Sample book author contracts

Below is a sample contract, reproduced with permission from literary agency keller media, to help you recognize a contract that is fair to the author as well as the literary agent. Authors shouldnt be asked to pay the expense of creating an index, but some book contracts casually charge a couple thousand dollars against author royalties, or. This is a coauthor agreement that i use as a template when working on a documentary with one or more principal contributors. It by no means gives any instructions nor references on how to write a contract. This section of the template includes general terms common to business contracts. The contract may include name and contact details of both parties, material of the book to be published, rights and obligations of parties, payment terms and other. These are free sample collaboration contracts and forms posted online by writer james a. Contracts are complicated and often need explaining. Book contracts author royalties, advances and rights in. Five book contract terms authors should know career authors. The book publishing contract is the consistent and powerful cooperation tool between an agent and an attorney. Author initials publisher initials maven house press book publishing agreement 060112 page 3 of 11 6. Now, therefore, in consideration of the promises set forth in this agreement, the parties agree as follows. Or they may have been altered to make them even less authorfriendlysuch as allowing the publisher to edit at will without input or permission from the author something i see a lot in small press contracts, or paying royalties on net profit rather than on list price or the publishers net income, or requiring a permanent or temporary.

Conrad me, coauthor of filmmakers dictionary with emmy awardwinning producerdirector ralph s. We suggest that when you have decided to deal with any publishing house you just need to make a proper contract which is simple and understandable for both. Negotiating a book contract is the best book ive read on the subject. More than just a template, our stepbystep interview process makes it easy to create an editor contract. Thought id post this for those looking to coauthor a book with another author. Believe me, there are plenty of contracts out there that are not in the authors best interests. The asa recommends this path be available to the author via a specific contract clause see australian book contracts, 4th edition, 2009, p. In addition to the specific terms the author and publisher have agreed upon for such items as the type of book, the advance against royalty amount, and the delivery date, the standard book contract encompasses a lengthy number of clauses covering important points in a books life cycle and an authors compensation. Cloud computing agreements, software licenses, and other it contracts for lawyers and businesspeople jan 7, 2016 by david w. A sample contract agreement between an author and a book.

Author for resale outside of north america, a royalty equal to five per cent 5% of the list price. If there are certain areas that are nonnegotiable, the publisher will tell the author that. Book publishing contract template free sample templates. Apr 21, 20 for artist to provide creative work for title of work here book as requested by commissioners full name 1. Option a publisher contracting for a book is investing in an authors career, and wants the option to. Save, sign, print, and download your document when you are done. Publishing contracts 101 protect your work writers digest. Book club rights be sure royalties are fair dont become a free or lowcost giveaway rights not exploited by publisher within reasonable period e. This book only covers technical terms and definitions found in contracts. Ive found that many businesses and lawyers use templates for writing contracts, if youve ever signed a lease agreement at apartment complex you might have noticed similar contracts. I am publishing an anthology book for my project, and read your article, how to compile and publish an anthology. Author retains rights to characters, settings, title if fiction with series prospects electronic, audio, video, new technologies.

The author recognizes that payments from the publisher may only be carried out once the author has provided complete and correct personal data. I offer it only as a guide to thinking through the complexities of the issues so that your expectations and communications are clear during all parts of the documentary process. This contract contract is by and between name of author, henceforth known as author, and publishing company, henceforth known as publisher, for the purposes of coming to terms on the publication of title of work, henceforth known as book. This representation agreement the agreement is made and entered into as of the date signed below between keller media, inc. Publishing contract negotiating book contracts, legal. Book contracts typically give the publisher not the author the right to determine the title of the work. Work includes the final, deliverable art, and preliminary work or. Services to be performed by dog ear publishing will be governed by the invoices on which you have paid for services. The author understands that ip will take the authors digital book file and do its best to fix any obvious problems resulting from the file being. An author must be able to terminate the agency agreement if the agent fails to use her best efforts, or if the agent secures a print publication deal and then chooses to sit on or not actively seek exploitation of the remaining rights in the contract. This clause states that the author is entitled to a small number of copies of any edition of the novel. Multibook contracts are much coveted, of course, but agents dont much like this joint accounting clause. Sample literary agent contract on getting published. Self publishing author contract to make your own book.

Should either party cancel this book publishing contract, all rights granted to the publisher shall revert to the author. Checking proofs of formatted, edited material for adherence to design and for minor, mechanical errors in copy such as spelling mistakes or small deviations from style sheet. This contract is an offer for type of illustrations to artists full name by commissioners full name made on date ex. The payment often comes as an advance against royalties, which allows the author to have a share of income for the life of the book, although sometimes a flat fee payment is made. They are based on versions previously available elsewhere on the internet, but have new material added to them. This is a coauthor agreement that i use as a template. Whereas, author desires that publisher publish the authors work titled insert blank line for title work, and publisher desires to publish the work. A publishing agency or publisher makes sure in the contract that the contract will give the author best possible chance of maximizing the income from a book they are publishing. Book publishing contract template for word document hub. This agreement can be adapted for a variety of artistic endeavors including, but not limited to, illustrator or artist and publisher. This agreement is set forth this date of month, year i. Selfpublished authors helping other authors advice on writing, publishing, and book promotion.

Typically, most contracts provide that upon publication the publisher will register the book for in the name of the author. Publishing contracts 101 audio authors guild attorneys michael gross and stevie fitzgerald guide you through the basics of a traditional publishing contract, focusing on critical provisions and perils. Panel discussion exploring the international movement for fair book contracts set in motion by the authors guilds fair contract initiative. If the literary contract contains an option, then you have to give the publisher a chance to see the next book you write and an opportunity to offer to buy it. I was wondering if you might be willing to share the contract that you use. Guide to literary contracts graeme shimmin, spy thriller. Rocket lawyer is a helpful tool for professionals who need legal documents at an affordable price.

Publishers feel differently, and nowadays these terms are not easily avoided. Checking accuracy of facts and quotes by reference to original sources used by author or to other reference sources. This agreement agreement is between name, henceforth referred to as author, and name, henceforth referred to as ghostwriter, and is executed this date day of month, year author and ghostwriter are entering into this agreement for the purposes of completing description of book andor other publication covered under this agreement, including. How to draft publishing contracts as a small publisher. Writer mark levine provides a comprehensive, clear and concise overview of every element found in a publishing contract, including royalties, advances, subsidiary rights, manuscript delivery obligations, termination rights, and options. A sample contract agreement between an author and a book cover designer im not a fan of contracts or anything binding, or closing doors, or other apersonality stuff. On bulk sales of a special edition bearing the imprint of a third par ty for promotional purposes, or for sale outside the traditional book trade, a royalty of five per cent 5% of the net amount received by the author. A contract is a business agreement for the supply of goods or performance of work at a previously specified and agreed upon price. Dog ear publishing author contract please read and sign the following agreement between you author and dog ear publishing, llc dog ear or the company, for your book work. A beginners guide to negotiating publishing contracts. If the book will have an index, some reference to how that index will be prepared is often mentioned here or in a later paragraph. However, the asa advises authors not to accept mediation as a. This agreement is for a onetime collaboration only and does not cover any sequels to the work, which shall be subject to. If the book is an extension or outgrowth of the authors existing business e.