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DEAR SHELLEY ©
MYTH # 2
by Shelley Bradley
You've heard
lots of information, clichés, rumors and advice about the things you need to
know once you're published. Published authors often find out this
information from hard experience. After being in the publishing business for
nearly eight years,
Shelley Bradley has picked up a thing or two along the way. In this series
of articles, she'll discuss the information she wish she'd known before she sold a
book. She'll touch on what it really takes to get that first book bought--as
well as the second and beyond, the realities of contract negotiation,
royalties, distribution, editor relations and your career. Print publication
primarily addressed, but electronic publishing also discussed.
Here's the
second of our myths...
AFTER YOU SELL THE FIRST BOOK,
YOUR EDITOR WILL WANT TO BUY OTHERS
FROM YOU QUICKLY
Maybe...maybe not. Publishers are very
conservative these days, as books sales remain fairly flat. So they
don’t often have multiple open contracts open on any one writer, not
unless they are fairly established. This is because they have no idea
how you'll perform in the market, so they prefer not to tie up a lot of
their money on a total unknown. In most cases, as a first time author,
you'll be offered anywhere between a 1 and 3 book contract. If you're
offered a 1 book contract, the publisher is being conservative--and that
could be for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with you.
Don't panic. But if you've sold that 1 book on a full manuscript, don't
imagine you can send them 3 more manuscripts right away and have them
bought on a new contract as well. And what they will be willing to do
for you will depend largely on the genre you're writing, your
relationship with your editor, HER rapport with the powers that be. And
of course, your option clause.
Because publishers will often wait and see how the public receives you
before buying another book/offering another contract, this can mean up
to a 2 year wait before you sell another if you're option clause isn't
well worded (which we'll talk about later). This is where a good agent
can really come in handy, but the point here is, you may not get a
rocket start in this business--but don't assume that's because your
publisher no longer has faith in you/has only interest in that one book.
Like all fiscally-minded businesses, they're probably taking a wait and
see approach.
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The complete 2006 Dear
Shelley series:
Myth # 1:
"If the editor likes your book, they'll buy it."
Myth # 2: "After you sell the first book,
your editor will want to buy others from you quickly."
Myth # 3:
"Once you're published, it's always easier to sell again."
Myth #
4:
"Contracts aren't that hard to negotiate."
Myth # 5:
"My advances will keep me cozy until my royalties arrive."
Myth # 6:
"Your book will get quality editing and distribution."
Myth #
7:
"If you want to know about print runs and distribution, all
you have to do is ask."
Myth #
8:
"Once you sell, your editor will always return e-mails, phone calls and read
your material promptly."
Myth # 9:
"Your editor will come back after getting married or going on
maternity leave."
Myth #
10:
"By my 10th book, I'm likely to be an NYT Bestseller."
Myth #
11:
"A last few notes."
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