Novelists, Inc. Position Papers

BEST PRACTICES

While affirming the freedom of each writer to negotiate in his or her own best interests, Novelists, Inc., presents the following rights that should be inalienable to all book authors as Best Practices that should be in use in publishing.

The right to negotiate contracts in good faith, the right to honest and unconflicted representation by a literary agent, and the right to mediation when conflicts about authors' and publishers' rights and responsibilities cannot be settled informally.
The right to copyright ownership on all novels or nonfiction works written solely by the author and to "moral rights" to those works, as defined in the Berne Convention.
The right to an advance against royalties that reflects an author's anticipated royalty earnings.
The right to prompt payment of monies due, acceptance of a completed manuscript and exercise of publisher's option clauses on subsequent works.
The right to a realistic period of time in which to review copyedited manuscripts and page proofs. The right to the final say on all changes.
The right to be consulted about cover design and cover copy.
The right to control the use of the author's writing names and/or pseudonyms without limitation.
The right to sign all subsidiary rights contracts for a particular work, unless author has specifically authorized for such contracts to be signed by author’s agent or publisher. The right to be notified of all licensing and reprinting.
The right to accurate and separate accounting of the publication of their books, including the right to audit the publisher with an unlimited look-back period. The right to clear and complete royalty statements. The right to release of all reserves after four reporting periods. The right to complete reconciliation to print upon request. The right to a copy of all subsidiary rights contracts upon request.
The right to a swift reversion of rights when a book is out of print; any book declared "Out of Stock" for more than three months shall be deemed Out of Print. Reversion to the author of any subsidiary rights not exploited by the publisher within two years of first publication.
The right to the most effective protections available against electronic piracy or other violations of copyright.
The right to receive effective marketing of the author's work from a publisher, including a copy of promotional materials and listing of outlets sent any material, as well as the publisher's timely and practical support of the author's self-promotion.

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