Lynn Jones Johnston

Co-sign. Attention spans being what they are right now, either offer readers an immersive escape or quick powerhouse. #pubtip

These are so good. You should practice writing a few pitch paragraphs about favorite books before doing yours. #pubtip

Once you agree on the main points, commit it in writing so both parties are clear about what to expect. Include termination terms in case the collaboration doesn't work out (future thread). #pubtip

3) Cash: how you split income. The author can guarantee the writer a set fee no matter how much (or little) money the book makes. The parties can split the advance and/or royalties. Decide if there's a cap to the writer's earnings. I've seen many variations.

If it's truly a 50-50 collaboration, the copyright can be in both names. Keep in mind, both parties will need to agree on any decision, which gets tricky if the book has a long life since 2 separate sets of heirs may need to agree in the future.

2) Copyright: Regardless of the credit, who owns the material? Often the writer is a "work for hire" & the copyright is in the author's name only. This is the person making decisions about what happens to the property (foreign rights, tv/film).

1) Credit: the name(s) on the cover of the book. If it's ghost writing, only the author's name is credited. If a co-writer will get credit, decide on the order & how the names are to be separated. E.g."and" or "with." Let your publisher know the credit line.

If you're thinking of working with someone to help write your book, agree on the terms BEFORE you get a publishing deal. Can't stress this enough. Here are the main deal points, what I call the 3 Cs of Collaboration.

Most books won’t get the scrutiny that Bolton’s is getting but here’s what you can expect if you’re writing a book about a controversial topic. #pubtip

In case you’re wondering:
“Distributed in Canada” means the US publisher shipped the US edition to Canadian outlets. “Sold Canadian rights” means the US publisher made a deal with a Canadien publisher to produce and sell a Canadian edition. #pubtip

Get used to thinking of your manuscript in terms of words not pages. (Publishing contracts specify # of words.)To estimate: 1 double spaced typed page = 250 words. #pubtip

One thing I discuss in the podcast is your digital footprint. The first thing an agent or publisher interested in your work will do is google your name. The worse result is to find nothing. #pubtip

You could be stuck with a fatigued publisher for your next book & new editor who doesn't appreciate it. If given a choice, I would opt for single book deals unless the advance & terms being offered are outrageously good.

But what if my first book didn't sell well? Isn't it great to have a guarantee for the next book? Yes & no. Many publishers put the same level of enthusiasm with the 2nd book even if the 1st didn't sell well. But some don't, not to mention editors leave.

If your book sells a ton of copies, theoretically you should get a nice bump in the advance for your next book. Except in a multiple book deal, the level was already set. You're leaving money on the table.

A client asked if we could get a 3 book deal and I said even if we did, I would advise against taking it. Here's why. The sales of your book dictate the level of advance you will get for your next book. #pubtip

Please indicate whether you're querying with a fiction or nonfiction project. It's not always obvious. Thank you. #pubtip #amquerying

There are many variations. Best to agree upfront how you & your editor will work together. Editors usually work on several projects at a time so need to plan when a mss is coming in for editing. #pubtip #amediting

2) Write & turn in a chunk of the mss (3-4 chapters, half of mss) to make sure you’re on the right track & get feedback from editor before finishing mss.

Someone asked the best way to edit a manuscript with your editor. Options:
1) Write whole thing, turn it in, editor gives you edits in a long editorial letter and/or line edits, you address those edits. Repeat as necessary.