Daily Archives: March 14, 2022

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Book Contracts: The Drunk Lawyer Clause

Some contract clauses are so stupid you swear only a drunk lawyer could have written them. With book contracts, this lawyer was the drunkest. But I’m getting ahead of myself. A number of years ago I was the freelance editor of a four-volume set of books known as the Banned Books Series that were published by Facts On File, a major reference publisher. I was offered a modest advance — well, not too modest; it enabled my wife and me to make the down payment on our first house. Contributors Give Me Editor Royalty They offered me no royalty, just the advance, because that’s how book editors were traditionally treated. I told my agent I wanted a royalty also. I knew it wouldn’t be a major windfall; the writers deserved […]

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