Navigating Author Contracts: What You Need to Know
Signing an author contract is a significant milestone in your publishing journey, but it’s also a critical moment to safeguard your rights and set the foundation for a fair and successful partnership. Contracts outline your obligations, the publisher’s responsibilities, and how your work will be handled. Understanding key clauses can help you make informed decisions and protect your creative and financial interests.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Rights Granted
The rights clause determines what the publisher is allowed to do with your work and in what formats or markets. While it’s standard to grant the publisher print and digital rights for specific territories, be cautious about giving away more than necessary.
Territorial Rights: Are they asking for world rights or just North American rights? If they want world rights, ensure they have the capability to sell or license your work internationally.
Subsidiary Rights: Retain rights that the publisher is unlikely to use effectively, such as:
Film and TV Rights: These should remain with you unless you have a deal with a major publishing house with strong media connections.
Audio Rights: Consider whether the publisher has an audio division or plans to license these rights effectively.
Broadway or Radio Adaptation Rights: These are rare to exploit and should stay with the author.
Merchandising Rights: If your book becomes a franchise, ensure you retain control over items like clothing, toys, or games.
Always consult an agent or literary attorney to ensure the rights you grant are reasonable and that unused rights can revert back to you.
2. Royalties and Advances
Royalties and advances define how you’ll be compensated for your work.
Royalties: These are percentages of the book’s sales price you earn. Average rates include:
Hardback: 10–15% of the cover price.
Paperback: 7–10% of the cover price.
Ebook: 25–50% of the net revenue (much lower for traditional publishers).
Advances: This is money paid upfront against future royalties. Understand:
How and when the advance will be paid (e.g., upon signing, manuscript delivery, and publication).
That advances must be earned back through royalties before you receive additional income.
3. Marketing and Promotion
Marketing is critical to a book’s success, but most large publishers won’t commit to specific promotional efforts in the contract. Instead, they use vague language like “reasonable marketing efforts.”
What to Ask:
What type of marketing efforts does the publisher usually offer?
Clarify your responsibilities as the author, such as providing social media support.
If the marketing clause feels too ambiguous, discuss expectations with your editor or agent.
4. Delivery and Acceptance
This clause specifies when you must deliver your manuscript and how the publisher will evaluate it.
Look for language that protects you, such as requiring the publisher to provide detailed feedback if they find the manuscript unacceptable.
Avoid clauses that give the publisher unlimited power to reject your work without specific cause.
5. Option Clause
An option clause gives the publisher the right to review (and potentially buy) your next book before you offer it to others. While this can be standard, it’s essential to limit its scope.
Ensure the clause only applies to your next book in the same series or genre.
Set a clear timeframe for the publisher’s decision, such as 30–60 days.
6. Reversion of Rights
This clause outlines when and how your rights revert back to you.
Look for a specific threshold for sales (e.g., fewer than 200 copies sold in a year) that triggers reversion.
Ensure it applies to all formats (print, digital, and audio).
7. Non-Compete Clause
This clause restricts you from publishing works that might compete with the contracted book.
Ensure the language is narrow and doesn’t unfairly limit your ability to write in the same genre or publish other projects.
Negotiate shorter timeframes and clear definitions of what constitutes “competing works.”
8. How to Protect Yourself
Work With a Literary Attorney or Agent: They can negotiate terms to ensure the contract works in your favor.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to request clarification or changes to vague or unfair clauses.
Research Industry Standards: Know what’s typical for your genre and publishing model to identify red flags.
Contracts are a partnership agreement between you and the publisher, and it’s crucial to ensure your rights and interests are protected. By understanding these key clauses and working with a professional, you’ll be better equipped to navigate this critical stage of your publishing journey.
Your book deserves the best deal possible—take the time to get it right.
