Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Nullify – definition: to cancel; to render or declare legally void or inoperative.

In law, void means of no legal effect. An action, document or transaction, which is void is of no legal effect whatsoever: an absolute nullity — the law treats it as if it had never existed or happened.

As writers, we have to deal with multiple aspects of the writing journey. Once we have ‘finished’ writing our manuscript there is the editing and revision to tackle, followed by feedback from beta readers and more revision. Researching venues to place our story is next on the agenda. Do we self-publish or submit to traditional publishers? If we do find a publisher and they accept our work what is the next step? Well, it’s probably reading a contract with the compulsory small print. I am not, in any way, qualified to give advice on this particular subject. However, I did find some interesting links that discuss the downside of some contracts. The first link is from a site I regularly visit – Writer Beware.

http://accrispin.blogspot.ca/2011/06/getting-out-of-your-book-contract-maybe.html

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/less-than-minimum-wage-for-authors/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/the-traps-in-publishing-contracts/

http://jakonrath.blogspot.ca/2012/05/unconscionability.html

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jan/10/joe-simpson-publisher-ebook-royalties

I suggest getting legal counsel of some kind to read through any contract. The legalese is more than the average person can handle anyway.

Do you have a contract experience you can share?

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• The Publishing Contract – writer beware! (thrillingwriting.wordpress.com)