tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post3085362124033621420..comments2016-12-14T15:07:17.543-08:00Comments on Inside a writer's mind -- enter at your own risk: Devil is in the Details - Publishing Contractsd s saulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-80975649207520687142013-01-29T11:27:36.717-08:002013-01-29T11:27:36.717-08:00Hi Michele,
There are wolves in sheep's cloth...Hi Michele,<br /><br />There are wolves in sheep's clothing ready to pounce on desperately hopeful writers. I was fooled, too, initially. Made a stupid public post about this "great contract" I was offered, getting my friends and family excited. Then, after doing my homework, I accepted the truth and acted accordingly. It was embarrassing and deeply disappointing. My goal with this blog is to help others avoid such traps.<br /><br />Thank you for posting...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-71277510497459715512013-01-29T09:08:01.308-08:002013-01-29T09:08:01.308-08:00Good advice. I probably would have taken the bait...Good advice. I probably would have taken the bait. Thank you for the warning!MCarpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16674627809293464202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-1523256593073976062013-01-20T21:06:07.967-08:002013-01-20T21:06:07.967-08:00Thank you for your thoughts on this issue, Terry. ...Thank you for your thoughts on this issue, Terry. I'm hoping everyone's comments will provide our fellow writers with lots of ideas to use when they begin their own vetting of agents and publishers.<br /><br />Your insights are always priceless...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-76541849366976778192013-01-20T09:02:23.315-08:002013-01-20T09:02:23.315-08:00Sorry to learn the deal didn't work out, but y...Sorry to learn the deal didn't work out, but you're right in going only with what you're comfortable with and is in your best interest as an author.<br /><br />One can vet a publisher prior to sending a mansucript, but spending hours researching to minor details, one would hardly ever get a work out there. But like you, with my first publication offer for a novel (I did lesser so with short stories), I studied the contract, carefully negotiated, checked prices and reputation, etc. I even ordered a print copy of one of the publisher's titles to see first hand what I might expect in layout, editing, content and the like. I didn't interview an author, though, but it still worked out for the good, I think.<br /><br />That right publisher is out there for this work and your others! Hang in there!Terry W. Ervin IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561009802388207515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-35519019375309507182013-01-18T23:21:06.202-08:002013-01-18T23:21:06.202-08:00"Roller coaster ride?" Hmmm...I was thin..."Roller coaster ride?" Hmmm...I was thinking it was more like a proctoscopy exam! LOL<br /><br />Seriously, writing is easy. Waiting for publishing is much more difficult. <br /><br />Thank you, Julia, for your comments...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-9574168533820176302013-01-18T23:11:24.920-08:002013-01-18T23:11:24.920-08:00Sharon, the nice thing about experience is that it...Sharon, the nice thing about experience is that it is always available for hire. Literary attornies can prevent major mistakes at relatively small cost. If an aspiring author does not have the contract savvy to analyse terms, then the next best approach is to pay a lit professional for advice.<br /><br />Thank you for your comments...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-50408242372884330302013-01-18T23:01:51.471-08:002013-01-18T23:01:51.471-08:00Thanks for your visit, Karen.Thanks for your visit, Karen.d s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-32931348240672003382013-01-18T23:00:16.697-08:002013-01-18T23:00:16.697-08:00My pleasure, Allan. Feel free to enjoy my pain and...My pleasure, Allan. Feel free to enjoy my pain and suffering any time. LOL<br /><br />Seriously, many thanks for your thoughts...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-36428754602485258042013-01-18T22:56:42.587-08:002013-01-18T22:56:42.587-08:00Thank you for your kind words, Juliann. I share yo...Thank you for your kind words, Juliann. I share your belief in doors opening and closing. I also try to find a silver lining in every black cloud. The benefit in this cloud was the lesson I could share with my friends...Dean<br />d s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-14877694800726130412013-01-18T15:02:28.360-08:002013-01-18T15:02:28.360-08:00What a crazy roller coaster ride! I'm glad thi...What a crazy roller coaster ride! I'm glad things worked out well in the end but I'm sorry it wasn't better news!! Thanks for sharing and I'm sure the right publisher is on it's way...they're just taking their sweet old time about it :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17089263022220773503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-44920706182907116042013-01-18T12:40:21.646-08:002013-01-18T12:40:21.646-08:00Thanks so much for the posting. First time authors...Thanks so much for the posting. First time authors, and novices at reading contracts might get duped. Your experience and expertise, which you are so willing to share, is deeply appreciated!Sharon Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04052015439268880083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-69845269144940787562013-01-18T07:43:06.615-08:002013-01-18T07:43:06.615-08:00Good to remember. Thanks, Dean. Good to remember. Thanks, Dean. K. L. Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-65583583018488045102013-01-18T07:19:55.538-08:002013-01-18T07:19:55.538-08:00Thanks so much for posting this Dean, so many of u...Thanks so much for posting this Dean, so many of us need more people like you with experience and insight to question things sometimes. I'm glad you made the choice you did.Allan Krummenackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00894416611325678187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-28810116320785112482013-01-18T06:58:22.972-08:002013-01-18T06:58:22.972-08:00That's the way I was told it by my author-ment...That's the way I was told it by my author-mentor, Eric Flint, and by others online. It's the most basic rule to tell a real publisher from a not-real one, and one of the reasons I avoid a lot of the online "publishers". "If you're not giving me an advance for my work, you obviously don't have confidence either in the ability of my work to sell, or your ability to sell it. Either way, why should I give my stuff to you?"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14262994729427842484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-21206813843002025212013-01-18T04:41:23.586-08:002013-01-18T04:41:23.586-08:00Ouch, Dean! I can only imagine how difficult this ...Ouch, Dean! I can only imagine how difficult this decision was for you to make, but I applaud you for doing your due diligence! It's one of the reasons I consider you a mentor in the business side of this crazy, nutty business! <br /><br />In my experience, one door closes and another one opens. I remember years ago when I didn't get a job that I was perfect for! It made no sense and I was crushed. I got a job shortly after and that's where I met my husband! Retrospect is always beautifully 20/20! You're in that in-between time right now, but I have complete faith that the door is getting ready to crack for you quite soon!<br /><br />Peace, my strong friend! Thank you for opening up so that others can be warned and spared.<br /><br />JuliannJuliann Richhttp://www.juliannrich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-60491390760347379162013-01-18T04:00:43.338-08:002013-01-18T04:00:43.338-08:00Ryk, agreed! This particular company has a sneaky ...Ryk, agreed! This particular company has a sneaky way of disguising the payment. They even argued that it was not a payment, rather a some kind of returnable deposit that the author must earn back through sales...slick gimmick that a lot of new authors-to-be might fall for.<br /><br />I hope everyone who reads this blog will memorize your advice..."Money flows FROM the publisher TO the author, and NEVER the other way around."<br /><br />Thanks Ryk...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-62111989256819769172013-01-18T03:53:22.864-08:002013-01-18T03:53:22.864-08:00Thank you for your support, Zoe. Self-publishing i...Thank you for your support, Zoe. Self-publishing is a better way to go than paying some vanity press for an inferior product. This blog is a cautionary tale for frustrated, or desperate, aspiring authors. As a 35-year businessman, I read contracts and assess deals for a living and that company may have duped a less experienced person. Because I care about fellow writers, I posted the story of my own embarrassing almost-mistake.<br /><br />Thanks again for your post...Deand s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-48915332191013321032013-01-18T03:50:07.645-08:002013-01-18T03:50:07.645-08:00They were trying to violate the most fundamental r...They were trying to violate the most fundamental rule: Money flows FROM the publisher TO the author, and NEVER the other way around. Any contract that can't even follow THAT basic law? Toss it in the trash.Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14262994729427842484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-80363373692666036492013-01-18T03:42:31.850-08:002013-01-18T03:42:31.850-08:00Thank you for commenting, Sharon. When I posted ab...Thank you for commenting, Sharon. When I posted about this contract, I indicated that I got an offer, but I did not sign it right away. It looked good at first blush, including both publishing and a publicist deal, and, on the surface, it was my dream come true. Thank God I vetted the deal.<br /><br />I posted my story because a lot of hopeful authors might have jumped at the arrangement and gotten snookered into paying a publisher money to see their name "in lights." It's a shame that there are sleazy publishers out there who will take advantage of hopeful writers. My story serves as a warning--the wolves are out there, dressed in sheep's wool.<br /><br />Thank you again, for your thoughts...Dean.d s saulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788612729434162987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-76643514430859247882013-01-18T03:28:54.852-08:002013-01-18T03:28:54.852-08:00Thanks for sharing, Dean. There are a lot of write...Thanks for sharing, Dean. There are a lot of writers out there who will sign the first contract that comes their way without reading it, feeling that a bad contract is probably still better than no contract at all. No so, as your experience shows. Well done for being thorough and not accepting second-best for something you worked long and hard to perfect.Zoehttp://www.zoewrites.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275407340772980947.post-39596144492487306442013-01-18T03:22:32.154-08:002013-01-18T03:22:32.154-08:00Is this the deal you told us you rejected and then...Is this the deal you told us you rejected and then there is another one for a contract you did sign? Or is this the one we all congratulated you for? I'm a bit confused. Are you under contract or not? That niggling question out of the way, this is a great cautionary tale for authors. We all know that the contracts are not written to benefit us. The deal is to find the one where we're not screwed over. Over the decades of publishing my non-fiction, I read many a contract. I cannot believe there are contract lawyers who choose that line of work! How more boring a job could there be??? LOL Thanks for another great take on the world via Dean's view.River Glynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17128604193981808617noreply@blogger.com