GD Deckard

The Author’s Lawyer

Lawyers, like doctors, are best avoided in their professional capacity but sometimes, even purveyors of the immortal word benefit from specific legal advice. If you think you might need it, remember that the initial consultation is usually free of any cost or commitment on your part.

Do I Really Need a Literary Attorney?
Yes, I would say, anytime the potential rewards are high, you may want someone on your side who understands how best to protect your interests. Here’s Arielle Ford’s brief explanation in the Huffington Post:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/arielle-ford/do-i-really-need-a-litera_b_927120.html

5 Top Legal Issues for Authors and Self-Publishers.
legal Sara Hawkins points out some reasons why today’s authors do seek legal advice, including the current buggery-boo of “What if it’s your work that’s taken?”
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/03/5-top-legal-issues/

FAQs: Working With A Literary Lawyer.
OKAY, just what is a literary lawyer? This short article by Laura Resnick covers “what, why & how do I find one.” Something to be aware of, just in case, someday, you want to Google it.
http://www.lauraresnick.com/writers-resources/faqs-working-with-a-literary-lawyer/

YaY!
Think positive. You just landed a movie contract for your book! Now, you do want an attorney, a literary attorney, someone who has the expertise and experience to protect you and to help you to get the most from this lifetime deal. How do you find one? Why, at Lawyers.com, of course.
https://www.lawyers.com/

A little knowledge about literary attorneys is worth filing away. Tuck it right next to the possibility that one day, your writing will be worth more than any attorney costs 🙂

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GD Deckard

Severely beaten as a child by a WWII hero and combat-induced-PTSD stepfather, the author, as a teen, faced the old man down with a shotgun and earned his blessing to join the military at the time Americans were learning about a country called Vietnam. The “lazy, no good son-of-a-bitch” opted out of combat and hard labor by becoming an Air Force medic, stamping out suffering and misery on Freedom’s Frontier at Clark Airbase in S.E. Asia and earning some kind of medal pinned on him personally by then Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Brown, for “Saving lives, etc.” There followed a summer in Europe ending in the first of happy marriages. Then graduation with University Honors, kids worth dying for and a career in business. Life is good. Author, The Phoenix Diary, Penguin, 2015. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phoenix-diary-g-d-deckard/1122175645 Founding Member, Writers Co-op. https://WritersCo-op.com Co-Editor, The Rabbit Hole anthologies. https://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Hole-Weird-Stories/dp/1691225355/ref=sr_1_1 Founder, SciFi Lampoon Magazine. http://scifilampoon.com/ Contributing Editor, A Celebration of Storytelling https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Storytelling-GD-Deckard/dp/1951716167 Current WIP: Code Blue and Little Deaths, stories from Clark during the Vietnam War. Recipient of the Psi Young award for Creative Biography.

8 responses to “The Author’s Lawyer”

Perry Palin

August 21, 2018

When I had a day job I dealt with a lot of attorneys at work. I’m dealing with three right now over the settlement of a relative’s estate. Some of these people are terrible at their work, and some are pretty good.

I am so wrapped up in other things that I doubt I will ever find the time and inclination to position my writing to be seen as valuable enough for me to require legal representation. If it happens, I have my attorney!

I am a volunteer, patron, and donor for a small not-for-profit professional theatre company. A young man who was a fine actor, director, and arts administrator left the company to go to law school. I saw him at the theatre this summer. He said that he would not be able to make a living in the Midwest in entertainment law, and he didn’t want to move to either of the coasts, so he would go in another direction for a salary, and do his pro bono work representing interests in the entertainment industry. Here’s someone who I know and trust, doing pro bono work for artists. Where I’m at with my writing, he’s my kind of guy.

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1. GD Deckard
  
  August 21, 2018
  
  It’s always good to have friends 🙂
  I have a friend of 22 years who is a lawyer. She’s competent, hard-working and honest, so I am happily helping her to campaign for county circuit judge.
  
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victoracquista

August 22, 2018

I have sought legal input from the legal services department at the Authors Guild to review publisher contracts on two occasions. I found their advice and suggestions helpful and ultimately useful in being offered a better contract. As is true for professional services in general, I think there are probably good attorneys and bad attorneys with everything in between when it comes to providing legal services to writers. I am very pleased with my attorney experiences with the Authors Guild. Best of all, their services are provided at no additional cost to members.

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1. GD Deckard
  
  August 23, 2018
  
  Free legal advice is good, especially if you don’t have to be destitute to get it.
  🙂
  Victor, maybe you could write us a blog on the Authors Guild? I, for one, am too new at this author business to know anything about them. No doubt others would also like to know more.
  
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  1. victor acquista
    
    August 23, 2018
    
    Sure thing. I’ll put something together.
    
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Mellow Curmudgeon

August 23, 2018

I read the post by Sara Hawkins and was pleased to see that at least one lawyer can write clearly, without boiler plate or excessive simplification. Wish somebody like her had been on board when my homeowner’s insurance policy was written.

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mimispeike

August 24, 2018

Not to be tiresome (I know, I’m already tiresome) but I think Sly would make a terrific animated film. The novella is done, on to the cover and the formatting and all that follow-up stuff.

Here is my ending:
_____________________________________

Will Wackeineratte Proudly Presents His Rat City Revels.

Rollicking Rodent Rascals.

Acrobatic Antics. Comical Calisthenics. A Variety of Vanities and Vignettes starring Rehabilitated Vandal Vermin.

Frolics to charm the kiddies. Tableaux Vivants paired with dramatic readings for a more sophisticated taste.

Join us at Yuletide, when we will present the Nativity Story, all rats!

Our promise: It will be an experience you will never forget!

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1. GD Deckard
  
  August 25, 2018
  
  I agree, Mimi 🙂 It could be one of those rare animated films that appeal to all ages. The animation would capture the kids’ interest and the dialogue would delight the adults.
  
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