There can be severe consequences to taking someone else's ideas and passing it as your own, no matter the intent. Ignorance of the law will not give you a pass. Here are the different types of plagiarism and advice on how to avoid them.

Susan Spann The “out of print” clause is often one of an author’s only ways to terminate a publishing contract unilaterally (a legal term that means “one-sided”—and, in this case, means the author’s right to terminate without the publisher’s consent).  Out of print clauses are not relevant to self-publishing, and should never appear in self-publishing […]

Susan Spann Anthologies are a popular way for authors to gain publishing credits, build an audience, and cross-pollinate readership with other writers in a genre. Anthologies may be traditionally-published, author-published (i.e., self-published, either by the entire group or by the author who edits the larger work), or organized by a charity or writers’ group (like […]

Susan Spann In the immortal words of Don Schlitz (made famous by Kenny Rogers): “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away … know when to run.” Smart words for any gambler, but equally valid for authors. Unfortunately, too many authors don’t have the courage […]

Susan Spann The explosion of independent publishing houses in the U.S. and abroad makes it vital for authors to investigate publishers carefully before signing a contract. While even diligent research can't ensure you’ll avoid every possible problem, here are some questions to ask before you accept a traditional publishing deal: If the  answer is "yes," […]