Comments on: New Author Question: Do I Need an Agent? http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:41:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Chris http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-4462 Chris Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:27:36 +0000 http://www.ckwebb.com/books/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/#comment-4462 Hi Ally, I suppose it depends on your intent for these notebooks. As treasured family keepsakes, I don't think I would loan them out to anyone, personally. Perhaps you can loan out photocopies? If you want to publish them, loaning them to someone to read makes no difference - under US copyright law your mother already has a copyright in the works. If you have no desire to publish them commercially, you could easily make them available under a CC license or other type of share-alike license so that others may enjoy your mother's stories. An agent or attorney that specializes in IP and copyright issues can give you more detailed advice. Good luck. Chris Hi Ally,

I suppose it depends on your intent for these notebooks. As treasured family keepsakes, I don’t think I would loan them out to anyone, personally. Perhaps you can loan out photocopies?

If you want to publish them, loaning them to someone to read makes no difference – under US copyright law your mother already has a copyright in the works.

If you have no desire to publish them commercially, you could easily make them available under a CC license or other type of share-alike license so that others may enjoy your mother’s stories.

An agent or attorney that specializes in IP and copyright issues can give you more detailed advice.

Good luck.

Chris

]]> By: Ally Goguen http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-4418 Ally Goguen Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:15:16 +0000 http://www.ckwebb.com/books/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/#comment-4418 I simply have a queston for all of the agents out there my mother has written over the years a wonderful series of stories small books if you will, with the most facinating characters and sub stories, I grew up with these stories, about a Fairy ruler called Miss Lizzie,and her magic crystal wand, they were great fun as a child, well anyway they are all in these note books and I have started reading them to kids at the daycare where I work. One of the parents wants to take the note books home with her, is this a good idea. Should I let her take these, they are not anything that has ever been published or told to anyone outside of our family, and the daycare, I am also not asking for an angent for Mom just a little advise thanks. I simply have a queston for all of the agents out there my mother has written over the years a wonderful series of stories small books if you will, with the most facinating characters and sub stories, I grew up with these stories, about a Fairy ruler called Miss Lizzie,and her magic crystal wand, they were great fun as a child, well anyway they are all in these note books and I have started reading them to kids at the daycare where I work. One of the parents wants to take the note books home with her, is this a good idea. Should I let her take these, they are not anything that has ever been published or told to anyone outside of our family, and the daycare, I am also not asking for an angent for Mom just a little advise thanks.

]]> By: Wiley Publisher Joe Wikert Wins Blogging Award | Chris Webb: Publishing, Media, and Technology http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Wiley Publisher Joe Wikert Wins Blogging Award | Chris Webb: Publishing, Media, and Technology Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:04:59 +0000 http://www.ckwebb.com/books/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/#comment-51 [...] publishing categories (we don’t publish fiction, for instance) I have access to many agents and colleagues outside of Wiley and will do my best to get an answer for [...] [...] publishing categories (we don’t publish fiction, for instance) I have access to many agents and colleagues outside of Wiley and will do my best to get an answer for [...]

]]> By: Matt Wagner http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Matt Wagner Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:29:04 +0000 http://www.ckwebb.com/books/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/#comment-29 Hey Chris, I like the new blog! I'll echo Neil, Murphy's Law is pretty much a constant of the publishing universe, even (or especially) in tech publishing. A competent agent can be a great help in making sure a project stays on track. Likewise, an incompetent or uninvolved agent can be a detriment. Not only do editors come and go, often entire publishing companies are bought and sold and it's helpful to have someone looking out for the author's interest. Agents also have the benefit of having seen countless contracts and royalty statements from each publisher and should have a good handle on what can be done to get the best terms possible, and what sorts of hidden problems may exist in the boilerplate contract. Hey Chris, I like the new blog!

I’ll echo Neil, Murphy’s Law is pretty much a constant of the publishing universe, even (or especially) in tech publishing. A competent agent can be a great help in making sure a project stays on track. Likewise, an incompetent or uninvolved agent can be a detriment.

Not only do editors come and go, often entire publishing companies are bought and sold and it’s helpful to have someone looking out for the author’s interest. Agents also have the benefit of having seen countless contracts and royalty statements from each publisher and should have a good handle on what can be done to get the best terms possible, and what sorts of hidden problems may exist in the boilerplate contract.

]]> By: Neil Salkind http://ckwebb.com/publishing/books-and-writing/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Neil Salkind Sat, 17 Mar 2007 23:10:08 +0000 http://www.ckwebb.com/books/new-author-question-do-i-need-an-agent/#comment-28 Being an agent, I agree with most of what Chris has to say. I do want to add one of many other reasons why I think that agents can help. Often projects just don;t go well including everything from editors leaving the company, authors getting sick, time lines not met, etc. A good agent knows how to, and does, intervene and helps smooth the bumps. Often, editors, because of their other responsibilities, are limited in how much they can help. Being an agent, I agree with most of what Chris has to say. I do want to add one of many other reasons why I think that agents can help. Often projects just don;t go well including everything from editors leaving the company, authors getting sick, time lines not met, etc. A good agent knows how to, and does, intervene and helps smooth the bumps. Often, editors, because of their other responsibilities, are limited in how much they can help.

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