Books to Film: The Option Versus The Shopping Agreement
Most writers dream about their book becoming a movie. It’s exciting to think about seeing our creative endeavors on the big screen or television. Plus, who doesn’t like receiving more money? But adapting a book into a movie is a...
Merry Christmas + Happy New Year
We are on a mini-blog holiday — sledding, throwing snowballs, and drinking lots of spiked eggnog. We hope your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are festive and fun. See you again in 2017. – The Sidebar...
Negotiating Editorial Control in Publishing Contracts
One of many worrisome areas for writers negotiating publishing contracts is who has final word when editing a manuscript for publication. Publishing agreements define the right to creative control over the manuscript in the...
Using Pen Names in Contracts
Recently, a writer contacted us about signing a non-disclosure agreement using their pen name. I will not weigh-in on the reasons a writer would use a nom de plume. Enough has been said about the topic (e.g., Tricks and Traps of...
Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination
If you’re a lawyer or a mystery writer (and I’m both), there’s a singular trope that arises again and again: the client is innocent but wrongly accused, the lawyer has the actual murderer on the witness stand, and the...