General Liability Releases
General releases, or liability releases, are documents releasing one party from the right to bring a legal claim against another party. General releases are helpful documents for resolving disputes between parties and preventing...
Using Orphan Works – When A Copyright Owner Is Impossible To Identify Or Locate
Two weeks ago, a reader contacted me about copyright permissions after reading my Derivative Works article. The writer intended to use copyright-protected letters she thought would make a shocking exposé. After attempting to...
Using Another Author’s Work — Is Your Derivative Work Infringing Someone’s Copyright?
Creative inspiration for writers often comes from the work of other authors. Maybe we are inspired by someone’s story or moved by a relatable character. Maybe we want to add something new to an existing story, or expand...
The Basics Of Agent-Author Contracts
You finished the manuscript. You queried umpteen agents and received umpteen rejections. Finally, an agent expresses interest in representing your work. What next? Rush to sign the agency contract? Not so fast. Not all agents or...
Author Pen Names – Are Noms De Plume Obsolete?
P. L. Travers, Mark Twain, Robert Galbraith – these are all fictitious names used by writers. In this case, Helen Goff, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, and Joanne Rowling. But you knew that, right? Most writers have read at least one...