How should new authors approach working with editors?Utsudo reminds new authors that getting accepted is thanks to your own ability, so there’s no need to cater to anyone from a position of inferiority — but respecting the other person is the foundation of everything. If you run into unreasonable terms or clauses that worry you, work up the courage to discuss them with your editor, neither servile nor arrogant; there’s usually a chance to adjust them.

Translated from Utsudo’s original Chinese column.

Getting accepted is thanks to your own ability

　　Back when I was a newbie, editors were basically a synonym forgodsto me (huh?

　　After all, for my humble work to be noticed and then go through all the steps to end up on a shiny bookshelf, the most fundamental thing was an editor who reviewed it and liked it. In other words, whether a work becomes a book lies in the editor’s hands.

　　That’s what I thought back then. But in fact the work also has to be good enough — or at least have a selling point — to be picked. Back then I credited everything to the editor and forgot to give myself, who’d poured countless effort and time into writing it, any encouragement QQ

　　So if you get accepted, be sure to tell yourself —you earned it with your own ability. Don’t cater to anyone from a position of inferiority, or sign contracts that even you have doubts about — but respecting the other person is the foundation of everything.

What if you face unreasonable contract terms?

　　In today’s environment, it’s definitely harder than ever for newcomers to get published, so people unconsciously sell themselves short. Recently I even heard of a publisher offering a rate as low as 4%… for a web novel that was somewhat popular online. Honestly I was quite surprised — has publishing really become that bleak? Or was it just a one-off? There’s no way to know.

　　With such unreasonable terms, if in the long run this collaboration brings additional possibilities and opportunities, or you truly don’t mind, you can of course still sign. But if it’s only because you feel you’ll have nothing if you pass up this chance, maybe try other publishers before deciding.

　　After all, you worked hard to write that book, and it was noticed through fair competition. You don’t owe anyone — why make your child (your work) suffer QQ

　　I’ve signed unequal contracts too, because back then I really needed to prove myself —I wanted to prove to my family, with real results, that I was capable — to let me keep fighting on this path.

　　In a sense I was willing to do it, and since I have plenty of works, I don’t weigh any single one too heavily — I even let the pirated copies online be.

　　And honestly, I feel too awkward to ask publishers to raise my rates… after all, my books haven’t sold that well (covers face). Books don’t sell easily these days, and having a publisher I can work with steadily is already wonderful — I don’t dare ask for too much.

Communicating and working with editors: neither servile nor arrogant

　　But if you’re really worried about certain clauses, or being tied up for several years, I suggest working up the courage to ask your editor and discuss it. Remember to be neither servile nor arrogant and to stay respectful — there’s usually a good chance they’ll adjust!

　　Don’t be too scared —editors are human too, and they’ll be your future partners. Who wouldn’t want a future partner who’s easy to talk to and friendly?Whether you can joke around depends on the editor, though. Some are more strictly business, so don’t make things awkward for them XD

　　Becoming friends with your editor is a truly wonderful thing.

FAQ

Further reading (in Chinese)

• Previous: #17 (in Chinese)
• Next: #19 (in Chinese)
• Start from the beginning: #01 — Utsudo’s debut
• Column introduction
• Utsudo’s books

About the author

Utsudo is a Taiwanese light novelist and novelist VTuber with more than ten years in the industry and 40 commercially published print books. Her novel 《遺失的情書》 received a 2022 Ministry of Culture youth creative award. The 《嘿！聽說妳在鬼島當作家》 series records her experiences as a novelist in Taiwan.

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