A novel contract may include a clause providing the publisher rights to turn the novel into a movie screenplay.
It is strongly advised to avoid any agreement providing your novel publisher a portion of any deal made with cinemas or televisions.
If your novel does make it to films or TV shows, your publisher's sales will consequently increase.
It will be excessively advantageous for the publisher.
However if you think there is very little probability of your novel making it to Hollywood, then you can offer your publisher a portion of film rights to get a larger advance.
This means that your contract will provide that a sale made to film or television will give the publisher additional income.
This section of the novel contract should provide that the publisher should send you two royalty statements annually, each covering a six - month disclosing period.
The arrival of each statement should be about 90 days after the end of the disclosing period.
It commonly takes the form of a computer printout supplying you with the following information: number of copies shipped, number of copies sent back unsold, and the number most likely sold.
The publisher will likely keep hold of a portion of the royalty just in case some copies might be returned.
Whatever is left refers to the definite number that the publisher is liable of paying.
Based on the novel contract, you will not likely receive a check on the first or even second disclosing period.
This is because your advance will likely have expended the total impending royalties on these two periods.
Once your royalties reach more than the amount you were advanced, you'll start receiving checks.
This part of the novel contract should be indispensable.
Sign only a contact which provides that the publisher is obligated to send you two royalty statements in a year.
Do not take the risk to go for years without being aware of the status of your sales by signing a contact that guarantees a statement only after the novel has produced more than its advance.