Book Deal

[Lacedaemonian]

I hope that the movies are of the Hawk the Slayer brand!

[I, Brian]

There's a big difference between buying the movie rights, and actually making a movie, though.

My initial suspicion is that studios will try and buy out the movie rights for newer writers as a sort of investment - buy as cheaply as possible, and then hang on to them so that if the writer excels the studio doesn't have to pay current market price - else will simply sell the rights on for a profit.

[aurelio]

No need to rain on Mark's parade yet Brian!

They usually step the deals - a chunk of money for the rights (sometimes for a certain amount of time, which is recommended, rather than forever, which they also try to do sometimes - "...in perpetuity in the entire universe" - I'm not kidding, that's how they word it), a chunk of money when it goes into production (this is usually a more significant amount of money), and then a chunk of money when the film is done (usually matches the second chunk). There may also be performance royalties after the fact, as well as a first draft deal if the writer gets first crack at the screenplay.

That two different studios are showing interest is good for Mark. They may start a bidding war, which means more money up front and overall.

The trickier aspects are attached costs and things like that. If a studio has your property for a certain amount of time and "develop" it, they run up costs, which they may attach to your project. Then when and if they decide not to do it, those costs follow the property (you need to read the fine print, it depends on how the contract is worded). This extra cost then has to be reimbursed by any new interested party and if it's a lot of money it makes it harder to get a new studio interested.

It doesn't hurt anything to take an offer, even one that doesn't pay a lot initially, if they don't tie it up forever and don't attach costs. It is also true that every deal in Hollywood can be renegotiated if the situation significantly changes. For example, if Marks books all end up on the best sellers list and he made a cheap deal for the rights, the studio would fully expect to be re-approached by Mark's representatives to renegotiate the deal. They'll want to keep him happy so they can get more of his work. I believe this happened with J.K. Rowling. Most of the time they leave the first deal alone and just make a new deal that compensates for the first.

That Mark has a foot in the door to this process is not insignificant, Brian. While it is true that he may not get a zillion pounds up front, many people spend a lifetime trying to get what Mark just got!

You go, Mark!

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

There's a big difference between buying the movie rights, and actually making a movie, though.

My initial suspicion is that studios will try and buy out the movie rights for newer writers as a sort of investment - buy as cheaply as possible, and then hang on to them so that if the writer excels the studio doesn't have to pay current market price - else will simply sell the rights on for a profit.

Ah, Brian, your cynicism is so spot on! My agent has explained the process to me in some detail. I don't expect to get much for the rights, but apparantly, much like a book deal, if you can get the companies to bid against each other such that they pay a reasonable amount for the rights - the more they pay for the rights, the more they are likely to make the film. If they do ever make the film, then that's when the big bucks roll in. However, as Aurelio pointed out, many people would give their right arm to be looked at, so I'm pretty happy with the whole situation.

I thought it was strange that no one responded when I posted the news a month ago, but now I'm overwhelmed by all the congrats - thank you all.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Stargazer1976

Hello Mark

I am rather new to all this type of talk and was wondering if I have the right understanding here. If I follow correctly you were originally made an offer on a two book deal with an option for a third and that offer was then doubled?

Also, how much do those numbers change with the type of Genre your writing as well as the degree to which the publishers like your work.

Thanks Bob

Stargazer,

Your logic was correct. The final deal was a 2 book deal for a five figure sum/book with an option on a third. They have also taken an option on my other 4 self published books. I'm told that this is better than average for a new author. My understanding is that if you get offered 10 000 per book, this is a 'good' deal. However, my bargaining position was strengthened by the fact that I've already sold over 25 000 copies of my self published works, so I got a bit more than this.

There is always the exception to the rule, and the occasional author will get a ridiculously high advance for a first novel. However, this places a lot of expectation on that novel's sales and if it doesn't live up to its hype... bye bye career. All in all I'm more than happy with the deal I've got.

[Stargazer1976]

Thanks for the reply and congrats from me as well.

Bob

[dwndrgn]

I missed all the excitement! Major congratulations! I hope the movie studios duke it out and get you a good deal. However, I'm even more hopeful that a movie gets made - how cool is that?! I can't wait to start reading them.

[I, Brian]

Apologies, I certainly wasn't trying to sound disrespectful. I think I was more trying to make a point that there's a difference between rights being bought, and an actual movie adaption being made. However, the more Mark can sell him work, then obviously that's all to the good.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Apologies, I certainly wasn't trying to sound disrespectful. I think I was more trying to make a point that there's a difference between rights being bought, and an actual movie adaption being made. However, the more Mark can sell him work, then obviously that's all to the good.

There was no offense taken, Brian. Your summation was very accurate. Let's just hope that they like the idea enough to make the movie someday.

[Lacedaemonian]

That would be a dream come true. Hollywood still seems very nervous about making fantasy movies even with the success of Harry Potter and LOTR. They're a bunch of losers and that will never change. Was it Miramax who wanted to make LOTR as one movie?

[aurelio]

My only point, Brian, was that you do tend to go to the downside of things first.

That's not meant as a criticism really, it's simply your habit, and while everything you said was absolutely true, it's like arriving at a party and immediately reminding the host that they'll have a lot of mess to clean up after. Although it's true, it can be a bit of a downer, my friend. I know you don't mean it that way, and it's good to have balance of perspectives, so stay your sensible self, just keep in mind that every once in a while good things actually do happen!

Let's celebrate with Mark a little first. I'm sure reality will probably not be everything he hopes it will, but tomorrow will take care of itself, and it sounds like his agent has it all well in hand.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by aurelio

My only point, Brian, was that you do tend to go to the downside of things first.

I try to temper realism with cynicism. Sometimes I am over cynical, though, and need reminding of that.

[Stargazer1976]

Mark,

I was hoping that you might give a few examples as to exactly what types of things you are doing when you are editing. Are they specific parts of the manuscript that the publisher wants changed? If so what do they tell you? Is it along the lines of what they want it to be like or is it just we don't like this section so re-write it. Just what percentage of the overall manuscript do they want edited? Also any insight you may add along a different line would be appreciated.

Bob

[Mark Robson]

Bob,

Where to start? The re-write that they've asked for is pretty major. A new major character and a complete change of ending to open the way for a series rather than a one-off novel make for pretty big changes to begin with! On top of this, when I sent off the first 4 re-written chapters to include the new characters, I was instantly faced with a two page critique that was simply a list of questions. These asked probing questions about motives of characters, would certain events really happen in the way I've depicted, would a character really act in a certain way in the given circumstance. The editor made me question just about everything I'd written. The parting shot was that the script wasn't ready for a line by line edit yet!

I'm still really in the very early days of dealing with them, but so far I'm impressed with the depth that they are analysing my writing. The learning curve is very steep, but I'm hanging on in there at the moment.

Don't get me wrong. As the author, you are not obliged to change all of what they suggest and I've already started fighting my corner over some issues. However, I'm treading softly right now and trying to form a good working relationship with them.

I'm afraid that it's not appropriate for me to post sections of the writing here with the sort of changes that they've asked for, as the script is still under wraps for now. However, I will say that this novel will be one of the few fantasy stories around with absolutely NO magic in it! All my other novels have had magicians, sorcerers and wizards by the fistful. This is set in the same world, but explores another aspect of the society and events of the world I've created.

[Stargazer1976]

Thanks for the info!