How to Sell Your Book Without Sacrificing Movie or TV Rights

If a publisher makes a financial offer for your written work, “withheld rights” are among your representative’s greatest negotiating tools.

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At the outset, many publishers will loathe this article.

I’m going to make a comment, with the caveat that there are exceptions to every rule: Unless you sell your book to a major publisher, or a respected small press, you are wasting your time signing away your television and movie rights. The logic of the comment is based on the fact that your publisher is not a producer, or film studio— exceptions to be made for said company being a subsidiary of an umbrella company that owns a studio, or an entity with a department in place designed specifically to serve that division — and their ability to proactively sell your work as a television show or feature film is limited.

That aside, trade shows like Book Expo American and Germany’s Frankfurt Book Fair are, in part, industry gatherings that function as a) networking opportunities for publishers and writers to promote their work, and b) de facto licensing hubs. When you attend such trade shows, you will see a contingent of Hollywood-types present, specifically looking for product to acquire. Authors published by small and digital presses have experienced their share of success stories.

Including me.

But mine is one of the exceptions.

Though “The Chronicles of Ara,” my novel series with Steve Hillard, landed in “turnaround” (a fancy industry term meaning “we’re not moving forward”), development money was expended by the network.

The first book in the series had only sold 200 copies at the time of its deal, as published by a very small digital press.

In that event, why then am I saying you are “wasting your time” selling off your film and TV rights?

Answer: Because a) I do this for a living and well know the ropes, and b) If a non-television or non-film company sells your rights to a willing network or studio for a substantial dollar figure, this is not only money you may well have lost out on, but the sale will also likely — unless you are a bestselling or otherwise highly-respected author with major IP (intellectual property) — preclude you from being at all involved in the TV show or movie based on your book.

You will likely receive the following credit: Based on the Book by (Insert Name Here), and compensation representative of said credit. If you are expecting anything more substantial, however, such as a profit-share, chances are you are fooling yourself.

Caveat: Be absolutely certain that your attorney includes a media rights buy-out clause in your publishing contract, for where you receive a percentage of the payout based on television or film rights sold. Though appearing to be common sense, unscrupulous small publishers, looking for a potential windfall, may already consider their publication of your book as a buy-out for which they pay you in royalties. If your book is sold to a network or studio, for example, a percentage of that money must go to you as the writer. Coming across as inexperienced and simply happy for a publication deal is self-defeating. Always have an attorney review your agreements.

Attaining any other credit for television and film, though certainly not impossible, is difficult enough; see related story below: