is there a Cash advance when publishing at Springer Verlag U.S ?
Ralph Johnson asked:
Hi , I am a young author in science and I am about to get a contract from Springer Verlag NY . I was wondering if they give a cash advance ? Has anyone already published at Springer ?
I don't want to ask for a cash advance if they don't do it . Honnestly , when dealing with Springer , you can't really negociate a lot of things like with most publishers when you are not a celebrity .
If you are "about to get a contract", you must have already discussed the terms. If not, call your contact at Springer Velag and ASK THEM.
In all professional level publishing the writer gets an advance against royalties.
The absolute FIRST question you need to ask them is "HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PAY ME FOR MY WORK?"
You need not shout, but you are in a business deal and need to discuss cash and terms.
You need to ask how much, when the check will arrive, and when the book will be released.
You need to ask about how they will proceed with the editing process.
You do all that BEFORE signing any contract!
If, at any point they say you have to write them a check RUN AWAY.
Yog's Law: Money flows to the writer. Obey it and you won't get ripped off.
They should have brought the topic of payment up first. If they did not, then proceed with extreme caution!
You NEVER pay to publish.
If they are offering you a contract and you know nothing about literary contracts then you NEED a literary agent to look it over.
Most agents will shepherd an "orphan" contract. Yes, they will take 15%, but they can keep you out of trouble.
Look around in AgentQuery or on this website
for agencies that specialize in non-fiction publication.
Does the publisher have books in stores, or do they only sell from their website? If the latter, then you might not get an advance.
And non-celebrities negotiate contracts all the time. You have a book that will make them money. If they didn't think so, then they would not have accepted it.
But they have to discuss the advance!
I was a total unknown when I got my first book contract. I had read a lot of books on how to negotiate literary contracts, though, so I wasn't wholly ignorant.
While I did not get more money, I was able to strike out a clause that was bad for me. I did not keep all my film/media rights. Had i an agent then I'd have kept those. Since yours is non-fiction you needn't worry about that so much.
THERE IS NO HURRY.
You have time to run to the library and get a book on "how to be your own literary agent."
DOO YOUR HOMEWORK ON THIS!.