Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: Advances

This is usually the first section a new author reads in the book contract. It's the "show me the money" section and it sets out how much and when the publisher pays you in advances.
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The Best Part of a Publishing Contract for Most Authors

By far, the most enjoyable section of the book contract to the author is the Advance section. Unfortunately, fewer publishers are paying advances these days to reduce their financial risk of publishing a dud. But, for those books that are still attracting advance payments, here is what you need to know:

How the publisher calculates the advance

As an author, you will likely never know exactly what goes into the calculation of an advance. Each publishing house and each individual acquisitions editor will have their own way of coming up with a dollar figure.

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Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: Promotion

The Promotion section of the book contract stipulates what the publisher is willing to do in the way of promoting and marketing the book. It also outlines the author's responsibilities to promote.
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Promotion is the Fun Part for Some Authors and a Nightmare for Others

The Promotion section of a non-fiction book contract is the most fun part to some authors and the most terrifying to others. It sets out what the author's responsibilities are with respect to the marketing and promotion of the book.

In your proposal, you most likely had a promotion section telling the publisher what you plan to do to help market and promote your book. You may be planning speaking engagements, seminars or readings. You may also have outlined your plan to market the book to your social media circles or lists of current readers. This section of the book contract is where the rubber hits the road.

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Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: Publication Rights

The Publication Rights section of the book contract is often where the author finds out that he or she has no input into the design or layout of the book.
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Publishing Contracts Set Out Deadlines for the Publisher Too

Reading through a non-fiction book contract and understanding it is an art. The Publication section of the contract sets out a number of responsibilities for both you and the publisher. It discusses how long the publisher has to publish the book, what happens if they don't, and what input you will have into the cover of the book and the presentation.

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Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: Delivery

The delivery section of the book contract tells you WHAT you need to deliver and WHEN you need to deliver it.
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Know What and when You Need to Stand Up and Deliver

The delivery section of your book contract is one of the most important and one that you need to understand and be able to commit to thoroughly. It specifies what you have to deliver and when you have to deliver it.

Delivery Date

The delivery date in the publishing contract is usually very straightforward. It is the date you must supply the publisher with the final manuscript of your book. If it is earlier than the date you offered in your book proposal, you will have to determine if you can meet the publisher's date or not.

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Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: Grant of Rights

One of the most important pieces of a book contract is the grant of rights which spells out just what you are giving up and what you are keeping. Holding back certain rights may be in your best interest:

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Reading over a book publishing contract can be a daunting task for many first-time authors. Knowing what rights your contract grants the publisher, however, can mean the difference of thousands of dollars over time. 

Here's what you need to know about the grant of rights section in your publishing contract:


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Will the Kindle Bring Sexy Back to Reading Again?

How do you think the Kindle will help the sales of your books in the next few years? Are you going to buy one? Personally, I am waiting until they hit the $99 mark.

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Amazon's E-reader Increases Book Sales and Makes Reading in Vogue

Amazon's Kindle, the company's foray into the electronic reader market, may be on the verge of doing something that no e-reader has done before: get people reading again. 

According to Amazon, in the almost three years since the unveiling of the device, sales of Kindle books have exceeding total hardcover sales. The company expects that they will exceed all print editions within the next year or so.


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Arielle Ford: What Motivates the Book Buyer?

An interesting look at why readers pick up and buy the books they do on HuffPo. This can help you plan the cover art and blurbs for your next book. Also some great tips on getting the word out there to potential buyers with social media.

Arielle Ford: What Motivates the Book Buyer?

Negotiating a Non-Fiction Book Contract: The Basics

Understanding the contract that a book publisher sets in front of you can be difficult and confusing. This is the first in a series of articles on the standard book contract. Knowing the basics can keep money in your pocket where it belongs.

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Most first-time authors are thrilled when their book is picked up by a publisher- until it comes time to decipher the publishing contract, that it. Whether the deal was negotiated through an agent or not, it is important that authors understand the basics of a publishing contract, industry norms and standards, and which areas of the book contract are most likely to have some flexibility. 


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A New Spin on Promoting Your Book

Now here is an innovative and ultimately successful way to get your book noticed. Jennifer Belle took the promotion of her book into her own hands when she realized she wasn't getting much support from her publisher. What would YOU do to promote your book?
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“I Paid Them to Read My Book”: Jennifer Belle’s “The Laughter Project” Pays Dividends

Author Jennifer Belle took her book publicity into her own hands by hiring actresses “to read my book on the subway and at New York City landmarks for $8/hr”

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