Comments on Nathan Bransford, Author: Book Publishing Glossary

Thank you very much. I could spend all my time her...

2010-08-03T16:29:02.241-07:00

Thank you very much. I could spend all my time here. I will definitely bookmark your blog. It's probably the most useful one I've run across.

co-agent: An agent who sells translation rights on...

2010-03-09T13:53:38.035-08:00

co-agent: An agent who sells translation rights on behalf of a primary agent.

Am so copy/pasting myself a copy. You rock!

2009-08-22T09:54:42.864-07:00

Am so copy/pasting myself a copy. You rock!

Whoops! Thanks for spotting that, Lisa.

2009-08-17T09:37:55.560-07:00

Whoops! Thanks for spotting that, Lisa.

A hat tip to you, Nathan. As the comments acknowle...

2009-08-17T09:35:32.216-07:00

A hat tip to you, Nathan. As the comments acknowledge, this is a helpful list for those who are encountering these words and phrases for the first time.

One clarification re the term of copyright: in the U.S., for works created after 1/1/1978, the term is the author's life + 70 years (not 75); jointly authored works are protected for 70 years after the death of the last surviving author. Other works, including those that are made on a for-hire basis and works created before 1/1/78, have different terms, and knowledge of these variations can be important for authors (for example, to those seeking to use others' works as source materials).

- Lisa Lucas
Lucas LLP

Wow, the rabbit hole of publishing goes a lot deep...

2009-08-17T06:11:33.713-07:00

Wow, the rabbit hole of publishing goes a lot deeper than I ever imagined. :P

I really learned a lot in this post, so thanks!

Thanks Nathan, very valuable info. I was wonderin...

2009-08-16T21:42:17.524-07:00

Thanks Nathan, very valuable info. I was wondering about the literary fiction. I read the link, and every time I ask someone about a genre for my novel I tend to say its Litery Fiction, based on that link, and several others like it.

However, many people tell me I really don't want my novel to be sold as that genre, that's its too unpopular.

I'm wondering if an author should ever describe the novel as Literary Fiction in the query? Or, if it should just be described as the closest genre and let the Agent, if they like the query, decide which genre the novel fits into.
..........dhole

Hi, Nathan. A good glossary, but you might want t...

2009-08-16T17:53:35.586-07:00

Hi, Nathan. A good glossary, but you might want to mention that an EDITOR also performs the function of editing the ms! At least, some of us still do. Also, that editors these days are sometimes freelancers, as the in-house editor might not have time to actually edit.

What a great resource. How about adding "F&am...

2009-08-16T15:22:19.479-07:00

What a great resource. How about adding "F&G" for "folded and gathered" picture books.

You are a true hero to all of us writers.

2009-08-16T12:33:03.192-07:00

You are a true hero to all of us writers.

Awesome post!! My book just went to contracts and ...

2009-08-15T19:05:34.383-07:00

Awesome post!! My book just went to contracts and I'm talking to my editor for the first time next week. The book sold quicker than I thought it would, so this info, especially at this time, is extremely helpful! My first thought when my agent told me Wednesday about the editor call, was what if I have no clue what the editor is talking about! Thanks for the great post!

Thanks for putting this together. It helps to have...

2009-08-15T19:00:30.768-07:00

Thanks for putting this together. It helps to have everything distilled so succinctly. I know I'll be referring to it often.

I'm also curious about auctions. Are they conducted in=office, online, via conference calls, using bike messengers?

Wow, Nathan! Thanks. Thanks a heap!

2009-08-15T17:34:40.755-07:00

Wow, Nathan!
Thanks.
Thanks a heap!

When I finally sell a book, I don't want an ad...

2009-08-15T13:59:12.857-07:00

When I finally sell a book, I don't want an advance. Like a pro ball player, I want a signing bonus.

Wow! Thanks

2009-08-14T13:03:19.019-07:00

Wow! Thanks

Whoa! I can't believe you just offer all of th...

2009-08-14T12:45:41.896-07:00

Whoa! I can't believe you just offer all of this advice and knowledge as a service to us in our little homes. Thanks. Your my main entertainment of the day. :)

Very timely. I've been trying to figure out wh...

2009-08-14T11:27:29.078-07:00

Very timely. I've been trying to figure out what an ARC was for a while. I see the term alot. I was planning to Goggle it. No need now. This post also led to an excellent discription of literary fiction. Thanks Nathan. You're an excellent resource as usual.

This is invaluable! Thank you so much, Nathan. :)

2009-08-14T10:42:54.492-07:00

This is invaluable! Thank you so much, Nathan. :)

smokey- Check the FAQs, which has a link to a pos...

2009-08-14T10:33:04.938-07:00

smokey-

Check the FAQs, which has a link to a post on exclusivity, why agents want it, what authors should know, etc.

You wrote, "Exclusivity - 1. When an unpublis...

2009-08-14T10:30:29.218-07:00

You wrote, "Exclusivity - 1. When an unpublished author gives an agent an "exclusive" look at their manuscript, usually for a period of time."

Why would an author do this? Is it partiicularly helpful to be exclusive with an unsigned agent who might reject the manuscript?

Thank you so much! I'll be bookmarking this.

2009-08-14T10:26:51.524-07:00

Thank you so much! I'll be bookmarking this.

chuck h- Ah, good one.

2009-08-14T09:48:45.511-07:00

chuck h-

Ah, good one.

Excellent stuff. Like everyone here I've bookm...

2009-08-14T09:48:37.060-07:00

Excellent stuff. Like everyone here I've bookmarked it. Don't think I've seen so much basic information in one place before.

Back to work now . . . the Red Room held a "contest" last week, taking essays about the relationship between "obsession" and writing. My "obsessive" response is at http://www.redroom.com/articlestory/i-think-about-stupid-things

I saw back list and front list but what is midlist...

2009-08-14T09:47:33.507-07:00

I saw back list and front list but what is midlist?

What they all said. Word Ver: mingsco, a wholly o...

2009-08-14T09:23:29.912-07:00

What they all said.

Word Ver: mingsco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mongo Inc.