Five Terms that should be in your Author/Editor Contract.
When forming an author/editor relationship, you want a written contract. This applies especially when you’re working with an editor for the first time, and you don’t know what you’re getting into. Moreover, editors want a contract with their authors too, to ensure the project is well-defined.
As a reminder, my NUMBER ONE suggestion for any author—make sure you receive a sample edit from an editor before you agree to work with them. Don’t start paying someone before you know whether you work well together!
Anyway, what terms should be included in a contract between an editor and an author?
Clear definition of the manuscript (scope of work)
Timeline
Cost of the edit, including payment schedules
Nondisclosure requirement
Rules regarding Breach
These are all fairly standard, but if you’re a first-time author, you might not know why these terms are in your contract with an editor. Don’t worry, they’re designed to protect both you and the editor.
Defining the Manuscript and Scope of Work
When signing a contract with an editor, make sure you clearly define what you are providing to them. You don’t want to confuse your editor by sending them a much larger or smaller project than what you originally discussed with them.
In contracts with my clients, I include the following language:
“The Author’s Work. Includes all writings submitted in relation to this agreement, including the author’s manuscript and any additional related writings or materials necessary for the Editor to complete the Editor’s Services. The Author’s work includes…”
Then, the author fills in the rest, clearly defining what they’ll be providing me.
I also have a section that clearly defines the Scope of Work I’ll be providing an author. It reads:
“The Editor will provide to the Author the following services…”
Then, depending on the particular project, I’ll fill in the details. I might say something like:
“Line-Editing of a 100,000-word manuscript titled SCIFI NOVEL, focusing on writing style, grammar, spelling, and other mechanics, with the goal of improving readability and the flow of the author’s manuscript. The edit will occur through Microsoft Word’s track changes feature.”
Timeline
Your editing contract should include a clear timeline! You want to know when you should submit your manuscript to your editor (usually the date the contract begins), and when they’ll be returning a copy of your manuscript to you with the edits. The timeline should also include a payment schedule, though the payment schedule may be included in a separate section of the contract alongside the cost.
Cost of the Edit
The contract should stipulate exactly how much you owe your editor, and upon what timeline you should pay them. Ideally, the editor also explains how they arrived at the cost they’re charging you. For instance, I charge per word.
So if an author provides me with a 100,000-word novel, depending on what type of edits I’m providing, the cost might be anywhere from $900 ($9 per 1000 words) to $2,000 ($20 per 1000 words). I offer monthly payment plans, and the timeline for those payments is outlined in the contract. Usually, authors pay half up-front, the rest after I deliver the edited manuscript.
Nondisclosure
Authors and editors should agree to a nondisclosure clause, also known as a confidentiality clause. Without your express permission, an editor should not share your work with anyone else. It’s your intellectual property, and you have a right to keep it confidential!
Rules regarding Breach
A contract should include terms regarding what happens if either party breaches the contract. These terms can be complex, or very simple. I include a very simple breach-of-contract term in my contract, which reads:
Each Party acknowledges and agrees that the other Party reserves the right to take any legal action to which they may be entitled in the event of breach, in full or in part, of the provisions of this agreement.
So there you have it. Those are the basic components of any editing contract. You’ll notice they’re terms that most likely appear, in some form or another, in any contract you might sign with someone working for you. It’s always important to formalize your agreement with your editors, so both parties understand the scope of the project.
As you become more comfortable working with your editor, you may not need to sign a contract every time, but make sure, before every project, the timeline and cost are clear to everyone involved.
Have any questions? Drop a comment below! Are you an author looking for editing services? I might be able to help! Request a sample edit from me today.