How to make a decision
Q. “I need to make a decision about whether or not to sign a book deal with a small publisher and I’m not sure what to do. What if I overlooked something in the contract, or something better comes along?”
—Anonymous
A. I’m so glad you asked this, because it’s something many writers will face—and although your question is about your offer (congrats, by the way!), it could apply to any big decision. When dealing with career-impacting scenarios, there are a couple things to ask yourself. Specifically:
1. What am I afraid of—and can I do something about that?
In this case, you’ve named your fears: missing something in your contract and missing an opportunity. So your next step is to address both.
Start by visiting The Author’s Guild, which offers free legal services for writers, including sample contracts and contract reviews. With their help, you can begin to comb through your contract to see if anything seems off. While this may sound as interesting as watching paint dry, it will ensure you don’t miss something—and you might be surprised by how much you learn about the publishing industry in the process. If you find a clause that doesn’t work for you, speak up. So much more can be negotiated than you might think—but only if you ask.
As for missing another opportunity: get curious about why you think this might happen. Do you secretly (or even not-so-secretly) want something different or “better” than this offer? If so, why—and is that reason enough to tell this publisher no? Regardless, recognize that saying yes to one opportunity rarely eliminates the possibility of others. If anything, success spreads success. This step isn’t the end of your journey; it’s the beginning.
2. What would I do if I wasn’t worried or afraid?
Now that you’ve taken concrete action to address those lurking fears, it’s time to flip things around and consider how you’d operate if you removed negative emotions from the equation. Too often we let fear, anxiety, and the like dictate our choices, and that keeps us living a smaller life—one that is isn’t actually any safer or better. If your emotions weren’t a factor, what would you do? If you’d say yes to this deal, then assure yourself that you can handle whatever comes next—and go for it.
3. What is my mission as a writer—and is this opportunity aligned with that mission?
Why do you write? If you don’t know, give it some thought. Once you have your answer, close your eyes and think about whether this project can be part of that mission. Trust me: you’ll know. If it’s not right, can you make any changes that make it aligned? If the answer is no again, don’t be afraid to walk away. Every time I’ve said no to something that didn’t feel right, a better opportunity has always followed.
Above all, let go of the idea that there’s a “right” choice—and instead focus on making the next decision to the best of your ability. Any opportunity is only what we make of it. Now, go celebrate that publishing deal! That’s a major milestone and you should be incredibly proud of yourself.
—Camille