Working With the Publisher or Agent
Maintaining the Relationship
Once you have a contract signed with a publisher or agent, you are now locked in a symbiotic relationship. I’ve heard horror stories where writers now decide they can argue with the publisher / agent and make demands. That rarely works well. I’ve also heard horror stories where the publisher or agent now starts demanding changes to the story that the author absolutely detests.
A key is to do your best to remain civil and professional. After all, you’re now in this together. Yelling and screaming rarely helps anything. It can get each side to entrench in their set points of view. It can lead to things getting even worse.
Expect that there are going to be hiccups. Expect that, no matter how closely you examined the contract, and talk to other authors, there are always going to be surprises. There are always going to be issues. It’s best to remain calm and cool about them. Try to look at the situation from both sides. Try to find a way to compromise.
If you are truly and legally tied into a situation, try to find a way to be at peace about it.
If you really do reach a point where you have reached your limit, know the methods of ending the contract. Get advice on how to head down that path. But leave that as a very last resort. You want to avoid gaining a reputation of being a troublesome writer for agents and publishers to work with. You may, after all, want to work with another one in the future.
Traditional Publishing - main page
Overview of Traditional Publishing
How Copyright Works
Working With A Literary Agent
... My Concerns about Agents
Finding a Publisher
... Writer's Market
Writing a Query Letter
... Query Letter Tips
... Query Letter Issues to Avoid
Getting To a Contract Offer
Negotiating the Contract
Working With the Publisher or Agent
... Publishers and Editing
Submitting to Magazines
Tips for Submitting Short Stories
What Does It Cost to Ghostwrite a Book?
Lisa Shea's Editing Services
Lisa Shea Free Ebooks
Lisa Shea Full Library of Published Books
Getting Your Book Published
Writing Tips and Online Books
Lisa Shea Medieval Romance Novels
Online Literary Magazines
Lisa Shea Website Main Page