Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalker8
Authors have agents to protect them and negotiate better contracts. No different than sports figures and actors in that regard. I'm pretty sure that Tom Clancy and J.K. Rowlings predated the self publishing possibilities that you talk about. As far as I can tell, things are not greatly different for authors than they were 10 years ago. Once again, it's nice that authors have options, but it's not nearly the game changer you think.
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The need to have an agent even as a first time or midlist author is in itself a sign of what is wrong.
Besides, the agent doesn't have a better position in the negotiations. If there is no alternative, what angle does he have to negotiate a better contract? These bad contracts are real, with agents involved.
I am talking about first book contracts mainly here. If your first book was a hit (and you are allowed to renegotiate) then of course you have a stronger position to get better terms.
Oh, standard contracts differ by country too. For example, from what I hear, contracts in germany are much better than in the usa (and agents are still not that common here). Not great, but better and the most atrocious terms aren't in them.