Outlines and contracts

They haven’t said but it looks like the Amazon award did get 5000 entries – on the last day, a few hours before midnight. Probably everyone else waited until the last minute to enter, I’m glad I didn’t. Though if I make it as far as semi-finalist I plan to pull my entry, now that I’m reworking it. That and I don’t want to sign the contract the winner is required to sign.

Speaking of contracts, I’ve just been reading about how multi-book contracts require the author to submit outlines for editorial approval. I’d heard of authors submitting outlines, but hadn’t really thought about it in terms of my future contracts, being a ways yet from worrying about book deals. But the bit I read says this is standard.

Excuse me? If I wanted to submit outlines for approval I’d go back to school. No way Jose. I can understand the publisher’s perspective here, but as a writer, I won’t do it. I already have drafts (done or started) for the next three books in the series. This is my story to tell, and I’m not going to have some editor say “No, you can’t write that.”

Though I suppose I could outline the drafts and submit them before signing a contract, and not sign if the outlines aren’t approved. Moot point right now as I have no offers on the horizon.