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How much do you think you'd regret making that deal?

Rather a lot, I'd say!

Ach! What a shame. And it sounds like a great book.

Flat-rate contracts like this should have provision for a further payment if the sales go over a certain amount, or if the publisher sells it on elsewhere.

Emma

So should a writer always hold out for royalties on the offchance do you think?
Naomi

It's hard to know, isn't it. You hear about the songwriter who was took the flat fee, and it went on to be a hit, but you don't hear about the one who got a flat fee which was more than they would have ended up getting in royalites on a not-hit.

Emma

Yes, a real quandary, and I don't think most writers feel that they have the power or the kudos or whatever to hold out for better deals, because we have nothing to bargain with. I've occasionally held out and got myself a better contract/deal, but usually only on a project I don't care as much about and so wouldn't be devastated if I lost it. I think you have to have nerves of steel, or something else made of steel, and also be able to play the long game... or have a really amazing agent, of course. or a trust fund...

I'm sure that's true. It's like asking for a pay rise; only threaten to leave if you don't get it if you really are prepared to.

The Society of Authors has a leaflet on publishing contracts which I'm sure discusses this flat fee issue... it's a bit easier to cite them as the authority than come across as an individually stroppy author.

One way if more money isn't an option, though, is to hold out for something else - lots of free copies you can then sell on yourself, perhaps. And I think the more-money-if-you-sell-tons is perhaps more likely to succeed than some arguments because it doesn't commit the publisher up front, only if it's a success. And of course flat fee shouldn't mean giving up your copyright, though I know often it does, and then you meet your text, translated into fifteen languages, selling in every single shop in the world, and you haven't made an extra penny...

Emma