Saturday, April 27th, 2024

2-Part Zoom Seminar

Live Seminar Via Zoom

Starts at 1PM EST/ 12PM CST/10AM PST

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

*A recording of this seminar will be made available to enrollees.

Led by industry-leading literary agent at Trident Media Group Mark Gottlieb.

In today's competitive publishing landscape, authors and aspiring writers need a solid understanding of publishing contracts and book deals to navigate the complexities of the industry successfully. This short course provides an essential overview of the key elements and considerations involved in these agreements, empowering participants to make informed decisions and protect their creative and financial interests.    

Throughout the course, participants will explore the crucial components of publishing contracts, including rights and royalties, manuscript delivery schedules, advance payments, and termination clauses. They will learn how to decipher contract language, negotiate favorable terms, and safeguard their intellectual property rights. Additionally, the course will delve into the intricacies of book deals, such as the importance of a well-crafted book proposal, agent representation, and the publishing process from acquisition to release.    

By the end of this course, participants will have gained invaluable insights into the world of publishing contracts and book deals. They will be equipped with the knowledge to engage in meaningful discussions with publishers, agents, and other industry professionals. Whether seeking traditional publishing avenues or considering self-publishing, understanding these critical aspects will empower participants to make informed decisions, protect their creative work, and maximize their opportunities for success in the publishing world.

Mark Gottlieb is a highly ranked literary agent both in overall deals and other individual categories. Using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers, he is actively building his own client list of authors. Mark Gottlieb is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources that are available at book publishing’s leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. During his time at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented numerous New York Times bestselling authors, as well as award-winning authors, and has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. He previously ran the agency’s audiobook department, in addition to working in foreign rights. Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looking forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

Session 1: 1:00 PM EST - 1:45 PM EST via Zoom

10-minute BREAK

Session 2: 1:55 PM EST - 3:00 PM EST via Zoom

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Comprehensive understanding of the key elements and components of publishing contracts.
• Ability to decipher contract language and identify important terms and clauses.
• Knowledge of rights and royalties, advance payments, and manuscript delivery schedules.
• Understanding of termination clauses and their implications.
• Insight into negotiating favorable terms and protecting intellectual property rights.
• Familiarity with the intricacies of book deals and the publishing process.
• Understanding the role of agents and their impact on book deals.
• Ability to engage in meaningful discussions with publishers and industry professionals.
• Empowerment to make informed decisions and maximize opportunities for success in the publishing world.

TESTIMONIALS:

“To find someone in the publishing world these days who possesses such style and grace…a throwback. Crown moldings and brass door knocker in a world of prefab housing.”

—Lesley Kagen, New York Times bestselling author

“He is professional, knowledgeable, and deeply cares about the careers of his clients. …I'm lucky to have Mark in my corner!”

—Alan Hlad, USA Today bestselling author

“My writing career never would have advanced as fast or as far without Mark's help.” —James Breakwell, bestselling author

“He goes above and beyond his work expectations by cultivating caring relationships with his clients, always expressing empathy and patience. He is kind, supportive and knows what he's doing.”

—Ruby Karp, author of Earth Hates Me

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:

"I wanted to thank you for your time this weekend for the Hook and Query writing seminar. It's hard to know from reading articles alone what a query letter or pitch should look like." -Jed H., Workshop Student

"It was my absolute pleasure to meet you virtually on Saturday! Thank you for the wealth of detailed information and on-the-spot, yet carefully crafted critiques you shared with each of us— the experience is treasured, and invaluable." -Mica K., Workshop Student

"Saturday’s class opened my eyes to the mistakes of my query submissions, which boil down to two crucial elements: word count & comps. Soliciting a bloated manuscript with no comps outside of a couple of 20+ year-old movie references advertised a novice understanding of the publishing industry, making me a rightful candidate for the rejection pile." -William W., Workshop Student

"Thank you, Mark, for this wonderful workshop!" -Diane G., Workshop Student

“You gave me enough writing technique and marketing information to feel like I can get started with confidence. Thank you!” — Workshop Student

“Thank you for being so diligent, so focused and so professional in your approach to the class. I found the whole experience exceeded my most optimistic expectations.” — Workshop Student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This Workshop will meet via Zoom on Saturday, April 27th, 2024.

Session 1 will be 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM EST

10-minute Break Between Sessions

Session 2 will be 1:55 PM – 3:00 PM EST

*Recordings of all sessions will be made available to everyone who enrolls.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

DISCLAIMER: This workshop is not being offered as a means of obtaining legal advice for understanding legalese in publishing contracts. This course is simply meant as a general overview of publishing contracts and should not be taken as legal advice.