Questions about contracts

Jennafern · May 5, 2006

I have a pending deal with a publisher in the UK. We've been emailing back and forth for a couple of weeks now and he has one out of three parts of my novel to begin editing.

This is a new publisher, but me being the cynical person I am, rightfully asked a bunch of questions about the company. He answered everything the right way (thanks to tips I learned from here) and they are even offering an advance.

My question is this, how long should I wait for a contract? I won't be sending the whole manuscript unless I have one and I know publishers and editors are busy so I don't want to seem anxious, despite the fact that I am.

I'm not really worried about then stealing the story because they won't have the whole thing, and plenty of people have read it and know I wrote it, so that's not really an issue...I just don't know how long to wait before *ahem* asking for a contract.

Any advice, as always, is appreciated.

Jenn

Daughter of Faulkner · May 5, 2006

What I did

You can have it faxed then a hard copy via mail.

Then you can send the entire mss.

Congratulations!

Keep writing!

:e2BIC:

Jennafern · May 5, 2006

But how long should I wait before I "ask-remind" them to send me one? It's only been two weeks or so and I don't want to seem pushy.

Cathy C · May 5, 2006

If this is a major London print publisher, it could easily be MONTHS. They probably have a legal department and you're only one of dozens or hundreds they're working on. But they also won't push you for the manuscript until it's signed by both sides, so no worries. If it's a smaller pub, it probably won't be more than a couple more weeks. Then you definitely don't want to release the full ms. until you have the contract in hand, SIGNED. After all, you might have concerns in the contract that you didn't know about. If it's an epub, you should already have the contract. Feel free to drop your editor a line.

Chacounne · May 5, 2006

I'm unpublished, so take this for what it's worth. It would seem to me, since you've been emailing back and forth, a breezy email mentioning that you're looking forward to signing the contract when it arrives, making sure they have your correct address in their file, etc. would work.

Just my two cents,
Chac

ETA: But, as always, I will defer to the expert who posted at the same time

Thanks, Cathy.

jchines · May 5, 2006

FWIW, my agent negotiated the deal with my publisher, at which point the publisher began editing and commisioning cover art. It was several more weeks before I actually signed the contracts. And then they had to send them back to me to initial a small change.

I can't imagine any problem with e-mailing and asking when you should expect to see the contract.

Jennafern · May 5, 2006

Cathy C said:
If this is a major London print publisher, it could easily be MONTHS.

Thank you!!

Jennafern · May 5, 2006

Chacounne said:
IJust my two cents,
Chac

That's a good idea, I don't think they even have my mailing address yet.

Thank you!

Jenn

Jennafern · May 5, 2006

jchines said:
FWIW, my agent negotiated the deal with my publisher, at which point the publisher began editing and commisioning cover art. It was several more weeks before I actually signed the contracts. And then they had to send them back to me to initial a small change.

I can't imagine any problem with e-mailing and asking when you should expect to see the contract.

That's good info I didn't know before, thank you very much!
Jenn

Questions about contracts

Jennafern

Daughter of Faulkner

Always a writer

Jennafern

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Chacounne

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

Jennafern

Jennafern

Jennafern