Unfortunately, the contract failed. I have a cautionary tale for everyone that's listening right now.

I almost signed a publishing contract with no questions asked. It looked fine to me, really. I have no experience with this at all. But I was told to speak with an attorney.

I went with someone who has years of experience behind him, and who helped look over the contract and talk things through. I was SO CLOSE to signing the contract, because I could say "Hey! I'm traditionally published now! I made it!" But I didn't. I paused.

I went with having someone with much experience look it over, and we discovered several major and exploitative flaws with it. I would lose so many of my rights as an author that I didn't even realize, and the outreach was far greater than even a major publishing company.

When attempting to negotiate, I was refused. I feel as though my concerns were not addressed properly at all, and it told me that my gut instinct was correct.

I'm pretty much a nobody right now still. And will remain that way. But don't do what I ALMOST did.

Even if the temptation is there... and believe me. It will be. Someone saying they LOVE your work, someone saying your work is wonderful... you CAN'T give in. As an author, to protect yourself, you must do things right.

So no. I'm not going to be traditionally published. At least, not anytime soon. My books have been denied by all but one, and that one did not work out.

My first two were self published. I might put them up again, I don't know. It hinders things further.

It's a shame that self publishing is so frowned upon by agents and publishers alike, that I pretty much threw away much of my chance to become traditionally published.

Especially since my sales have been, well. Not satisfactory.

However? Even that is better than being taken advantage of and used, not having power over my work, and being locked into something I can't get out of.

ALWAYS. ALWAYS. ALWAYS. Have a professional look over a publishing contract. Thank you.