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What Is a Standard Contract for Publishing Fiction?

Any contract is set up to protect rights. In a standard publishing contract, the rights of both the publisher and the author are protected. When reviewing a publishing contract all points are negotiable and you shouldn't sign anything that makes you uncomfortable.
  1. Rights

    • The publisher will want the rights to print, publish, sell and produce the product in any media. The author keeps rights of ownership and copyright.

    Terms

    • Unless either party terminates the agreement, the specific time frame of the contract is stated. This includes when the work is expected to the publisher and when the author will see the product published.

    Money

    • Terms of payment, whether as an advance or in royalties, will be stated for each type of media produced. Also, the terms regarding how the author can expect payment are outlined.

    Termination

    • Guidelines will be provided for either party to terminate the contract prior to the terms previously listed.

    Subsequent works

    • The publisher can have first right of refusal on subsequent work relating to the current project.

    Author Warranty

    • The author guarantees that he is the sole owner of the work and that it has not been previously published.

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