In light of whats happening at Elloras Cave, this is particularly relevant. Ive been accused of being anti-big corporation. Im not, I just believe in defending peoples rights. Most publishing contracts (as you would expect) are tilted in favor of the publisher. If you dont have a lawyer advising you, you might as well walk through the Lion/Tiger exhibit in a meat suit. My own feeling is that over the next ten years, the big 5 will become the big 0. Like buggy whip manufacturers, and IBM (in the PC market), they are *not* listening to anyone but themselves. Like too many of their Authors, they see book as by the elites, for the elites, with an occasional bone to the unwashed masses. At a time when when nearly every other entertainment market is looking for ways to *increase* their markets, Big 5 are trying to restrict their sales. I cannot conceive of a more perilous path. Every _day_ it costs more to do business, and income needs to increase. No, not just to increase, but to grow at the maximum sustainable rate. Amazon, like all successful businesses is growing its own competitors. Somewhere, someone is planning how to compete, and get some of that *Billion Dollar,* book sales market. (NO, I will not detail how I think they could do it. Do your own planning.) If you are an author, whether your name is James Patterson, or Jean Anne Nobody, plan for the possibility of your publisher going under, _*before*_ it can possibly happen. Have a lawyer vet, and help you *enforce* the reversions clause. Make sure that it includes not just the usual, out of publication clause, but failure to pay royalties in a timely fashion (*specify* timely, as X months), or deliberately inaccurate royalty statements (i.e. criminal actions by a publisher). That back list is your lifes work, and shouldnt be sold out from under you. Did you sign a licensing contract, or a slavery form? Some Publishers will treat you right, others wont. Some actually want to make money for their authors, because that is how *they* make money (long term). If youre an author with a big 5 contract, what happens if you lose all rights to previous books? How will you live? I can live on my SS payments, as small as they are. I wont like it, but I can live. I dont write just to make money, but to educate, and tell stories I want my children/grandchildren/great grandchildren to read. It would be nice if I could make enough to tell the SSA to F off, but Im prepared not to. If youre not old enough for Social Security, prepare for the possibility of losing your back list, or to get it back. Do it for all us readers that want to buy your books and put a few pennies in your pocket.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 15:17:31 +0000
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