I don't know where to put this. ("Option" on book.)

Hopefully one of the mods will be around shortly and can port this down to Roundtable or Novels. It seems like it would be more relevant there.

A first option for which rights? Generally options are for future scripts. Is that what you mean? Is the book published yet?

Well, as that wise, old writing sage Yogi Berra was wont to say: "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's printed on." That aside, I think your interpretation is probably right.

I'll port this over to B&BC where our resident publishing experts tend to hang out and maybe you can find out for sure.

So it's an exclusive? I'd give them a time limit, at least - just so they don't hold your MS hostage.

Yeah, It's probably an exclusive (meaning that the editor doesn't want you to send it out to more publishers until they've finished looking at it.) But I'm a little wary of the term "option" as it's not a commonly used one by publishers. Is that what the editor called it? If you don't want to discuss it on the open boards, feel free to send me a PM with more details and we'll try to figure it out.

Could you please tell me the name of the publisher?

I honestly have no idea what they meant by "first option."

An option clause is a standard part of a publishing contract, but it refers to your next book, not the current one. And my advice is, when you get the contract, to cross out the option clause.

From the very sketchy information you've given it doesn't sound like an option clause is involved at all.

So, who's the publisher? From that perhaps we can figure out what, if anything, the phrase means.

An option usually infers getting paid. Options for stocks, options for movie rights, etc, those are usually things that are paid for. I don't think I've ever heard of it referring to a book other than options for additional works inside of a contract for a book.

Once you see the paperwork, you'll know more obviously. But always keep in mind that YOU'RE the one in control here. If you feel the exclusive is too long, then feel free to shave it down to your comfort level. I wouldn't suggest a full manuscript be out of commission (i.e., out of the marketplace) for more than four to six weeks. That should be sufficient time for them to determine the extent of required edits. Do they currently HAVE the full manuscript, or are they asking for this on a partial and/or proposal? It sounds like non-fiction from your post.

And make CERTAIN that there's no money changing hands from you to them (or from you to ANY third party they mention.) When you say things like "working on some copy editing" it makes me a little nervous. Everything might be fine and I could just be overreacting, but you shouldn't have to pony up one single dime during the process.