Loose Change

I don’t actually know most of the Loose Id authors who publish with us.  I am friends with several in ways quite apart from our publisher/author relationship.  I’ve met a few face-to-face and others I have lengthy e-mail chats with.  Many I know only as signatures on contracts and through their imagination in their books.

And all of them sign contracts with Loose Id that outline our expectations of them.  The publishing world runs on deadlines and contracts and having all parties live up to their agreements.  I’d much rather have someone state they have difficulties with a deadline ahead of time than find out too late that they have no intention of meeting that deadline.

I’m dismayed when I hear an author or a publisher intends to not live up to his or her obligations because that fosters the impression your contract is not actually meant to be binding.  Of course emergencies happen.  But emergency is different from convenience.

For those who are dealing with the bankruptcy or disappearance of their e-publisher, think about what assets most e-publishers have.  Authors argue that the contracts are not assets.  As I’ve said elsewhere, I’m not a bankruptcy lawyer.  But, outside of contracts, generally what does an e-publisher or author have by way of assets in this business?  Some hardware and software that you can buy elsewhere and the goodwill you’ve built up with your reputation.  Your reputation is something that you can’t get at a store.

Think about what you’re doing when you sign a contract or commit to a deadline.