There are lots of imprints popping up these days. An imprint does not imply poor quality though. Pay attention to the head of the organization. When you enter a legal agreement with someone, fulfilling the terms of the contract is a two way street. If meeting of the minds falls through, hiring a lawyer is often your only option to officially resolve a given situation. Here are a few things to consider before you click your heels with excitement.
Your intellectual property will be in the hands of someone else. What moral track record does the individual have in the industry? Trust is a part of the relationship. Is the person approachable, antagonistic, or will he or she regard you as part of a team? Find out up front the founder's view on how conflicts will be resolved. Study the answer. Let your gut lead you. Pay attention to business ethics. What kind of things do you hear about this person? Do the majority of their other authors seem satisfied? Consider having your contract professionally reviewed. A seasoned publisher should not be offended by your desire to look over the terms and dissect them.
Books will be purchased from your publisher. The print run is in their hands. You will most likely order from them, unless you never plan on having books on hand to sell to readers directly. So clearly understand how much you will pay per copy, when you need to purchase books. A savvy publisher will adhere to a smooth ordering system. One who does sloppy business can have you waiting for months to order your own books. It can be a simple matter or a nightmare. If you never wanted to pull your hair out, how would you feel if you had events lined up, but your emails and calls fall into a black hole? It all goes back to the quality of the publisher, and their interest in taking care of their authors. Is the company interested in your career, or is the agenda getting a percentage of a book that their demographic could snatch up for the moment? There's a difference between the two situations. Some publishers are interested in nurturing their authors...ahem...and not just the favorites. Others will easily replace the medium money makers with the next person with something trendy that may grace the shelf. At the same time, some authors are interested in smaller deals while trying to leverage a bigger one from a top publisher later. Also, what happens if you sell out of your print run, assuming that your publisher isn't using a print on demand system? These are more aspects to consider. That grand plan should be well planned.
Before you sign a book contract, understand how long you are contractually bound. Did you sign a two book deal, three book deal, or some other ? (Hey you! If you've never heard of the right of first refusal, you also may want to look they term up.) Be prepared to deliver what you obligated yourself to. If you can't fulfill the terms of the contract, and your book has been scheduled for release, you can put yourself in a difficult situation. In some cases, a ghost writer will be hired at your expense via your check. I can say that because I have been that person who confidentially stepped up to fill in a gap. Always have another manuscript in mind. If possible, have an outline prepared if you aren't able to write a rough draft at that moment. Time sneaks up on many authors. Even seasoned ones often feel the stress of deadlines.
If you're lucky enough to get an advance, don't blow your money like you hit the lottery. Plan what you will do with it. A publishing check doesn't come every two weeks. You'll probably get paid a portion of monies upon delivering a manuscript, and the other half when the book is ready for the world's viewing pleasure. You won't see a dime of royalties until the publisher recovers the investment in you. That money wasn't really free money. It was like a bank account set up on your behalf. Did you know that when books are returned to your publisher, that's tracked and tallied? Ouch.
Additionally, most authors aren't given a marketing budget. Keep that in mind before you hit the mall. Do you need a new computer to keep doing what you do? If there's something that you need to work, consider making an investment. Unless you've been given a credit card for expenses (smile), chances are that you'll be burning your gas to travel, hopping planes, scouting cheap bus prices and paying for your own tables at expos and fairs to find yourself standing shoulder
to shoulder next to other authors who are in a similar boat. So you want to be an author? This is a part of the fun part. It's called promotion. Most authors are sent out into the world to make it work on their own. Poor sales can hinder the next opportunity, even with a prospective publisher who wants to know your sales history for a previous title. The last deal often matters.
There are pros and cons to advances. The publishers investment in you is step one of a serious commitment. Many small imprints don't offer an advance. That's not always a bad thing. It gives you a chance to test your sales chops with less pressure. Also, your publisher can see how hard you will push to make your project a success. A good publisher pays attention to who works hard and is likely to offer extra help and feedback to those who bring professionalism to the table. Make yourself stand out in a good way. Have a great attitude and work ethic. Don't be known as a difficult diva or gent that someone can't wait to release.
Know why you want to write a book and publish it. Anyone can become an author these days. Technology changed the publishing landscape, so it can be hard to tell who wants to pen something because it was on his or her bucket list, who penned something to help with branding another business venture, and who loves books to the point of wanting to pen them because it's a passion. Be honest about your wants and desires. That can also pay a role in the time and energy you are willing to invest in the publishing journey, and what you expect from your publisher.
In essence, a publishing deal is like a relationship. There are good and bad ones. Do your homework the best that you can. Research and ask questions. Network. Attend book functions. Slow down and think about both sides of the equation. Learn the business enough to make an educated decision about where you want to go, and with whom.
Also remember that you will not be able to monopolize the publisher's time and resources. Expectations should be reasonable for both parties. Becoming a traditionally published author can be the toughest job that you should love, but getting rich probably isn't going to happen.
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