Quick Update

Well, by ignoring pretty much everything else I needed to get done today, I managed to do it: the first draft of G & H is officially complete!

Pitch Madness!

I am trying desperately to finish the first draft of G&H before the end of February, which is tonight in case you forgot, so I've decided to forego my usual Flash! Friday entry.  So, I'm taking this opportunity to remind you all that this spring's Pitch Madness is almost here!  Many of you may know that my own deal with Swoon Romance started as a Twitter pitch, and the combination of Pitch Madness and its pair event, #PitMad, could lead to some great new agent + writer matches – and of course some invaluable experience.

Pitch Madness is a twice yearly online pitch contest, hosted by Brenda Drake. Each round works with a special theme or game, and this time around it's the murder mystery game, Clue.  Submissions include a 35-word (max) pitch and the first 250 words of your manuscript. 

The schedule, from Brenda's website:

• Hosts and their teams Introduction on March 3
• Agent Introduction on March 4
• Rules of the Game on March 6
• Formatting Instructions March 7
• Submission window will be on March 10 and will be open for 24 hours
• The top 60 picks for the agent round will go up on the blogs on March 18 at 12:01AM EST (NY time)
• March 20 at 12PM EDT (Noon) the agents requests are revealed, and right afterward is the tying agents challenge round
• There will be a #PitMad Twitter Pitch Party on March 25 from 8AM to 8PM EST. 

Remember to only submit if your manuscript is polished and ready to be seen by an agent, but otherwise, get those pitches ready.  And if you're working on a pitch and would like to give & get some feedback, feel free to use the comments section! (Please make sure any comments on others' pitches are constructive).

Contract Basics: Option Clause

The Option Clause in a contract is all about the future of your career. Basically, in this clause, you promise your current publisher the first chance to negotiate an offer for your next book. Many people advise against having this contractual obligation at all, but as long as it's written fairly, all it means is that you will either have another contract coming your way without having to send out multiple queries, or you may have to wait a little longer before querying your next project. That being said, a poorly negotiated option clause can severely limit the future of your writing career, so pay attention!

What you should watch out for: 

• Definition of "next work"—this should be as specific as possible. For instance, the contract may actually say "Author's next work," but it is in your interest to narrow that down as much as possible, e.g. to next novel-length work, in a specific genre and a specific age category. If you're writing under a pseudonym for one genre but not for another, you could also add "written under the pseudonym ____" or "written as _____." If you are planning on writing more books with characters from the first, or in the same world, you can even limit this clause to a future novel-length work featuring characters from this book, or to the next book in this series, etc.

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-11

I have to admit, this week's prompt – a combination of the photo below and the concept of "aging" – stumped me at first.  Reconciling the serenity of that suspended flight with the idea of un-haltingly passing time was tough.  But, here goes:

Contract Basics: Finances (part 2)

In part one, I discussed advances and royalties, but the financial aspects of your contract do not end there.  Here goes part two!

Bonuses:

• Bonuses may be set to commemorate certain achievements, such as 5000 copies sold in the first month or making it onto the NYT Bestseller List within 60 days of publication, etc.
• This money is not paid as an advance, so it does not have to be earned out.  It is paid in addition to royalties earned from the sales that help you reach that goal.

Flash! Friday: Prompt #2-10

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you took the time today to remind yourself and your loved ones of the value of romance – whether virtually, personally, or with the pages of a beloved book.  

Valentine's or not, it's time for this week's Flash! Friday entry!  This week's required element is "patience," in a 150-word (+/-10) story based on this photo: