Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on May 30, 2018 12:45:14 GMT -8
I have followed Jack on Twitter and in the news for awhile.
Her story of self-publishing is a cautionary tale on many levels.
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Post by djmills on May 30, 2018 14:06:22 GMT -8
Before Indie Publishing, a lot of writers lived day to day while agents stole their royalties. Now, we don't need agents, just send query letter to publishers, or Indie publish.
Because writers talk to each other, we all know if we have to use an agent, we do not allow them to collect all our money from the publishers. We sign contracts with the publishers and agents that state very clearly that the publisher must sent 15% royalties to the agent, and 75% royalties to the author, with a copy of sales to both agent and author, so it is clear that the agent is getting their percent. :-)
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Jun 26, 2018 11:09:17 GMT -8
Before Indie Publishing, a lot of writers lived day to day while agents stole their royalties. Now, we don't need agents, just send query letter to publishers, or Indie publish. Because writers talk to each other, we all know if we have to use an agent, we do not allow them to collect all our money from the publishers. We sign contracts with the publishers and agents that state very clearly that the publisher must sent 15% royalties to the agent, and 75% royalties to the author, with a copy of sales to both agent and author, so it is clear that the agent is getting their percent. :-) Thanks DJ, you are more familiar with this topic than I.
Not sure, can you tweet or DM Jack Monroe with this info? When I read her story, I feel her situation has made her vulnerable to abuse. While she is a media darling used by various media, she is abused by publishers.
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Post by djmills on Jun 26, 2018 15:17:12 GMT -8
Better for you to let Jack Monroe know. she can read www.deanwesleysmith.com and search for blogs on "agents" or "myths" that explains wrong thinking and how to get correct contract details. Or www.kristinekathrynrusch.com who blogged about the agent's accountant skimming millions out of author royalties. I know to never use an agent (practices law without a licence) from my artist/cartooning days. Instead pay one time for an intellectual lawyer to get the contract wording correct before signing, and make sure there is a clause that says when sales drop below some monetary value ($500.00 a year) the rights revert to the author from the publisher. And the link did not work for me today. Might be our internet playing up again. :-)
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Jun 26, 2018 23:10:01 GMT -8
Great advice, dj. In your experience, do publishers usually go for that rights reversion clause?
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Post by djmills on Jun 27, 2018 14:47:23 GMT -8
Chelsfield, publishers will agree if they want to publish your story, otherwise walk away. There are always more publishers available looking for good stories. Best advice is learn "copyright". You own the copyright, but you are selling a little piece, eg: first/second/third regional (eg: North American, South American, European, states in country, etc) sale on each publishable section of the copyright (eg. radio, stage play, movie, video game, novel, short story, eBook, print book, foreign translation, coffee mug, toy doll, etc).
You have to retain the copyright, not give every section away to a publisher who WILL NOT activate a lot of the sections. Publishers only need region or world print rights, and sometimes eBook rights, but personally, you earn more by self publishing the eBook rights, and only give publishers the print rights.
I self publish world print and ebook rights, so if any of my series takes off, I can then offer movie rights, stage play rights, foreign rights, etc if anyone enquires about them. I live in hope. :-)
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Jun 27, 2018 23:16:38 GMT -8
As do we all...
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Jun 28, 2018 18:21:00 GMT -8
Better for you to let Jack Monroe know. she can read www.deanwesleysmith.com and search for blogs on "agents" or "myths" that explains wrong thinking and how to get correct contract details. Or www.kristinekathrynrusch.com who blogged about the agent's accountant skimming millions out of author royalties. I know to never use an agent (practices law without a licence) from my artist/cartooning days. Instead pay one time for an intellectual lawyer to get the contract wording correct before signing, and make sure there is a clause that says when sales drop below some monetary value ($500.00 a year) the rights revert to the author from the publisher. And the link did not work for me today. Might be our internet playing up again. :-) Thanks Dj, I will send Jack the info. Thanks for your insights, too.
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