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A publisher or agency using Google ads to solicit your novel probably isn't anyone you want to write for.
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#1376 |
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Chalice the Hatchet Knight
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bend, OR
Posts: 1,999
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Alex, try to focus on the book you're working on now. That will help. It's not uncommon for an agented ms to go unsold, so don't feel alone there. If that one doesn't sell, chances are your next one will. Chin up! All is not lost.
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Karen Duvall Blog Website ******************************* ![]() KNIGHT'S CURSE -- A Publisher's Weekly Top 10 Pick for Fall 2011 (Harlequin Luna)
DARKEST KNIGHT -- Sequel to KNIGHT'S CURSE released March 2012 (Harlequin Luna) SUN STORM -- Novella in Harlequin's TIL THE WORLD ENDS Anthology |
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#1377 |
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Chief High Procrastinator
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Leafy suburbia
Posts: 563
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Feeling your pain, AlexAlex. But you're not dead in the water yet.
Keeping things crossed for you.
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Babylon Steel 'Ingenious, gripping and full of pleasures on every level.' Dangerous Gifts - A Babylon Steel novel The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women |
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#1378 |
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Super Browser
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 10,167
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Hang, Alex, Hang. I'm a survivor of what you're going through. Editorial purchashing is so tight right now it squeaks. But they are still buying for books that will debut a year to 18 months from now, which might belay the thoughts of an economy recovery.
Tri
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BLOG http://guerrillawarfareforwriters.blogspot.com/ WAR GATE http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Gate-e...9233675&sr=1-1 WOLFEN STRAIN http://www.amazon.com/The-Wolfen-Str...vglnk-c1189-20 Planet Janitor. |
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#1379 |
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yes
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Wicked Little Town
Posts: 11,802
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*hugs alex*
I think putting all your focus on a new book is the best idea. Right now that book on sub is out of your hands. There's sweet FA you can do about it. I know that sucks, but maybe there will be other options to look at if it doesn't sell.
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When the Sea is Rising Red Mother, Crone, Maiden - a Tor short story set just before When the Sea is Rising Red. blog and twitter |
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#1380 |
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figuring it all out
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 72
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Thanks, everyone. That it is. Out of my hands. Yep, am working on another novel.
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#1381 |
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Well butter my biscuit!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 469
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I have another question again. Just wondering how long it took before you got your signed contract back from agent?
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#1382 |
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Chalice the Hatchet Knight
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bend, OR
Posts: 1,999
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About 2 weeks.
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Karen Duvall Blog Website ******************************* ![]() KNIGHT'S CURSE -- A Publisher's Weekly Top 10 Pick for Fall 2011 (Harlequin Luna)
DARKEST KNIGHT -- Sequel to KNIGHT'S CURSE released March 2012 (Harlequin Luna) SUN STORM -- Novella in Harlequin's TIL THE WORLD ENDS Anthology |
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#1383 |
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Word Count Slayer
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Wales
Posts: 605
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Mine sent me two copies of the contract already signed by the agency. I had to sign both and send one back. I got them in the mail about a week after accepting the offer.
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#1384 |
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time to draw
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 353
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I've officially moved on to the next stage of limbo: I'm out on submission! Very nervous
This is when the doubt really seems to rear its head.
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![]() Niki Smith: Comics & Graphic Novels http://www.niki-smith.com/ | twitter In Maps & Legends: The complete comic series now available for your iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones & tablets, Kindle, Nook and more!
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#1385 | |
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carpe libri
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: never in the here and now
Posts: 2,961
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Quote:
You're right though, we're always moving on to the next stage of doubt. At least we can hang out in AW while we wait. |
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#1386 |
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Honey Badger don't give a shit.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,188
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Congrats Elae! Yes, this is the "fun" part, right? Oy.
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#1387 |
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yes
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Wicked Little Town
Posts: 11,802
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Ah Elae, welcome to our ranks, the currently-subbed - we're a large community of nail-biters and email-refreshers.
Best of luck with the sub!
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When the Sea is Rising Red Mother, Crone, Maiden - a Tor short story set just before When the Sea is Rising Red. blog and twitter |
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#1388 |
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Call me Pookie
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pending
Posts: 755
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Hey all. Can I join you?
Quick question: I got a copy of my agency contract today. Actually it looks more like a letter but it's got all the legalese in it. Looks pretty standard to me, but what do I know. I'm sure this question gets asked all the time, but can someone point me to a thread (or other source) that provides a good sample agency contract.
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website blog twitter My debut novel, WE, will be published by Coffeetown Press. Read my stories at Pindeldyboz, Barrelhouse, and Treehouse. I review TV and movies at Pop Matters. |
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#1389 |
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Around
AW Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The not-so-distant future
Posts: 15,461
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I'm not sure if we have such a thread, mikeland. When I got mine, I read through it carefully (it was about 2 pages) and highlighted anything that I had questions about. Then I called my agent and had him explain the things I didn't understand. Most of it was standard stuff, but I wanted to make sure I knew what I was signing.
There might be more info hidden in the Bewares & Background Checks forum.
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Blog: Organized Chaos | Pinterest | Facebook | Website | Twitter "Holy f*ck!" --Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks, on CHANGELING. The public doesn't trust them. The government wants to control them. Being a superhero has never been this hard, especially for Tempest.--Coming April 22, 2013 from Pocket Star. |
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#1390 |
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Commonsensical Maverick
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 2,763
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About one week.
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#1391 |
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Dorothy A. Winsor
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Amid the alien corn
Posts: 1,862
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Just me--Like Jen, I got two signed copies from my agent about a week after she phoned to offer representation. I signed one and sent it back. The other was stamped for me to keep it.
It's about 2 1/2 pages of standard language.
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http://dawtheminstrel.livejournal.com/ "Kid, have you rehabilitated yourself?" Bobak is my co-pilot. |
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#1392 |
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time to draw
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 353
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Thanks all! It does seem to trigger that nail-biting mode-- got a message from a number I didn't recognize yesterday and jumped, haha. Overeager, that's me.
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![]() Niki Smith: Comics & Graphic Novels http://www.niki-smith.com/ | twitter In Maps & Legends: The complete comic series now available for your iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones & tablets, Kindle, Nook and more!
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#1393 |
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optimist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,074
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Does anybody know . . .
Does anybody know how this new system agents use to submit to editors works? My agent didn't explain it, but she talked about "links" -- that somehow the agent does a link and submits electronically. I would have assumed they just send an email with an attachment, but there seems to be something new-fangled and fancier.
Maybe I'll go post in "ask the editor" as well, even though I'm sure you all around here are as knowledgable as anywhere. |
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#1394 |
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fiddle-dee-dee
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Behind you! Boo.
Posts: 2,372
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Mine was a handshake agreement, but she emailed me the terms the same day I accepted so I could print them out. They were pretty basic. My reply served as my signature.
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#1395 |
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Word Count Slayer
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Wales
Posts: 605
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Teriann - It may be that there is a form online somewhere that the agent can upload the file to or something like that.
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#1396 | |
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practical experience, FTW
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 655
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Quote:
![]() Far as I know, my agent just attached the ms. to an email.
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Skeleton Crew "[F]ast pacing, pungent wit, surprise twists, thoughtful discussions of morality, and escalating, cinematic battles keep the pages turning." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review, Mob Rules My Website/Blog * Twitter |
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#1397 |
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time to draw
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 353
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Mine sends them as email attachments, as far as I know-- she wanted the chapters of my graphic novel in individual PDFs, because of the size of attachments that various publisher emails allow for.
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![]() Niki Smith: Comics & Graphic Novels http://www.niki-smith.com/ | twitter In Maps & Legends: The complete comic series now available for your iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones & tablets, Kindle, Nook and more!
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#1398 | |
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Ooo! Shiny new cover!
Absolute Sage
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 7,197
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Quote:
We don't really have such a thread because agency contracts vary so widely in terms. But here's a little guide to help you see if the terms are "standard" (as far as such things go.) These aren't pros or cons---just examples. 1. Is there a fixed term? Many agency contracts are for a specified period, for the protection of both parties. If the agency can't sell your book, they can terminate. Likewise, if you're not happy with their services, you can terminate. 2. Watch out for what's known as an "interminable agency clause". Here's a Writer Beware blog about this clause that caused a lot of reaction a few years ago. 3. Most agency contracts specify the book being accepted. While agents tend to represent "authors" for a whole career, that first contract is just for the one book and is just extended to new books as they come along. If yours isn't, make sure the terms are acceptable to you. 4. The commission should be stated plainly, for domestic, foreign and any other rights. If the agent uses a co-op foreign agency for foreign rights sales, the details of that should be also stated in terms you understand. 5. Are the terms of payment of royalties from the publisher stated clearly? In other words, does the agreement state when collected funds are required to be disbursed to you? If not, you might insert 2 weeks from receipt and see if they'll initial the change. It's a good idea to have the requirement to pay you stated in writing. I've just worked in law too long for handshake deals, I guess, and have heard of too many author/agency relationships gone bad, with the author fighting to get their money. (Keep in mind that in the event you leave an agency, they will CONTINUE to receive their commission on books they sold.) 6. How are out-of-pocket expenses by the agent handled? This should be stated. Most agents front the money for postage, overnight and wire fees and then deduct them from your royalty checks when they arrive. If you're required to pay them up front, or are billed monthly (even if you haven't seen money from the publisher) you might see if you can change that. 7. Is there a method for cancellation that is do-able by you? For example, if you're required to send cancellation by certified mail, but you're in a different country and certified mail doesn't exist, you might change that to a different method. I'm sure there are other things, but these are the big ones. Hope that helps!
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Smiles! Cathy Clamp USA Today bestselling author ON SHELVES NOW!! The Eldritch Conspiracy Dance With The Devil, 11/13 Our Website Follow me at: Twitter ![]() "As always, Adams strikes a nice balance between romance & action, continuing to flesh out Celia’s world in strange new ways."- Publishers Weekly "Think L.A. noir w/magic, supernatural beings, psychic powers, warrior priests & modern technology." - Kirkus Reviews "Fast and fun, with enough complexity in plot & characters to keep readers engaged." - ALA Booklist |
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#1399 |
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yes
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Wicked Little Town
Posts: 11,802
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ugh. I'm in such a depression slump.
please..... hug me?
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When the Sea is Rising Red Mother, Crone, Maiden - a Tor short story set just before When the Sea is Rising Red. blog and twitter |
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#1400 |
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The Girl in the Steampunk Hat
AW Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Non carborundum illegitimi
Posts: 25,422
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{{{nakhla}}}
![]() I just want to say that after seven months I can once again post in the thread I started.
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