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| Stella Cameron Writer's Workshop - Negotiating the Sale 05/17/01 |
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Sara - Shall we get started? Tonight we talk about negotiation
Go on to Part 2
Morgan - i'm ready!
StellaC - I didn't think I could turn around and try again at once, but I have. Now have a skinny bag of bones covered with orange fur. She's recovering from surgery but they's going to do fine.
cris - waving Lynn
Sara - How about if we hold off the questions until Stella finishes the lecture part.
Sara - if you type a 
I will put you in line.
cakely_2 - let's rock 
Lynn - Sounds good to me Sara
Sara - Stella, the floor is yours!
StellaC - Thank you very much magician, Sara--I now see the right banner and it's s'wonderful.
Morgan - good for you Stella. Glad she'll be ok.
TLynn - logged on. - 5/17 at 9:06pm EST
cris - Stella, I love that you rescue animals
cakely_2 - ?
HollyR - logged on - 5/17 at 9:07pm EST
StellaC - Hi all: My challenge is to reach each of you at the level that applies to you. We may do best with Q&A but I'll give a little lead in 'cause I love you all so much
Morgan - Hi holly. 
. I *forgot* to write you. I'll try and remember later after the chat. Sorry.
StellaC - When a writer gets the very first offer for a book something always happens, the same thing. Takes various forms, but it is the same.
StellaC - Her brain goes out to lunch.
Morgan - Thanks Stella. WE love you too.
kamy - Stella
HollyR - No skin off my nose, Morgan.
HollyR - (Hi all)
Sara - Ladies, let's keep the side conversations done while Stella is talking. Thanks!
StellaC - Every rational thought she had before is forgotten. She's so busy babbling with gratitude that she can fail to actually hear what's being said. "I want to buy your book," says the editor. Author, "Pant, pant, it's yours."
kamy - Holly
StellaC - "I don't want to pay you anything for it. In fact, you have to pay me." Author, "How much--I'll write the check."
darkone has timed out.
LisaL - logged on - 5/17 at 9:11pm EST
StellaC - Editor, "Oh, and you'll have to give us your name, the rights to your characters, the right to first refusal of every book you write in your lifetime and your children's lifetime.." Author: "Where do I sign."
LisaL - Hello!
Sara - Lisa, Stella Cameron is talking about negotiation tonight. We are operating under protocol. Type a and I will put you in the queue.
cris - ROFLL sounds familiar there
Sara - children's lifetimes too, huh?
LisaL - ? (I'm so dull!)
StellaC - Don't worry, this is normal, happens to most of us and you can't really be held to anything you blathered on the phone. But let's look at the things you want to fight to the death for, and the things you may not care too much about to begin with but will want later on. For the latter, you have to keep your options open.
StellaC - No one here is dull--everyone is very clever and we're going to learn how to make sure the publishing world understands that.
StellaC - Sara--Chrildren's lifetimes, of course--just in case
LisaL - You are a goddess, Stella!
StellaC - Let's get to questions. I'll lecture more if you get too quiet.
Sara - hmm, okay
Sara - Cakely has the first question (lisaL in line)
cakely_2 - What was your very first book published stella?
StellaC - Thank you, Lisa--nice to be appreciated
HollyR - ?
DianeW - ?
StellaC - Cakely--My first book was MOONTIDE.
StellaC - I was paid 5,500 for it.
StellaC - ga
Sara - Lisa has the next question (sara, holly, diana in line)
Sara - was that total, Stella, if I can be so presumptious? over the selling lifetime of the book?
StellaC - C'mon--we've got a lot of ground to cover!
LisaL - So, what do you go for, the one-time payment, the percentage of sales, or
cakely_2 - Stella what was your very first book published called?
LisaL - a combo of advance and percentage
StellaC - No, Sara--that was my advance. Moontide has probably earned, I dunno, 50,000
StellaC - I'm being very honest here. I would not normally talk about money so frankly.
cakely_2 - oops did it again sorry
Sara - thank you, Stella. Is MOONTIDE still in print?
LisaL - Did you get all that?
StellaC - What am I supposed to be answering, Sara?
Morgan - WE thank you for telling us Stella, if it helps us to better understand the ins and outs of negotiation.
StellaC - Moontide is still in print after 18 years.
Sara - Lisa's question is next, Stella. I was being ahead of myself 
StellaC - Lisa--now I think I see your question about payments, etc.
kamy - ?
StellaC - You go for as much as you can get!
LisaL - What's the average/good percent?
Sara - Sara has the next question (holly, diana, kamy in line)
cris - ?
Sara - okay, my turn. here goes
StellaC - The more up front money, the better--but writers must be reasonable, of course. If you decide on a very low advance and hope to pick up what you didn't get in royalties, you will probably be very disapointed.
Sara - if you have managed to interest the editor (that wants you to pay them for publishing) and you don't have an agent. Is it best to get an agent before signing ANYTHING??
StellaC - does that answer your question, Lisa?
Sara - ga
StellaC - Stella's saying hmmmmmm
LisaL - yup
StellaC - I would have a lawyer look at a contract before I signed, but I wouldn't necessarily feel I had to have an agent for that first sale.
Lynn has timed out.
Sara - thanks, Stella
LisaL - ?
Sara - Holly has the next question (diana, kamy, cris in line)
Lynn - 
- 5/17 at 9:21pm EST
HollyR - I have many questions! Being a Brit talking money makes me uncomfortable. How much do you rely on your agent to make a good deal on your behalf? Is there a difference to when you were starting out and the position you are in now? Eg contributing to contract discussions, say. Oh, and hi Stella.
StellaC - It's very important to read every word on that document. So much can be hidden there. If you aren't sure, but don't want to get a lawyer, ask a published writer about the clause.
StellaC - Sara--is that enough of an answer?
StellaC - Hi Holly
Sara - yes, I always read every word . I have agent questions for later
StellaC - Yes, there's a huge difference between when I was starting out and now.
StellaC - I do take an active part in contract negotiations. Frankly, I'm a curious cat and can't keep my fingers out of the catnip.
StellaC - I rely heavly on my agents for advice and when things get tough, I'm glad they can go in with the howitzers. Does that give you your answer?
StellaC - ga
Sara - diana has the next question ( kamy, cris, LisaL in line)
HollyR - Yes, thank you.
DianeW - What rights should you fight tooth and nail to keep?
StellaC - Sara--the new banner is booootiful--thank you.
LisaL - good one!
Sara - yes, it is Stella, but then, cissy does good work and it is a great book!
Lynn - ?
Sara - and I can't wait for the 'tooth and nail' rights
StellaC - Your name--absolutely. There are not, in my opinion, any excuses for signing away your rights to a pseudonym. Your own name is yours anyway, although I have actually had a publisher try to tie up my name. I admit I got some giggles out of that.
StellaC - Fight for publication in no longer than 24 mos. 18 is better.
kamy - When you're signed to a line...i.e...(Harglequin, or Sil.) to they contract for more than one book at at time? And also, do they help promote you or is that up to the author?
DianeW - What about your characters? Or future electronic rights? (I write sensual so I expect to go to an epub.)
kamy - oops..t.hat one got away from me...sorry
StellaC - Avoid basket accounting. This is where the publisher has you agree to wait until all books on a contract have earned out before you get any royalties. Yuck!
Sara - np, kamy!
Sara - that is a rotten one, Stella. Basket accounting!!!
StellaC - Watch out for clauses about future books that use some of the same characters.
StellaC - The list is long--I will add more later.
StellaC - ga
HollyR - Ach. I am having computer problems. Have fun, and thanks Stella and Sara for the chat.
Sara - does that mean, don't sign away rights to your characters?
HollyR - 
- 5/17 at 9:30pm EST
Sara - kamy has the next question (cris, LisaL, Lynn in line)
kamy - When you're signed to a line...i.e...(Harglequin, or Sil.) to they contract for more than one book at at time? And also, do they help promote you or is that up to the author?
StellaC - Escalating royalty rates are very, very important. After 100 thou is sold, up they go, 200 up they go and so on.
StellaC - Kamy: Har/Sil is interested in building a following for authors--or should I say, names?
Sara - evryone understand escalating rates?
StellaC - I had a couple of five book contracts with them (looong time ago!)
StellaC - The company promotes very efficiently and popular wisdom says there isn't a lot the author can do other than support her books by building a network
Sara - hmm, I thought that H/S promoted their lines more than authors. Am I totally wrong?
StellaC - of readers in those areas where you have a group with common interests. i.e. on line, in your community, in your hometown. And always be available to do a signing. If you're comfortable, offer to do signings. I did a good deal of that.
Sara - cris has the next question (LisaL, Lynn in line)
Sara - cris has the next question (LisaL, Lynn in line)
cris - how high can they go on mass paperback, the escalating royalties and can you negotiate a larger print run into your contract if so is it wise
kamy - ty stella
StellaC - No, Sara, you're right. But within the lines, it's important for them to have a following for names. Unfortunately, and I know they must wish this were different, we readers get attached to particular storytellers and we WON"T buy anything and everything a publisher puts out with a similar cover and title on it.
cakely_2 - - 5/17 at 9:35pm EST
cakely_2 - - 5/17 at 9:35pm EST
kamy - ?
StellaC - Chris: If you're talking about category lines, you can't negotiate escalating royalties for a long time.
cris - no, not category
StellaC - You can't negotiate printruns in contracts. That would be a dangerous thing for the publisher to do. In time, as you build, your printruns will go up.
cris - for mid to high list authors
StellaC - Okay, in mass, you can certainly negotiate percentages, but you can't have anything about a bottomline printrun written in.
StellaC - ga
LisaL - But can you REALLY sell a book without an agent these days?
Sara - Lisa has the next question (Lynn, kamy in line)
StellaC - Yes, Lisa--happens all the time. Much too much time is wasted by first-time novelists trying to get agents.
Shirley Hailstock - logged on. - 5/17 at 9:39pm EST
LisaL - thanx
StellaC - Lisa? Do you have more to ask?
Sara - Lynn has the next question (kamy in line)
StellaC - ga
LisaL - ?
StellaC - Hi Shirley!
Shirley Hailstock - hello
StellaC - Folks, we have Shirley Hailstock with us
Lynn - How can you tell when you are being offered a good contract and when you aren't being given what you deserve?
StellaC - A fine writer.
cris - hi Shirley!
StellaC - Deserve?
Lynn - well...that is if you deserve it 
babydragon - hi shirley
StellaC - Lynn--this is an evil business where the rules of the game revolve around trying to get as much as possible
Shirley Hailstock - hello everyone
Lynn - or should I say what your book is worth
LisaL - I'm talking mainstream romantic suspense, are there publishers who will talk without an agent? Hi Shitrley!
Sara - good answer, Stella I was going for I am worth a billion dollars or two
kamy - Hi Shirley...welcome
StellaC - Sorry, they try to get as much as possible for as little as possible.
StellaC - Put a price on yourself and on what you can live with.
LisaL - Oops! I meant Shirley!
Morgan - hi Shirley.
StellaC - And I hasten to add that there will be times--often a lot of them--when you cave in and just sell because if you don't, you'll have to go and get a job--perish the thought.
Sara - but isn't it smart, just in researching what a job should pay, to research current market conditions for books?
cris - or they promise you things they don't deliver
Morgan - Grrr, it'as happening again.
StellaC - There has never been a time--Charles Dickens would have whined just as much--when this business hasn't been "soft," "contracting," "in the toilet."
Sara - kamy has the next question (cris, Lisa in line)
kamy - If you are lucky enough to sign to a multi-book deal as you were, and each book brings in more money, can you re-negotiate for more, or are you stuck with the original contract? (wishfull thinking here) hehehe
StellaC - Yes, Sara--have all your facts available, but be prepared to discover there are things you just weren't able to factor in with your own reasearch.
StellaC - Kamy: We're dreamers, aren't we. Unfortunately, the answer is NO, although there can come a time when a publisher is more than willing to do so. These issues are all tied up with your profile.
StellaC - ga
