Negotiating a Book Contract: A Guide for Authors, Agents And Lawyers

Most publishing contracts are written by publishers' lawyers properly looking out for the publishers' interests. Publishing contracts can readily be negotiated that balance the rights and interests-and meet the needs-of author and publisher alike.

Most of the points noted in this book can be obtained simply by asking; others may require harder negotiation.

I didn't know how much my library needed this. It may at first seem a relatively brief book, but you more than get your money's worth.

The prose is clear and simple, but the information is densely packed. No marshmallow padding to let your brain relax. Plan on reading no more than a chapter a night to absorb this, or you'll start getting foggy from information overload.

If you have not faced a contract, this will prepare you for most of what you are likely to be offered, and what you might ask for or change. If you have signed contracts, you may want to kick yourself for not reading this sooner. (I did. One or two light kicks, not bad.) The next contract I go over, with a new agent or not, is going to give me a lot more than the last one. It will also help me double-check my new agent.

O wishful beginners, agents are not only not omniscient, they are often looking out more for their interests than for yours. This means that some will try to keep the publishers real happy with them and not push anything you don't demand. If you don't know what to push for or adjust, the agent won't necessarily rock the boat by making suggestions. Some day I'll get one of those agents who is a writer's best friend, but until then this book helps me be my own best friend in the business.


The best book of its type   January 9, 2003
crankyfranky (Sydney, Australia)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is THE book to have on book contracts.

As a contracts attorney myself, I used it to analyze the contract submitted to me by a mainstream publisher, only to discover that they were trying to "fleece" me.

This book is indispensable for any author interested in getting a fair deal. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is well written, easily accessible and virtually timeless in content. Mark is very attuned to the industry and his advice amply demonstrates this.


An essential reference for authors.   August 22, 1997
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

This book should be on every author's bookshelf. Clearly and concisely written, it explains, in plain English, the essential deal points contained in the standard author-publisher agreement. Read this book before you sign on the dotted line. -- Lloyd J. Jassin, Attorney at La


Best Book On The Subject   February 23, 2010
Laura Cross (Los Angeles, CA)
If you're an author seeking a traditional publishing deal you should be aware that publishing contracts are negotiable. Negotiating a Book Contract is the best book I've read on the subject. Writer Mark Levine provides a comprehensive, clear and concise overview of every element found in a publishing contract, including royalties, advances, subsidiary rights, manuscript delivery obligations, termination rights, and options. Levine highlights the most important clauses and identifies which points are easy to negotiate and which are more difficult.

The detailed `Sample Letter of Comments' is invaluable for authors to follow when requesting changes to their own contracts. The new revised 2009 edition of the book adds a section on Internet works and electronic rights. Even if you have a lawyer or literary agent representing you in your publishing negotiations, it's well worth having a copy of Negotiating A Book Contract on hand while reviewing your own contract.



Every author needs this book!   March 11, 2010
Kate McMurry (United States)
Mark Levine is a lawyer with many years of experience representing authors, small publishers and book packagers in book contract negotiations, and all that experience definitely shows in this book. But what is even more evident is that he's a fantastic writer and teacher. He takes very complex, boring legal information and makes it totally accessible.

As I read this book, line by line, page by page, I found it an absolute gold mine of information. It covers virtually any situation that could possibly come up in a publishing contract. If you could find an attorney who was willing to give you this much information in person, which is highly unlikely, it would cost you a fortune. That makes this book an incredible bargain that no author can afford to be without, whether contracting your first book or your fiftieth.

Even if you have an agent or can afford to hire a top literary attorney to help you look over your publishing contract, you still need to understand what's in that contract yourself. Knowledge is power--and money--when it comes to contracts. Agents and lawyers aren't infallible. And they can't know, if you the client don't know yourself, what sorts of rights that you as a unique individual absolutely would not want to sign away. For example, the rights to your pen name, ownership of your characters if you are writing a series, or making sure it is spelled out in your contract what "out of print" means for purposes of getting back your rights to a book that a publisher is no longer making any effort to sell.

If you only buy one book on literary contracts, make it this one. It's an essential addition to your reference shelf.