To protect their intellectual property rights, authors need to understand the essentials of publishing contracts, from grants of rights to termination clauses and severability. That knowledge gives individuals the confidence to evaluate, negotiate, and succeed in forming mutually beneficial agreements.

This talk will cover the basic structure of a publishing agreement, elements to be sure are present, and items to watch out for. You’ll learn essential terminology that might be confusing and find out about new contract terms that address generative AI and other modern-day contract issues. 

If you have submitted to our club’s biennial anthology, Fault Zone, this is an especially important presentation. If accepted, you’ll receive a publishing agreement; this talk will empower you to understand that agreement fully.

(Disclaimer: No part of this session should be construed as legal advice. It is designed to be informative and will include information on how to connect with resources that provide specific legal advice.)

Vanessa MacLaren-Wray is a Stanford-trained Ph.D. engineer who writes speculative fiction about humans and other people making connections in a complex universe. She’s the author of the Patchwork Universe series, including All That Was Asked, Shadows of Insurrection, and Flames of Attrition. She hosts online open mics for the California Writers Club and guest-hosts for the podcast Small Publishing in a Big Universe. Her consulting career has taught her the importance of contracts for ensuring that both parties to an agreement understand what’s intended and how not having a contract can be a formula for disaster.