Tag: #permissions

Setting Yourself Up for Success Post-Contract

Leave a comment

Once you’ve signed that coveted book contract, the journey is far from over. In fact, it’s just beginning. The following are three actions to take to ensure a smooth and successful publication process.

  1. Establish a writing schedule: A well-structured writing schedule is essential for staying on track and delivering your manuscript on time. Remember to include ample time for reviewing and revising your work. Some authors set apart their weekends or summer while others prefer to hit a certain word count each month. Whatever you choose, commit to it. A solid writing schedule should also include time to review and revise your work. Use productivity tools like Grammarly and time-management software like Microsoft’s Focus Time feature to help you stay on track.
  2. Fire up your audience with a listserv: A listserv is a valuable tool for connecting with your readers and keeping them informed about your book’s progress. By inviting your audience to subscribe, you can build a loyal following and generate excitement for your upcoming publication. You can offer them exclusive sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes glimpses into your progress. Updates should be sent regularly, including milestones like your cover reveal and when your book is available to preorder.
  3. Secure necessary permissions: If your book includes any third-party materials, such as graphs, illustrations, lyrics, or excerpts from other works, you must obtain the necessary permissions to reprint them. Do not assume fair use is applicable. Failure to do so could lead to legal issues and potential copyright infringement. Some publishers will not send your book to the printer if there are outstanding permissions, which could cause a delayed release.

You can have an efficient, successful publishing experience by following these steps.

Identifying 3 Ways to Locate Copyright Holders

Leave a comment

You’re publishing a piece and decide that a text (poem, song lyrics, book quotes longer than 500 words) or visual someone else created would help illustrate your point. You don’t want to include the other party’s work without written permission from that party because (1) you could be sued if she finds out and (2) you’re an honest person who wants to make sure all responsible parties get proper credit. What can you do track down the rights holder?

  1. If the material you want is reprinted in a book, look for the copyright holder on the book’s copyright page. This page usually appears after the title page. Many will list the rights holder at the top after the copyright symbol, ©. Usually, the rights holder’s contact information (or her publisher’s contact information) is on the page.
  2. Visit Copyright Clearance Center (http://www.copyright.com/). At the bottom of its home screen there’s a heading “Get Permissions.” Select “Permissions Search” under that heading and you’ll be taken to a page where you can search for a resource by its title, ISBN, or ISSN. Once you’ve located the work, you can follow the CCC’s directions to request permission to use it.
  3. Do an online search for the name of the work’s creator. If the rights holder is working in the public sector (university professor or state superintendent); you should be able to access a mailing address, email address, or phone number. I’ve also found the White Pages (http://www.whitepages.com) helpful, but I would caution you that it should be a last approach. You could easily locate the wrong John Smith or piss the rights holder off by infringing on his home life.

Happy hunting!