So You Think You Want To Be Published

Here's what you should look for in a basic contract...

So...you want to be published, you say?

You've got readers gushing on your message boards about their favorite characters, your story has climbed the hot list and rung in hundreds of thousands or even millions of reads. Maybe a publisher has approached you or you are wondering how to get your story to be on the shelves of the local bookstore.

If you don't know how to navigate the world of publishing, we have put together this two-part guide to publishing contracts to help make sure you have as much information you need to make the best decision for yourself and your beloved story. Note that this guide tackles print publication of a single author with a Philippine publisher (and concerns a book you made for yourself, not for-hire or as a commission), so while some principles will be helpful even in other contexts, this guide was made with that specific scenario in mind.

We hope this resource empowers you when negotiating contracts with publishers -- and the most important thing to remember is that you can and should negotiate for better terms if you want them. Will all publishers be willing to negotiate? No. But that willingness or unwillingness to do so is also something important for you to discover and to factor into your decisions about the future of your story. The story is your intellectual property and you have every right to ask for terms that are important to you, and to find another publisher if you are unsatisfied.

Special thanks to Paolo Chikiamco who compiled these resources in collaboration with the National Book Development Board. Mr. Chikiamco runs Rocket Kapre, a blog dedicated to publishing and promoting Filipino writers.

Remember, this is a list of the most basic terms your contract needs -- it doesn't describe what your ideal contract should look like. For a look at some author-fair terms that you will want your contract to have, take a look at part 2 of this guide.

My story has reached a million reads and I've got tons of followers. I've just been approached by someone who wants to publish my book. What should I do first?

First things first, if you are interested in the opportunity and have done a background check on the publisher to make sure they are reputable -- for instance, checking that they are registered with the National Book Development Board -- you should ask them for a contract that will outline the terms of the publishing deal. This contract is created by the publisher and will contain the details of what they are asking from you and what you will get in return.

Know that you can ask questions or for changes and that you do not need to sign it right away, or even at all, until you have fully reviewed the contract and are confident that you understand all the terms.

A publisher has given me a contract to sign, but I don't understand what some of it means. What do I do?

Not to worry! We can work through this...and for the rest of the terms that you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask the publisher for a clarification in simpler language, or seek the opinion of someone who knows more than you about such contracts, such as a lawyer.

Now here IS what we can help you with. Listed below are terms you should look for in a contract. These terms are what certain author advocates consider to be the bare minimum that you should look for in a contract from a Philippine publisher, terms that are pre-requisites to an equitable, and reasonably enforceable contract. You should not feel shy about asking a publisher for the inclusion of the following terms / details / information. It will let the publisher know that you are informed, know what a fair contract might look like and are willing to negotiate for it.

1. The contract should include your full name and address as well as the name and address of the publisher. Even if you want to use a pseudonym on the cover of the actual book, the contract should have your real name so that no one else can claim to be the real party to the contract. After all, you have proof of your real name (birth certificate, passport, etc.) but the same can't be said for your pseudonym in most cases.