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Dear Lee

Dear Lee,

I made a serious, serious mistake. In a moment of complete insanity on my part, I went online and posted remarks about an agent that I had no business posting. They weren’t very nice remarks, and I truly regret what I have done. I contacted the site and asked them to remove my comments. They refused. Now I am seriously worried. The site that I posted on has forwarded my negative comments, and now nearly every writer’s website has linked to them. I wrote a retraction, but they keep taking it down. I am scared to death the agent is going to sue me. If that happens, I’m going to get fired from my job because I posted my comments from my work computer. I guess it’s best to mention that I work for a publishing company. What am I going to do?

-In Hot Water
Dear In Hot Water,

This is beyond my area of expertise. My best advice is for you to meet with an attorney to discuss your situation. If you are sued, maybe you can plead insanity

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Dear Lee,

I was offered a publishing contract and went online to ask writers their opinion about the contract. A person I never met who claimed to be from a writing organization that helps writers requested that I forward the contract to them for review, which I did. In stead of reviewing the contract, they told me that my publisher was a scam and that they are going to keep my contract for their files. They said they are going to “expose” the publisher as a scam. I want no part of this. I thought I was going to get comments on what is negotiable and what is standard in a publishing contract. I’m a new writer. I finally got a publisher interested in my work and now this. I emailed this person and the group they are a part of and told them not to include my contract in their files. They have not responded. I also had an attorney send them a notice, which they haven’t responded to either. My attorney reviewed the contract and made a couple of changes, which the publisher agreed to. I signed with the publisher but haven’t told them about the situation. What should I do?

-Under Contract but Feeling Bad
Dear Under Contract,

You should feel bad. The best thing would have been to go to the attorney to review the contract in the first place. Before signing, you should have been honest with your publisher and told them what was going on. The thing to do now is have a heart-to-heart with your publisher. You need to come clean and clear the air.

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Dear Lee,

I hate my co-author. I really do. The guy is whacked in the head. I think he has some serious mental problems. Here’s the story: I can’t write that well. I’m not an author, just a person who has an interesting story. I was at a party, met a publisher, told him my story and they hooked me up with this guy. I thought because they referred him to me that he would be okay, so I signed a co-authoring contract with him. But as it turns out, he’s a nut-job. I don’t want to work with him anymore. So I’m going to pay him to go away, which he has already agreed to accept. After he accepted the offer, he told me that he was going to call the publisher and tell them that I was the crazy one and that I would never get published in this town. Should I call the publisher and explain?

-Co-authored Out
Dear Out,

I am assuming that you are not under contract. It seems that the publisher is just interested in the work. If that’s the case, make a friendly call to the publisher. Mention that you switched co-authors, and that you are still interested in pursuing a contract with the company. Acknowledge that sometimes people don’t “click,” and that you did not click with the co-author they suggested. Quick word of caution: I would not use words like nut-job or mental case when describing your relationship.

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Dear Lee,

I run a very small literary agency and do my best to manage two children, three pets and a house. Most of my clients are wonderful and respect the fact that like them, I too have a personal life. The problem is that I have two clients that are ready to push me over the edge. Both are well-educated, professional people who are retired. They think that the small fee they pay me every month entitles them to around the clock attention. I’m their agent. I am not their babysitter or employee. I don’t want to lose them as clients, but they are taking up my time with their constant phone calls, emails and letters. How do I put my foot down without stomping their heads?


-Agent of Stress
Dear Stress,

Here’s your answer, plain and simple: House Rules. Put together your policies and procedures handbook, and give it to your present and future clients.

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