what to expect if/when I get accepted and recieve a contract. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
If a publisher takes me on but I have no agent
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The answers to that would depend a lot on the publisher you're referring too.
Some are known problems, some are great to work with (as long as you keep your eyes on their hands), but almost all of their boilerplate contracts are weighted on the side of the publisher.
Congrats on getting the nibble. Who's the lucky publisher?
Some are known problems, some are great to work with (as long as you keep your eyes on their hands), but almost all of their boilerplate contracts are weighted on the side of the publisher.
Congrats on getting the nibble. Who's the lucky publisher?
they're called Champagne Books. They messaged me when I least expected any response from anyone so it was a very welcome surprise.
The answer to your question is yes, you can be taken advantage of depending on the publisher. But you can with an agent as well, again depending on the agent.
The ScienceFiction and Fantasy Writers of America have sample contracts for publishers and agents on their site, and they spell out what it all means. If you have any doubts as to what rights you are assigning to a publisher, have someone knowledgeable in contract laws look it over. Preferrably someone who specializes in literary contracts because they are so different from standard business contracts.
Preditors and editors is also a good place to research agents and publishers to see if they have any known problems, or bad habits...
The ScienceFiction and Fantasy Writers of America have sample contracts for publishers and agents on their site, and they spell out what it all means. If you have any doubts as to what rights you are assigning to a publisher, have someone knowledgeable in contract laws look it over. Preferrably someone who specializes in literary contracts because they are so different from standard business contracts.
Preditors and editors is also a good place to research agents and publishers to see if they have any known problems, or bad habits...
Any publisher is going to do all they can to make the best deal for them. That's their job. Even when no maliciousness is intended, it's not in their best interests to give you the advantage 
So you'd have to be cautious to make sure you get a good deal, too.
Pub Rants has an "agent 101" series that outlines a lot of contract info and what things mean, but you're best bet is to find someone who knows book contract law to review anything before you sign it. And check to make sure the publisher is legit.
So you'd have to be cautious to make sure you get a good deal, too. Pub Rants has an "agent 101" series that outlines a lot of contract info and what things mean, but you're best bet is to find someone who knows book contract law to review anything before you sign it. And check to make sure the publisher is legit.
Also, an agent would only be interested in negotiating with a publisher able to pay enough in advance and royalties to make it worth their time.
thanks everyone for your replies. since this is my first book im trying to publish, i'm a bit paranoid lol ive already made the mistake of getting overexcited about being accepted. It's still too soon to know for sure if they'll want it, i know.
wake me up...what would turn them down now if they were interested enough to ask for the rest of the manuscript after reading 108 pages of my book already?
wake me up...what would turn them down now if they were interested enough to ask for the rest of the manuscript after reading 108 pages of my book already?
Whether intentional or not, a publishing contract can definitely "take advantage of you". And there are many ways it may do so, passive and active.
If you don't want to try and get an agent, I strongly suggest to hire an intellectual rights attorney (not cheap) to go over the contract with you.
If you don't want to try and get an agent, I strongly suggest to hire an intellectual rights attorney (not cheap) to go over the contract with you.
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Astonwest and a number of AWers are with Champagne Books. They might be able to help.
There is nothing wrong with contacting an agent and telling them you have an offer in hand. Yes, they will ask for their commission anyway. Yes, they will earn it.
There is nothing wrong with contacting an agent and telling them you have an offer in hand. Yes, they will ask for their commission anyway. Yes, they will earn it.
A question that I'm interested in knowing as well. I am in this boat with a pretty major publisher as well, I have an agent who made the full proposal to them.
Is it usual for them to ask for more after reading 100 pages and then rejecting ou?
A lot of books start strong then fall apart at the halfway point or 3/4 point. That's why they'll ask for a partial before a full. If they like the first part, they can go back and ask for more, but if the ending isn't what they're looking for, they have a choice - they can either make an offer and hope you're able to fix it the way they want or they can say "no thanks".
The book they are reviewing is an anthology similar to Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell..
The stories within the book are of the same quality if not getting better towards the end, if this is the case should I be pretty confident?
In the case of anthologies or books like this is it more likely that they are accepted after interest is shown because it can't possibly have an ending to not like?
The editor from the pub said she liked the candidness of the writing and the idea for the book but the material was still too unpolished and not developed for her to consider. [This was after 18 rough pages without being edited]. She read a story that was basically the style of the rest of the stories in the book. Not even one of the better stories.
Many editors will have to take a manuscript they want to acquire to an acquistions meeting, where marketing and sales people will weigh in as well. It's a nerve-wracking process waiting to hear.
Yeah, I read about this in another thread. I've been meaning to ask, do these meetings happen often or is it a like once a month thing? I had an agent send it to the publisher who has requested a proposal for the full ms / proposal from my agent so I assume I'm not in the slush pile anymore.. The editor in chief of the publishing company emailed my agent back:
"Thanks—we will be happy to consider this.
Cheers,
[His Name]"
My agent told me that this editor in chief is a friend of his and usually reacts quickly but in this case he thought he would pawn it off to the editor that showed interest before taking it on himself. Is there a 'slush pile' for agented / solicited materials as well?
My last question is about the acquisitions meeting:
After this meeting do they have an answer or do they sometimes go unresolved?
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I've never tried to sub an anthology, so I can't give you a constructive answer on that one. The only thing I could see happening is that maybe they don't like one or two of the individual stories, but I'm sure they have ways to handle that without it affecting the entire anthology.
You probably aren't going to like this, but that's a standard rejection. The fact that your agent knows the higher-up editor gives you another shot, but if the original editor had wanted to see it again, there would have been a "revise and resubmit" offer in the letter.
The full email was:
"Thanks, Arya. If you get more sample material—50-100 clean pages, I’d be interested in seeing them. I like the idea for the book and the candidness of the writing, but the material is still too unpolished and not developed enough for me to consider.
All best,
[Her Name]"
I thought it was somewhat positive for reading 17 rough pages. Unpolished was a word I used to let her know it was rough so I wasn't too bothered by that word, and in theory it is not developed at 17 pages. Maybe I'm just sugar-coating it, time will tell!
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Pawn it off were my words not my agents He said he thought it would be given to the editor I had spoken to previously that showed interest, so yes. Thanks for the rest of the information.. So during these meetings all books are proposed in these meetings I assume not just mine.. correct?
He said he thought it would be given to the editor I had spoken to previously that showed interest, so yes. Thanks for the rest of the information.. So during these meetings all books are proposed in these meetings I assume not just mine.. correct?
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Arya,
Please don't take any of this wrong...
I have the same type of letters from five different publishers about my first attempt, and I am talking about through an agent. They all said... Wonderful storyline and a very imaginative world the author has put a lot of thought into, but at this time, it is too rough and unpolished for our needs. Please feel free to resubmit if you ever decide to edit to our standards... This is a polite...you suck letter.
Also, note the comment about clean pages... When an editor or agent talks clean, they do not mean from coffee stains. This is a polite way of saying you need to really edit the work submitted until it is clean of errors. Not sure why you would send something that was not the best, and rough, as you indicated. This does not leave a good impression with any one.
Why did your agent let you submit something unpolished and rough? This seems mindboggling to me and counterproductive...
Nick Anthony
I submitted it before I had an agent. What I did was send the proposal out rather then the normal query letter because it's nonfiction and then they asked for sample pages.. Not wanting to seem like an amateur I decided to send the 17 pages I had letting them know it was rough and subject to change. She sent that back and until now I thought it was quite positive..
For them to want more is a good thing, no? Maybe they thought the potential was there and since then I have done several rewrites, that was after maybe 2 days of writing..
I was shocked that the publisher even responded so fast because the website said "Allow 2-3 months for response." When they responded I guess I panicked and sent it out..
Are you absolutely positive it is a you suck letter? It can't be anything else?
For them to want more is a good thing, no? Maybe they thought the potential was there and since then I have done several rewrites, that was after maybe 2 days of writing..
I was shocked that the publisher even responded so fast because the website said "Allow 2-3 months for response." When they responded I guess I panicked and sent it out..
Are you absolutely positive it is a you suck letter? It can't be anything else?
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Not all books for potential purchase and publication could possibly be discussed at a singular meeting. However, depending on the length of the meeting, from one to a few will be discussed. There are always some rare exceptions, but basically every book does have to pass the test of the editorial meeting before it can and will be acquired. What I find ironic (in a way) is that while editors are the writers' advocates at these meetings, the others are looking for reasons why not to publish each book. But then again, it makes perfect sense since it's a business, and like all business' they want products that will appeal to consumers, sell, and turn a profit.
So if I'm near the end of the line of agented books which I suspect I should be since it's a pretty major publisher it could take months to get to my book at these meetings since they happen 1-2 times per month.. Yikes.
Thanks for the advice?
Can anyone verify Nick's post? Is that the only way to annotate it?