REPOST: Can a pandemic ruin your publishing contract?

by Jodé Millman

I try to keep up on publishing contract news even though I've reviewed eight contracts at length (no, I didn't sign them all and you probably shouldn't either). But all of my reviewing happened before Covid-19. It's important that writers focus on the business end of writing, not just on craft.

Originally in this month's column, I had intended to examine some of the key provisions of a publishing agreement, but overnight our world seemed to change. Topics such as royalties, subsidiary rights, the advance, and author's input regarding book title and artwork will have to wait for another time.