You Are The Author, You Always Have A Say

This is a really short one for today, mostly because I am still working on my first cup of coffee.

You as authors always have a choice in what you do. When editors and agents send you revision notes, you always have the choice of doing those revisions or not. If those recommendations are not what you want, you can make suggestions and come up with alternatives.

When you send out query letters to editors and agents, you always have a choice. You do not have to feel forced to either send to those editors or agents or even accept an offer when it comes up.

I was thinking about this over the weekend when I had my music channel playing on the TV. For those of you from the 80's you will remember the singer Tiffany. While one of her songs were playing, the channel flashed up with one of those "Did You Know" quotes. According to the channel, they noted that she signed a unlimited control clause over to her producer. The comment used the word "inadvertently".

Inadvertent mistakes are things you as authors can avoid.

• Do not feel forced to sign contracts.
• Do not feel forced to go with revisions 100% if things are not working for you.
• Do not feel that you have to publish with someone because there are no options.
• Do not feel you have to take a publishing route (ie, self-publishing, e-publishing, etc.) if this is not something you have been comfortable with.

In simple terms, you have choice!