tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post663098699177238418..comments2024-03-29T07:18:41.334-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Multi-book dealsJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83405892094576402172018-04-29T21:31:03.588-04:002018-04-29T21:31:03.588-04:00This is complete thread necromancy, but -- OP agai...This is complete thread necromancy, but -- OP again. I happened to be googling info on two book deals and this thread was one of the hits. The reason I was googling is because I got an offer the other day from a publisher for...two books. Not final yet, but some amazingly good news! And I asked my agent some of these same questions and unsurprisingly got mostly the same answers. <br /><br />Janet - I learned a lot from your blog and from the answers you gave to my questions (this and a few others over the years), so I just want to thank both you and the community here. Places like this are few and far between. CShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052884335033143936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3540735246927071662016-11-03T21:12:10.393-04:002016-11-03T21:12:10.393-04:00Donna, I have no proof, or even solid evidence, to...Donna, I have no proof, or even solid evidence, to suggest that is what happens. It just made an odd sort of sense when I started thinking about it. And at the time I really really really needed a reason to stop obsessing. So I convinced myself it was true. It might be completely wrong.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51591508754356926002016-11-03T20:29:08.530-04:002016-11-03T20:29:08.530-04:00Beth Thank you! Based on what kdjames just said,...<b>Beth</b> Thank you! Based on what kdjames just said, I won't go look...at least not tonight. :)<br /><br />Thanks, kd! Good to know. Hey, I won't be able to look at them tomorrow...I'll be gone all day. Amazon algorithms will finally be able to go back to normal...and they'll be wondering why. Ha!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26310234801559090222016-11-03T18:39:44.594-04:002016-11-03T18:39:44.594-04:00I'm extremely cynical when it comes to royalti...I'm extremely cynical when it comes to royalties from trad publishers. From basket accounting to suspect definitions of "net" to other odd shenanigans, I'm not sure I'd ever expect to see royalties. Too many moving parts. I'd have more of a mindset to get as much "up front" (that is, paid in 3-4 installments, less commission, over time) as possible. But I'd also tend to respect and trust the advice of an agent who has experience dealing with these things. My cynicism isn't so crusty that it can't be swayed.<br /><br />Julie, ouch! I hope all you need is a shot of cortisone and some rest.<br /><br />Donna, I've decided that the more views a book page gets without it resulting in a purchase, the worse the ranking gets. Might not be true, but it got me to stop looking at mine. :) <br /><br /><br />Between watching the CMAs and then the end of the game last night, I've fallen behind on my goals for NaNo. But holy guacamole, what a game!! Definitely worth the distraction for the chance to see that happen. Back to work, now.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56401930287334236282016-11-03T18:15:59.999-04:002016-11-03T18:15:59.999-04:00"In other news, I've become obsessed with..."In other news, I've become obsessed with Amazon rankings."<br /><br />Donna, I just ordered, so that might be a tiny uptick. I'm looking forward to meeting Dixie. And I'll bet the ROAD TO BITTERSWEET will be another hit. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39522751742970160132016-11-03T18:03:54.956-04:002016-11-03T18:03:54.956-04:00Julie wrote
"Unfortunately, I can't rais...Julie wrote<br /><br />"Unfortunately, I can't raise my arm even to shoulder height and the thought of extending any weight from it makes me weep. It's gotten to the point it's painful to pick up a cup of coffee.<br /><br />"They're setting up an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. The doctor agrees something was wrong."<br /><br /><br />My second thought was "Gee, what was the doctor's clue something was wrong?" Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38829013750718166142016-11-03T17:51:03.529-04:002016-11-03T17:51:03.529-04:00Yay Sharyn!Yay <b>Sharyn</b>!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77271216815958335962016-11-03T16:54:11.085-04:002016-11-03T16:54:11.085-04:00Melanie
Unfortunately, I can't raise my arm e...<b>Melanie</b><br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't raise my arm even to shoulder height and the thought of extending any weight from it makes me weep. It's gotten to the point it's painful to pick up a cup of coffee. On the plus side, I'm becoming ambidextrous.<br /><br />They're setting up an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. The doctor agree something was wrong.<br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79716694502026878012016-11-03T16:51:53.777-04:002016-11-03T16:51:53.777-04:00The linky thing for Melanie: http://www.idoportal....The linky thing for <b>Melanie</b>: <a href="http://www.idoportal.com/blog/hanging" rel="nofollow">http://www.idoportal.com/blog/hanging</a> :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13449764725814777422016-11-03T16:44:26.369-04:002016-11-03T16:44:26.369-04:00Julie...! http://www.idoportal.com/blog/hanging
(...Julie...! http://www.idoportal.com/blog/hanging<br /><br />(Colin, can you do the linky thing?) Melanie Sue Bowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820711791019410116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24062949046534476702016-11-03T16:14:53.243-04:002016-11-03T16:14:53.243-04:00Julie I tend to trip up the stairs. I hope you h...<b>Julie</b> I tend to trip up the stairs. I hope you haven't done the *we won't mention it and maybe it will go away* injury.<br /><br />"Most second books do appreciably worse than first books." As if my nerves aren't shot already. :)<br /><br />"What are the chances you can do it twice in a row, and under deadline?"<br /><br />Yeah...my agent said you have your whole life to write your first book and about a year to write the rest. This is why writing THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET was nerve wracking and H.A.R.D. Not only did I keep comparing it to DIXIE, I also felt it could never be as good. I couldn't massage the words ad nauseum, polish this phrase or that, give it a few months to sit and age, then go back and read fresh. But, I set goals and did my best to meet them.<br /><br />In other news, I've become obsessed with Amazon rankings.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27924600593495745152016-11-03T14:58:46.952-04:002016-11-03T14:58:46.952-04:00I just got my Indie Pick book list and Dixie Dupre...I just got my Indie Pick book list and Dixie Dupree is on it. Great to see!Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56594895846911589732016-11-03T13:15:07.344-04:002016-11-03T13:15:07.344-04:00Colin, good point. So far, I think my writing has ...Colin, good point. So far, I think my writing has gotten better with each book, but that probably levels off over time. I agree, my favorite from an author is usually not the first one.<br /><br />Julie, heal well. Hope it's not too serious.Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61367730989297534882016-11-03T13:06:40.999-04:002016-11-03T13:06:40.999-04:00Colin - Thanks for the food for thought! I guess b...Colin - Thanks for the food for thought! I guess by 'allowed' I was wondering about the line between 'legal' and 'advisable' - but it's good to imagine that I can write a 25,000 word dinosaur suspense as a sequel to my 110,000 word high-fantasy flop if I want to. :) <br /><br />It's not just literature that suffers from the 'sophomore slump,' either. The music industry often has the same problem, and I imagine film does as well - for directors, maybe. Strangely enough, my favorite books in my favorite series (Butcher's Codex Alera) are odd-numbered. I like books 1,3, and 5 and disliked books 2 and 4 (six broke the pattern - great stuff!). Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82535836285335723572016-11-03T13:01:41.576-04:002016-11-03T13:01:41.576-04:00Julie
Take care of yourself. And take it one step...Julie<br /><br />Take care of yourself. And take it one step at a time.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87035043179144860842016-11-03T13:01:40.364-04:002016-11-03T13:01:40.364-04:00Hey, CS Opie! If you don't have an agent, then...Hey, <b>CS</b> Opie! If you don't have an agent, then this is a bit cart-before-horse, since ultimately you'll talk about this with your wise and experienced agent and get his/her advice. As has been discussed above, a big advance isn't always a good thing. I suppose if you're counting on your novels as a source of income, then that fat check means much more to you than to those of us who are paying the bills some other way. Otherwise, it might be easier to consider that advance as "earnest money" that is quickly recouped so everyone can start enjoying the royalty checks. That's how I tend to think about it. Of course, once I get an agent and face this situation IRL, my thoughts might change. ("Penguin is offering $1 million advance, plus a lifetime supply of Hobnobs, Colin. Interested?") :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32111991909542010252016-11-03T12:49:51.578-04:002016-11-03T12:49:51.578-04:00Thanks for the response (OP here). I'd just li...Thanks for the response (OP here). I'd just like someone to clarify one thing.<br /><br />I do get that advances are recouped against royalties, and that you don't get any more money until you earn out. And I can see how getting a two- or three-book deal gives you a lot more security about what you earn.<br /><br />But still, isn't it at least true that if you negotiate a one-book deal, and the book does much better than expected, you would be in a position to negotiate a larger advance for the second book? So taking a multi-book deal is hedging against your books doing more poorly than expected. That's basically what you're saying: "it means my guy gets paid even if the book doesn't earn what we hope."<br /><br />Publishers, having a large number of authors, can take a little more risk. They're going to be okay if two out of three authors never sell well, as long as the rest make up for it. Authors, on the other hand, are a sample size of one, and so (like you say) will probably take a lower-risk deal with more guaranteed money.<br /><br />One interesting thing is that agents, having multiple authors, would probably be able to take more risk (at least, more than each individual author). Which means that it might be in their interests to avoid multi-book deals. Of course, the authors would have to agree in each case, and respectable agents would hopefully be pushing for what's in the client's interest.<br /><br />I get that I'm totally overthinking this. It's just an aspect of publishing contracts that I think is interesting.CShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052884335033143936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65472835868308086262016-11-03T12:14:17.534-04:002016-11-03T12:14:17.534-04:00Beth: It does seem that working under a deadline w...<b>Beth</b>: It does seem that working under a deadline would result a work inferior to that first which took years to craft. Yet, as I think about it, some of my best work has been done "under the gun" so to speak. Indeed, while I love all Gary Corby's novels, his first, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, is not my favorite. At the moment, the one that gets that honor is a toss up between SACRED GAMES and the latest, THE SINGER FROM MEMPHIS. And of the Potter canon, THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN is my favorite, not PHILOSOPHER'S/SORCERER'S STONE. So perhaps there's a reasonable expectation from the publisher that an author's subsequent novels will be better than the first?Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47449669941967645072016-11-03T11:54:54.372-04:002016-11-03T11:54:54.372-04:00I'm mulling over why second books tend to sell...I'm mulling over why second books tend to sell appreciably worse than first. You'd think having two books out would double your discoverability. <br /><br />I guess if it's a series, people would start with the first book and if they didn't like it, go no further. But if it's not a series, you'd think which book people pick up would be random, or maybe skew toward the second due to name recognition. I believe DiVinci Code was his third. <br /><br />Or maybe to get published the first time, you have to knock someone's socks off. What are the chances you can do it twice in a row, and under deadline?Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89590753866639228092016-11-03T11:44:16.237-04:002016-11-03T11:44:16.237-04:00Brigid I actually have a small cannon, but it wasn...<b>Brigid</b> I actually have a small cannon, but it wasn't from wrestling that. I fell down the stairs again. I simply have to stop getting drunk so much.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47925910179804779162016-11-03T11:40:02.129-04:002016-11-03T11:40:02.129-04:00I’m joining in on Colin’s 8:15 comment. When I mak...I’m joining in on Colin’s 8:15 comment. When I make my imaginary list of what I’m looking for in a publisher, I seldom list ‘advance’ near the top of the list. The two that seem to work their way closest to the top are the ones Colin mentioned: the presentation or ‘feel of the books, and a really great editor who works well with me and will identify ways I can improve on my next book. (I'd also like help with a map.)<br /><br />I’ve wondered how many conflicts arise between authors and agents if one has fast money as their objective and the other values long term or aesthetic goals.<br /><br />Robert Ceres at 8:59 brings up an interesting point, too. Does a large advance or a large multi-book advance affect how the publisher treats the book? In promotion, quality of editorial staff, speed, distribution, etc. I’ve been on both sides of that fair haired boy/red headed stepchild (two phrases I haven’t seen in many a year) treatment. It makes a difference.<br /><br />Finally, one point not explicitly stated is a writer could come out ahead with larger advances if the books don’t ‘earn out’ their advances. (Janet Reid has reminded us time and time again publishers can make money even if the author does not earn out the advance). That said, I’d rather my books earn out their advances. (FWIW – for my academic books, there were zero advances.)<br /><br />And a second finally, do third books generally do better or worse than second books?<br /><br />Friendly reminder: Don’t spend the royalty check before you receive it.<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63864860795187039412016-11-03T11:16:07.698-04:002016-11-03T11:16:07.698-04:00Oh, Julie, ack! Maybe don't try to wrestle two...Oh, Julie, ack! Maybe don't try to wrestle two rattlesnakes and a bull singlehandedly any more, eh? Or was it the kickback from using a smallish cannon as a rifle again?Brigidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768090206152536761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53103445211644108942016-11-03T11:10:14.835-04:002016-11-03T11:10:14.835-04:00I'll settle for whatever my agent can get. Tha...I'll settle for whatever my agent can get. That's why I went into partnership with him or her when the time comes.<br /><br />Advances aren't the only parts of the deal to take a look at. One publisher might be more attractive who offers a smaller advance for various reasons. Yes, I would definitely like to have a multi-book deal. It gives me some sense of security that they'll stick with me and hopefully I can earn that trust.<br /><br />Now, on to new words before the doctor appointment, which may hamper new words. I think I tore my rotator cuff...again.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58208508668008612342016-11-03T11:09:34.523-04:002016-11-03T11:09:34.523-04:00Thinking about Bethany's question some more, p...Thinking about <b>Bethany</b>'s question some more, perhaps we shouldn't get hung up over what's "allowed." Maybe it's more helpful to think in these terms:<br /><br />1) What you're able to do: Anything you are physically and mentally capable of doing, which includes writing 600,000 word epic poetry, transcendental haiku, sci-fi romance otter novels--whatever! Yay for the First Amendment (and similar freedom of speech rights in other countries). :)<br /><br />2) What's legal: If you write libel, or try to publish certain kinds of illicit material, you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the law. People have a tendency to divorce freedom from responsibility, so sometimes the law has to remind us that they go hand-in-hand. :)<br /><br />3) What's advisable: This is where most writing, querying, and publishing "rules" fall. You might consider editing down your 600,000 word epic poetry. You don't have to, but you'll probably have a hard time selling it to an agent and publisher.<br /><br />Yeah, a bit off-topic... sorry! :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31690625082872081112016-11-03T10:54:51.628-04:002016-11-03T10:54:51.628-04:00The problem with writers (especially writers of fi...The problem with writers (especially writers of fiction) is that our imaginations tend to work overtime. We can imagine nearly any scenario and the possible outcomes, but we rarely limit this to our writing.<br /><br />The OP's question reminds me to keep things in order. The book must be finished before anything else, and honestly, finishing the book is the only thing over which we writers have any real control. After that it's pretty much a crap shoot.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.com