Getting Published is Just the Beginning

Are you an unagented novelist at the start of your career?

Do you find contracts bewildering?

Have you written a book and don’t know what to do with it? 

I have worked in the Intellectual Property (IP) and licensing sector for over a decade. I’m also a novelist and creative writing mentor. Over the years I’ve answered a lot of questions from traditionally published writers who are at the start of their careers. 

A lot of writers find the business of licensing IP confusing and contracts impenetrable. Often, even when they seek legal advice, they aren’t given a context in which to interpret this advice. 

This easy-to-read guide will give you the tools you need to take charge of your author career.

You will learn: 

Chapter 1: Becoming a professional Writer

• What are you writing now?
• Balancing craft and money
• Think of your writing as a business

Chapter 2: Intellectual Property

• What is IP? 
• Copyright 
• What does this actually mean for your author business?
• What is NOT covered by copyright?
• Fair use
• Other people’s copyright
• Works in the public domain
• Trademarks

Chapter 3: Slicing up IP - Your work is more than the one thing you wrote

Chapter 4: Contracts

• Reading contracts - notes for the bewildered
• Common sections you’d expect to see in a publisher contract
• How do authors get paid?
• Tax

Chapter 5: Publishing Pathways

Chapter 6: Traditional publishers

• The ‘big five’
• Small publishers
• Ubound - part publisher, part crowdfunding platform
• What does a publisher do for you?
• Who is involved
• Things to consider when you’re talking to a publisher
• So, should you sign that publishing contract that you’ve been offered?
• Red flags
• Manage your expectations

Chapter 7: Vanity publishers

• Paying for production services
• Book Production companies
• Red flags
• 
  

Chapter 8: Self publishing aka Independent (‘indie’) publishing

• Manage your expectations
• Red Flags

Chapter 9: Working with an agent

• What does an agent do for you?
• Do you need an agent?
• Manage your expectations
• Red flags
• The very basics of submitting to agents

Chapter 10: Branding and Pen names

• What is a brand?
• Pen name(s) are part of your brand
• Advantages of having a pen name
• Disadvantages of having a pen name
• Pen names on social media
• When do you not use your pen name?

Chapter 11: Self promotion

• Websites
• Social Media
• Useful skills to learn for a professional author

Chapter 12: Alternative sources of income (until you have your big hit)

• Talks and seminars
• Bonus money from your existing books 

Chapter 13: It’ll be okay, keep writing

Chapter 14: Resource list

• Author organisations
• Places to Research Foreign Rights
• Useful books
• Useful Podcasts and Websites
• Design resources
• Social media scheduling tools
• Newsletter providers
• IP resources