Why Selling Your Book Can Take So Long
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- In the second of three videos, Literary Agents Jessica Faust and James McGowan are discussion why publishing takes so long, from querying, to selling your book, to production. Today: SELLING YOUR BOOK.
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Jessica Faust’s love for books is what first brought her to open BookEnds Literary Agency. It is her desire to be an advocate for all authors that pushed her to create her blog, the BookEnds TH-cam channel and to maintain a vibrant presence on Twitter.
Jessica is proud to have grown BookEnds to an agency that represents authors of all genres for children and adults, allowing her to reach more readers and help more authors and illustrators achieve their dreams.
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Since interning at BookEnds as an undergrad in the summer of 2015, James has (basically) never left. He's just continuously level-up-ed inside of BookEnds. Now he is the Literary Assistant and Social Media Manager for the team. He’s been a reader since his mom gave him the first A Series of Unfortunate Events book and ordered the sequels regularly through Scholastic book orders.
James is currently growing his own list and is actively seeking submissions in adult literary and upmarket fiction, mystery, thrillers, and suspense. He is also actively building his picture book list.
Connect with BookEnds!
Twitter: bookendslit
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Website: www.bookendsliterary.com
Connect with Jessica: bookendsjessica
Connect with James: jmcgowanbks
If I am so lucky to get to this stage and if I enjoy writing my next two books as I did the first one, I will be too worried about having the time I need to write than worry about the publishing time. I hope! Thanks for this.
These videos are super helpful. Thank you!
Jessica! You said, "In a nutshell..." That must be a huge nutshell! Do you guys realize what amazing gifts these videos these are to authors like me?
Thank you! We're glad to hear that.
Thank you both for another informative and fun video! One question: Based on the current 2021 market for novels, what kind of blurb (and thus story concept and writing style) would immediately make you go, “This has incredible sales potential and reach and could even win some awards.” Thanks! P.S. I’m currently writing a short story about mental health in rural America and an upmarket sci-fi mystery about AI, Mars, and a fractured modern society. Deep but surprisingly relatable stuff.
The publishing houses are my big unknown. Thank you. You mention paper costs, etc. With so much virtual reading and listening, does that make a difference in sales? I'd also love to hear more about audio publishing.
My agent is going to be submitting my option proposal for my 3rd book soon - do all the same steps / delays happen at that point too? Is it pretty much the same as going on sub the first time or does your existing working relationship with an editor speed up any parts of the process? (Thanks for all your great information in these videos!)
Usually this is a little quicker, but you should speak to your agent about their expectations!
Another thing most reputable agents will advise when it comes to contract negotiations. always hire a contract legal advisor or lawyer. They help to keep everyone honest and can often catch little things that can be slipped into a contract or over looked. It is also highly advisable for those who's books have the potential to turn into a television or movie to never give up those rights unless you do not care if they butcher your work as was done to Christopher Paolini's book Eragon. Many reputable agents will advise a contract lawyer and some actually have a list of them you can contact if you have any questions.
love the video. As always bookends never fails to provide a lot of valuable information to writers and aspiring writers everywhere. keep up the great work and I hope you all have a great week.
No. Most agents are well-versed in publishing contracts themselves, and are paid by you to negotiate your contracts. Some agencies, including BookEnds, also have contracts consultants but that is at no cost to our clients other than their agreed commission. If we license the book for film/tv, our film/tv agent will handle the contract. Same for translation, and our foreign co-agents.
This was fun. Do you have a video about how to know what terms to ask for as a writer?
What terms in a book deal, you mean?
@@BookEndsLiterary Yes :)
Sooooo....it seems I might have a better chance securing a position as a prima ballerina with the American Ballet Theater at my late age and with no ballet classes since I was a little kid than getting pubbed - HAH! I'm glad I didn't know all of this the one and only time I was on submission. I might have had heart-attack-inducing palpitations. ;-)
Hmm...You first choose a publisher (assuming there's interest from multiple) and then negotiate contract details for months? So, based on what are you making your pick in the first place? Just the monetary offer?
the deal terms, and our own knowledge of contract language. The initial offer covers all monetary aspects of the deal, schedule, and usually editorial direction.
@@BookEndsLiterary interesting. Some people reported on auctions that discussed every aspect of the deal before picking a winner, including editorial requests but also payment installments, other rights, lead title, plans for marketing and more. My point being that, since nobody would ultimately make a choice before knowing what they're getting into, I would expect to know and negotiate these things at that stage, when the offer is made. After that, it's ok if drafting the actual contract takes months, since it's a formality.
@@quick24 Yes, absolutely, this is all discussed in auctions, but also in non-auction situations. In terms of the actual language of the contract, agents typically have an understanding of how each publisher words their contracts. Once they're drafted we enter into a second phase of negotiations where all the material deal points we've accepted in the offer are put into writing.
@@BookEndsLiterary Gotcha, I was just confused by the fact that second phase was also being called negotiation. I understand what you meant, now. Thanks for taking the time to clear that up!
I currently have my manuscript with a publisher’s head of editing after receiving an email explaining my concept was incredible and story worked well. but I’m still querying for agents after deciding I needed one and it’s the best route to take as a new writer.
Should I panic ?, or can I easily reject any offer from this publisher without being rude?
Check out our video on handling an offer of publication!
@@BookEndsLiteraryThank you, your handling a publisher video was equally as helpful as it was scary!!! Every video points to getting an agent and that’s why I politely declined the publishers offer, I didn’t understanding the contract myself! I believe in my world and story I’ve created so another round of query’s for me it is.
One of the biggest lessons Ive learnt from your incredible videos in general is patients is the true key to real success.
@@adamlamare4777 Good luck!
What happens if it goes to auction? Does the contract process go faster?
The contracts, no, unfortunately not. It's up to the contracts department and how fast folks turn around redlines and negotiations
@@BookEndsLiterary Interesting. If you are ever looking for another topic, I would love to hear the ins and outs of auctions. I watch you religiously and have learned so much. And I usually get a couple of good chuckles in. Your dynamic is uplifting.
It’s a shame you don’t have any agents open to queries representing fantasy. :/
Naomi should be opening soon!
@@BookEndsLiterary Awesome, I’ll keep an eye out!
Seems like nothing with traditional publishing is fast or easy.
If it were, everyone would do it.
@@BookEndsLiterary And everyone thinks they can!! Then they find out how hard it is, lol.