I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: if you work as a ghost writer or a freelance author–or if you employ one–always, always, always get a contract in advance. Beginning a new project is exciting. It’s easy to fall into the trap of agreeing to write–or hiring a writer–and getting the article or manuscript started before you document the terms of the deal. Don’t make this mistake. In the beginning, the writing project seems exciting. Everyone is getting along, and the terms of the deal seem simple. The problem is, as time goes on, memories and relationships can change,
Read moreMonth: April 2015
Book Review: HIT (by Delilah S. Dawson)
My short review for this one is simple: Five stars, highly recommended* (my highest rating). If you like fast paced thrillers with well-drawn, realistic characters, a unique twist on the dystopian concept, and a sardonic edge, this should be at the top of your list. Longer review follows this jacket copy: NO ONE READS THE FINE PRINT The good news is that the USA is finally out of debt. The bad news is that we were bought out by Valor National Bank, and debtors are the new big game, thanks to a tricky little clause hidden deep in the fine
Read moreTracking the Costs–and Benefits–of a Book Release
How much did you spend on your last book release? What’s your budget for your next one? Many authors don’t actually know, or track, the costs and benefits of their marketing efforts. Those who do, often fail to manage the costs efficiently and in a manner that gives the best possible feedback. You wouldn’t open a restaurant or a gift shop without some way to track your expenses and ROI (return on investment, for the business-acronym-challenged). If writing is your business, treat it as one and try to track how the marketing dollars work (or don’t work) for you. Track Your Expenditures Using a Spreadsheet, Notebook,
Read moreTips for Avoiding Popular Freelance Writing Issues
Scammers and the unscrupulous flourish where dreams and business intersect, and writing is no exception. Many authors take on freelance writing opportunities to supplement longer-format writing. Here are some tips for avoiding some of the common writing-related scams and “opportunities” that cost you more than they benefit: 1. When freelancing or writing for third-party publications, always get a written contract BEFORE you write the piece. Many times, writers agree to work “on a handshake,” only to discover that the deal terms were not what they expected. Make sure you understand the terms, and have a written agreement (preferably a real contract, but
Read more4 Ways to Make Us Fall in Love with a Character: Magellan Edition
Please welcome Delilah S. Dawson, author of the new YA thriller HIT (www.hitbookseries.com), the popular BLUD series (for adult readers), and SERVANTS OF THE STORM. 2. Give us an intricate and compelling world that challenges your characters. Susan’s beautiful reef of corals and fans is the backdrop to every image we see, almost a character itself. Why should worldbuilding factor into character? Because your character is shaped by your world. Even if your story is set in our regular world, the small corner that you choose as the setting for your story will have quirks, unique beauty, strangeness, and difficulties. Your
Read moreMandatory Marketing Contracts – Vanity by a Different Name
Recently, I’ve seen an increase in publishing contracts which look like “traditional deals” at first glance, but contain a decidedly non-traditional element: a mandatory marketing contract. Under this sort of deal, the publisher offers a royalty-based publishing contract, usually with no advance, but requires the author to sign a marketing contract also. The mandatory marketing contract requires the author to pay for expensive marketing services at the time of signing. Sometimes, the marketing contract is with the publisher itself (or its marketing arm) – and sometimes it’s with an affiliated company. Either one is sketchy. In some cases, these “mandatory marketing agreements”
Read moreCelebrating Sacramento Authors
This Sunday (April 12) the Sacramento Public Library will host a Local Author Book Festival celebrating the area’s authors and writing community. The event is free, open to the public, and takes place from 1-3pm at the Sacramento Central Library, 828 I Street, in Sacramento. I’ll be there signing both Claws of the Cat and Blade of the Samurai, and I’m also scheduled to make a short presentation about the Shinobi Mysteries, which will take place at 2:15 pm. If you’re a fan of ninjas, mysteries, or learning how sometimes even the author ends up surprised by a novel…I hope you’ll stop by and join
Read moreAddressing Small-Balance Royalty Checks in Contracts
Today’s post comes from the question files: “My contract says that the publisher doesn’t have to send me a royalty check or a sales statement unless the “balance owed” to me is over $25.00. Is this normal?” Short answer: yes and no. Many publishing contracts have clauses stating that the publisher doesn’t need to send the author an accounting statement or a payment unless the royalties meet a stated threshold. These are actually two different issues, and authors need to treat them differently. Here’s what the language this question refers to might look like in a contract: If the balance owed to Author at the
Read moreGreen Grass Sometimes Indicates a Septic Leak
Writers (and artists generally) spend lots of time admiring the neighbors’ grass. It’s not that we’re lazy by nature. (OK, we are, but that’s not the reason the problem occurs.) It’s just that the writer’s life consists of extended periods of work, followed by brief, bright moments when our former work-in-progress becomes the beautiful new release on the bookstore shelf. And then, a few days later, someone else has a book release, and our adorable new puppy becomes the gangly shelter dog that people pass right by without looking. Or so it often seems. If we’re not careful, writers (and, truthfully, everyone else) risk dangerous, and often depressing,
Read moreGhillie – Then, Now, and Always
It’s always sad when we lose a pet, particularly one we’ve had for a while. But death isn’t always a sad event–especially when the creature in question has lived a long, productive, and happy life. And that’s the case today. Ghillie joined my reef in early 2011, when he was just under six months old. He adored my adult seahorse, Cygnus–then the dominant male in the tank–and followed him everywhere. Ghillie even got along with Emperor Maximus Angryfish I, our watchman goby. Which led to Ghillie becoming a father: When I returned from dinner, she had died–but Ghillie stayed with her to the
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