Unsolicited Advice for Authors, Agents, and Editors
Any substantial revision—as in a 2nd edition—should be by terms to be negotiated in good faith. More than 10% of the work is a good rule of thumb.
Translations should be based on the U.S. (or first) edition of the work and credited accordingly.
An author’s work should not be revised or altered without the author’s approval.
Contracts with low-cost hardcover royalties must also define “low-cost hardcover.”
Authors should have approval over the offering of free electronic downloads to consumers.
Your contract probably says that you have to deliver a hard copy, but ask your editor. An email attachment is usually OK.
Make a list of questions regarding your contract and go over them with your agent.
Never give up copyright to your own work/ideas/stories.
Get contractual approval over adaptations, abridgments, and condensations of the text of the work.
Pay attention to the option clause. On a proposal only, solely by the author, after acceptance, limit genre.
