AWP: Before You Sign: What Authors Should Know About Contracts

Writers aren’t often trained in negotiation skills. You may be tempted to sign on the dotted line immediately when you land a book contract, option a story for film, or score a coveted freelance gig. It’s worth taking a moment to negotiate, because you might be leaving money on the table—or worse, giving away precious rights to your own creative work. Attorneys from the Authors Guild will offer negotiating tips and explain the common pitfalls to watch for in publishing contracts, film options, and freelancer agreements.