According to the Leon Newfakn's New York Observer article yesterday, publishers are more frequently demanding the return of advances on late books. In some cases, it's because the book is really late. (We're talkin' years, folks, in some cases.) In other cases, maybe the publisher's overextended and simply trying to cut its losses on a book they suspect won't be a money-maker. (Boo! Hiss! Let 'em do a P&L - profit and loss statement - up front and take their chances, just as we are.)
To keep in the clear, be prompt whenever possible. If you see you're not going to be able to deliver on time, for heaven's sake, chat with your editor about this. Generally, there's a bit of wiggle room to play with. But two years (surprise!) doesn't cut it.
Any thoughts on this development?
Comments
I'm serious as a heart attack about every deadline. This is a business. We're expected to conduct ourselves like professionals.
(Even if we do work in jammy pants.)
And I have even less sympathy for those publishers who routinely blow off their contractual obligations with the thought that it will be too expensive (not to mention dangerous to their careers) for authors to come after them in court.
Back to the salt mine...