CelebratewithStyle has announced another writing contest!
Mother’s Day Contest
Share a wonderful story about an experience you had with Mom.
It can be a touching or funny story–one that took place
either when you were a child or an adult.
Enter now!
You could win $250 worth of salon or spa pampering!
Click here for contest details
and to enter our Mother’s Day contest
As some of you may remember, one of my visitors won the Valentine’s Day contest. Will you win this time around? Enter to find out. Good luck!
This is how Linda’s contract worked: when she received her book deal, she received half of her advance at the signing of the contract and the other half when the project was submitted and accepted.
Though Linda received her advance in two payments, many publishers have implemented a three payment schedule - partial payment at the signing of the contract, delivery of the first draft, and the last when the book is published. This schedule means that it will take years before a writer receives her full advance.
Let’s use Linda has an example to illustrate the point above.
1) She received a book contract in 2006
2) The book was submitted in 2007
3) The book was published in 2008
Under the three tier system, she would have received payment almost a full year AFTER she fullfilled her end of the contract. Yikes!
This is where an agent can help. He can negotiate the terms and push for the two-payment option. If he is unsuccessful, then he can negotiate the terms of payment for the three-payment option.
For example:
1) 45% at the signing of the contract
2) 45% when the first draft is submitted and accepted
3) 10% when the book is published
Many writers wonder what the purpose of an agent is besides their portofolio of contacts. Negotiations is a part of their job and a good agent is worth his 15% commission (that’s industry average).
Benjamin LeRoy is the founder of Bleak House Books says: An author’s job is to write something undeniably great from Word One. There are no excuses. There is no wait-and-see policy for things that cross my desk. Either the book has it from the opening Once Upon a Time or it doesn’t. And in seven years of reading submissions I’ve learned that if I don’t get moved on page one, I’m not going to get moved on page one hundred. Read the rest of the article.
This week’s pick isn’t a movie, but rather a documentary that recreates the “doll test” where black boys and girls are asked their perception of two dolls: one is black, the other white. The embedded video has the complete 8 minute documentary. I finished reading Of Mice and Men two days ago and began reading The Color of Water. A memoir by James McBride. He was born to a black man and a white Jewish woman. So far this memoir is TERRIFIC! I encourage everyone to read it. In the meantime, check out A Girl Like Me.
The card said so so maybe she’ll be alright. But what is the definition of “alright”? Is it that she won’t get kicked out of her apartment? Or is it that when the divorce is over, years later she’ll be exactly where she wants to be?
Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing Blue is my favorite color, but I don’t know if I find blue soothing. All I know is that I look damn good in the color.
Soup
Using 20 words or less, describe your first driving experience. Though not my first, this is the one I remember most. I was in my parent’s diesel car and my big sister Bobbi was sitting in the passenger’s seat. The car made a lot of noise. The faster I went, the more noise the car made. I was quite intimindated. The driver in back of me became impatient, beeped the horn, and decided to pass me. When I turned to look at the driver, it was a nun. I looked at my speedometer and I was driving about twenty miles per hour.
Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of. I have no idea. Probably cotton mixed with something else.
Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see? Billy Joel.
Dessert What is the most frequent letter in the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc) R. It appears three times.
