tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post5494604296204034193..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: An Offer From a Small PublisherBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-47377827754240077742010-08-03T20:51:32.012-04:002010-08-03T20:51:32.012-04:00Interesting. I guess my question kind of follows a...Interesting. I guess my question kind of follows along some asked above: I have partials and fulls out to agents for an Urban Fantasy. If you were one of those agents, would you want to know if I got a contract from an E-Pub regarding my Romance\Erotica?HigleyBrownehttp://higleybrowne.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40336479459615132782010-08-03T09:30:55.855-04:002010-08-03T09:30:55.855-04:00anon 10:17:
I'd have to disagree with you on ...anon 10:17:<br /><br />I'd have to disagree with you on that--I would much rather pass on the deal than sign a bad contract that's going to hurt my career down the road (restrictive option clauses, unfavorable term/reversion of rights, etc). <br /><br />If you're negotiating your own contract, ask for what you want. I feel that if the publisher refuses to consider any of your requests, it might not be a company you want to work with anyway. <br /><br />In my experience, if it doesn't involve their writing you a big check up front, small/digital pubs are willing to negotiate other contract clauses with you, which could actually be more important than money as your career grows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-29246707020058449802010-08-02T21:18:28.248-04:002010-08-02T21:18:28.248-04:00What if you sell on a 2-paragraph proposal now and...What if you sell on a 2-paragraph proposal now and don't have a "book" for an agent to read over first?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-14468633132278273292010-08-02T21:17:38.861-04:002010-08-02T21:17:38.861-04:00What if you sell on proposal now and don't hav...What if you sell on proposal now and don't have a "book" for an agent to read over first?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6433386398594804452010-08-02T18:37:55.195-04:002010-08-02T18:37:55.195-04:00Good post!Good post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-89513551982107222872010-08-02T17:24:02.618-04:002010-08-02T17:24:02.618-04:00scarlette prose,
just a layman's opinion, bu...scarlette prose, <br /><br />just a layman's opinion, but goodness yet. I would let those considering your work that you have an offer on the table, even if it's with a small publisher. I think that's in keeping with the spirit of Jessica's post.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39831637053908839652010-08-02T15:57:57.439-04:002010-08-02T15:57:57.439-04:00Wow, how timely is this??? I am in this same boat ...Wow, how timely is this??? I am in this same boat except I do have a partial request out to two agents. Should I contact them and let them know of my offer? Don't want to seem pushy, but I don't want to keep the publisher waiting,either...Anna Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216213561070725760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5012700391408425122010-08-02T15:16:19.706-04:002010-08-02T15:16:19.706-04:00I'm in the same boat as Sheila. I sold my nove...I'm in the same boat as Sheila. I sold my novel and two novelettes to a primarily digital publisher. No agent. I'm hoping this well help me in the future. If my sales are good...this will show agents that my writing career is going somewhere. And maybe they will want to help me get there faster!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401931638397651614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81641637187146426722010-08-02T14:36:42.096-04:002010-08-02T14:36:42.096-04:00My first eBook's just come out with a small pu...My first eBook's just come out with a small publisher. I spent ages sending longer pieces to agents and publishers without success, and have to admit, when this offer came along, I didn't even think about agents. I guess I'm feeling like maybe I need to see if my writing floats first, then try to swim.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19057014223355475002010-08-02T14:09:09.222-04:002010-08-02T14:09:09.222-04:00@Anon 12:11: Some authors may want an agent to ma...@Anon 12:11: Some authors may want an agent to make sure that there are no clauses in the contract that could screw them over down the line, especially if they don't understand legal language and don't have a lawyer friend to help them out. Some may hope that interest from the small press will help an agent negotiate a better deal elsewhere. That could mean more money or just willing to provide better publicity, making book #1 do better overall. I know I've seen more than one guest post on various blogs from some author or other who had an offer from a small press, got an agent, and the agent was able to negotiate something much better. (To be fair, I've also seen many posts where said agent advocated going with the small press over a large publisher.) Some may just really want an agent to handle things over the length of their career, and see interest from a small press as a good way to try to hook an agent. If the author doesn't mind forking over the 15%, then it's just a matter of preference.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71206727846847824402010-08-02T12:11:45.169-04:002010-08-02T12:11:45.169-04:00Why bother to get an agent involved now? You'v...Why bother to get an agent involved now? You've already done all the legwork and it's unlikely the small press will hand over that much more $$--maybe just enough to pay the agent's fees. <br /><br />An agent may just slow the process down and their 15% will be one big chunk out of your small advance--their loss! You can always try with Book #2, esp if #1 did well...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-30883936904621872212010-08-02T11:08:04.912-04:002010-08-02T11:08:04.912-04:00I agree with anon @ 10:17.
The contracts are pret...I agree with anon @ 10:17.<br /><br />The contracts are pretty standard and there's so much competition out there I don't know many authors who would take the chance of losing a deal to negotiate a contract...whether it's good or bad for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-54415250218451078482010-08-02T10:17:27.932-04:002010-08-02T10:17:27.932-04:00The words "small press" are starting to ...The words "small press" are starting to become synonymous with e-pub because some of them put the books out in print on demand as well as digital. An epublisher--at least, the ones I've dealt with-- will follow up with a contract via email after reading the full without any prior communication with the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-8478719935539943332010-08-02T08:43:37.618-04:002010-08-02T08:43:37.618-04:00I hope the questioners also checked these presses ...I hope the questioners also checked these presses out on Writer Beware or Absolute Write.<br /><br />The first question makes it sound like the contract just arrived in response to the submission. I may have got that wrong. But if that's what happened it would definitely send up red flags to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com