Many thanks for all of this helpful information. I totally understand if you don't have time to answer this question, but I'm wondering about the process. Jane Friedman offers a sample permission request letter, which includes specifying your work's publisher, publication date, and print run. But some small presses seem to want you already to have gotten permissions before submitting. I don't quite see how one would ask for (or grant) open-ended permission to a writer who doesn't yet have a publisher, never mind a publication date and a specified print run.
Generally, you don't ask for permission unless you know your book is coming out, which would entail having a publication date and all that other stuff. I've worked with two different Indies and they were fine with me getting permissions while I was in the editing stage (for a contracted project). Permissions become more complicated if your entire project hinges on you getting permission-- if the whole book will fall through without that permission, than you need permission before even submitting the book. For example, I have a shelved novel that is written from the POV of John Mayer and the consensus was that permission was needed from Mayer himself before continuing with editors.
I read this when you posted it but am just now thinking of a question, lol.
When are epigraphs added? Do you send your manuscript to an agent with an epigraph already in the manuscript? Is that something that you talk to your agent about? Sorry if I missed this answer. Love learning from the newsletter.
That's a great question! Generally, epigraphs are added when you find the right one! Lots of people submit to agents with epigraphs-- some people don't include epigraphs because it didn't occur to them to and it might be their editor who asks them if they'd like to add one. But if you want to include an epigraph in a to-be published book, you'd have to submit it during the "first pass pages" (which is 9-12 months before pub).
Many thanks for all of this helpful information. I totally understand if you don't have time to answer this question, but I'm wondering about the process. Jane Friedman offers a sample permission request letter, which includes specifying your work's publisher, publication date, and print run. But some small presses seem to want you already to have gotten permissions before submitting. I don't quite see how one would ask for (or grant) open-ended permission to a writer who doesn't yet have a publisher, never mind a publication date and a specified print run.
Generally, you don't ask for permission unless you know your book is coming out, which would entail having a publication date and all that other stuff. I've worked with two different Indies and they were fine with me getting permissions while I was in the editing stage (for a contracted project). Permissions become more complicated if your entire project hinges on you getting permission-- if the whole book will fall through without that permission, than you need permission before even submitting the book. For example, I have a shelved novel that is written from the POV of John Mayer and the consensus was that permission was needed from Mayer himself before continuing with editors.
Just dropping in to say 100% would read John Mayer POV novel. Also, permissions are a giant PIA!
I read this when you posted it but am just now thinking of a question, lol.
When are epigraphs added? Do you send your manuscript to an agent with an epigraph already in the manuscript? Is that something that you talk to your agent about? Sorry if I missed this answer. Love learning from the newsletter.
That's a great question! Generally, epigraphs are added when you find the right one! Lots of people submit to agents with epigraphs-- some people don't include epigraphs because it didn't occur to them to and it might be their editor who asks them if they'd like to add one. But if you want to include an epigraph in a to-be published book, you'd have to submit it during the "first pass pages" (which is 9-12 months before pub).