Storytellersunplugged

Where Words Meet

Negotiations

[My apologies for being a bit late with this. Due to WordPress's scheduling feature, I'll slip it in behind Richard's post, and no one will be the wiser. Except those of you who read this confession. D'oh!] 

Last month I wrote about how I needed to spend more time on my own work rather than the tie-in novels, toy development, and computer game work that occupy a good chunk of my time. (Well, the kids take up more than that, but that’s not an area in which I’m willing to trim my involvement.) So, when one of my publishers came calling with an offer for a new novel, I really had to think about it. 

To this point, I’ve agented all my own deals. Mostly this is because I work with publishers I’ve know and trust. But it means that when it comes time to put on a hard nose, it’s my face that wears it.  

The advance wasn’t as good as I’d been hoping for, and given my yearnings to do something else, it seemed like the perfect time to cut myself loose. Still, I’m a lifelong freelancer. Turning down work, smart as it may be, pains me. 

For one, I had to work hard to get my first novels lined up. Five years ago, an offer like this would have sent me bouncing off the walls with glee. Now that I have 11 such books under my belt, I wouldn’t say the thrill is gone, but I’m not the same writer I was five years ago, not even the same person.  

So I asked for more money. I write for money, after all, and more money for my efforts is always good. As the saying goes, “We’ve already established what you are. Now we’re haggling over the price.” 

The counteroffer was “Take it or leave it.” It was mixed with pleasantries and topped with niceties, of course, but that’s was the 150-proof distilled essence of it. 

So I left it. 

Then the new counteroffer arrived. It wasn’t much stronger than the previous offer, but it was better, and a better deal than I’d gotten in the past. As importantly, it showed that the publisher really did want to work with me over the long term, even if there wasn’t a lot of wiggle room on this particular book.   

The kicker, for me, was the deadline, which was a year off. This meant (at least I told myself) that I should still have plenty of time to work on those more personal projects I’d been kicking around in my head, and it gave me the reassurance of future work. If I found extra time on my hands (ha!), I could finish the book early. Or I could push it off while I concentrated on other things. 

So I took it.   

I don’t know if it was the right decision. It lacks the drama of a clean break and an unobstructed view of a new frontier. On the other hand, I’m excited about having a contract for my 12th novel in hand, and I know I’ll enjoy writing this book.  

In my life, I seek balance. Tipping too far in any direction leads to one-sided living (and thinking). This deal gives me a bit of the best of both ends, so I think I’ve found that here. Just watch while I dance more circles around the invisible, constantly moving center of gravity and seek more of the same. Wish me luck.  

Until next time, happy holidays to you all, no matter which ones you celebrate or ignore.  

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