I talk a lot about contracts, here and in my Twitter #PubLaw feed, but the publishing conversation doesn’t include nearly enough talk about how to negotiate changes to a publishing contract. Negotiation isn’t a topic most people learn in school, and many authors feel adrift when it comes to the negotiation process. In light of that, my next few Wednesday posts will offer some tips on negotiation strategies and tactics. Good negotiation doesn’t happen “by chance.” Successful negotiation requires proper planning, preparation, and execution. This week, we’ll look at how to prepare a negotiation strategy. Next week, I’ll detail strategies on how to prepare for negotiation, and the following
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Avoiding Ambiguity in Publishing Contracts
Today’s post takes a look at the importance of avoiding ambiguity in publishing contracts. Many times, authors praise a publishing contract for being “short” or “easy to read” – but many dangers lurk in shortened or ambiguous contracts. 1. Short-form contracts may be missing important terms. Which ones? Many times, authors don’t know, because they don’t know what to expect. 2. Legalese is difficult to read, but read it anyway, and get help with anything you don’t understand. Many times, authors agree to terms they don’t intend because they didn’t understand the language in the contract. Don’t do this! If the language is
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