Sample Literary Agent Contract – Book Agents

Sample literary agent contract clauses are listed below – all of the clauses you can expect to see in your literary agent agreement. This article is part of an 8-part series called Tips for Hiring a Literary Agent. If you don’t already have one or more literary agencies offering you representation, and you want to change that, click here to read my How to Get a Literary Agent Guide.

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Sample Literary Agent Contract Clauses

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Clause 1 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Parties Involved

This Agreement describes the understanding between [insert name of agency] (“Agency”) and [insert name of author] (“Author”), as of [insert date].

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Clause 2 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Representation

The Agency is hereby exclusively authorized to seek a publisher(s), a buyer(s) of film rights, and a buyer(s) of all other rights (all herein referred to as “Publishing Rights”) associated with any and all of the Author’s book length works, including “[insert book title here]” (herein referred to as the “Project”).

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Clause 3 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Term

The term of this Agreement is 12 months and it shall include all business associated with the Project, even for contacts and submissions made prior to this Agreement by Author and/or Agency). The Agency agrees not to accept any deal or license without first consulting with and getting the Author’s permission to accept such a deal.

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Clause 4 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Renewal

Such authorization will automatically continue after the term of this Agreement unless either party terminates the Agreement according to the termination clause below.

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Clause 5 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Termination

After 12 months, this Agreement can be terminated in writing by either party with 30 days written notice. In the event of termination the Agency shall remain entitled to due commissions which may result from efforts implemented prior to the termination of this Agreement, and will remain entitled to all other due monies as stated in this Agreement.

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Clause 6 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Assignment

Neither this Agreement, nor the rights of the parties hereunder, shall be assignable, and any purported assignment shall be null and void, except as follows:

1. Either party shall have the right to assign any monies due that party, subject to the rights of the non-assigning party;
2. The Agency may assign this agreement in its entirety in the event of a sale, merger, or reorganization of substantially all of the Agency’s business.

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Clause 7 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Commission

Agency will be the Agent-of-Record for the Project’s income-producing duration and will irrevocably keep 15% of all income relevant to the sold Project. The due Agency commission will also pertain to all of the Project’s subsidiary rights sales, whether sold by the Agent, Author, or Publisher. In the event the agency uses a subagent and the subagent is due a commission, the Agency commission for such will be 10%, and the subagent’s commission will not be more than 10%.

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Clause 8 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Payments

All Project income will be paid by the publisher to the Agency. The Agency will pay the Author all due monies within seven (7) days after receipt by Agency and bank clearance, with full accounting provided. At the Agency’s discretion there may be an Agency Clause in the Publisher contract stating the Agency’s status.

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Clause 9 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Expenses

The Agency will be entitled to receive reimbursement from the Author for the following expenses relevant to its representation of the Project: Manuscript/proposal copying costs; necessary overnight deliveries; postage and handling for manuscripts; foreign shipping and communication costs. All other expenses are subject to Author’s approval. An itemized accounting and records of all such items will be maintained by the Agency. Agency will only request reimbursement from the Author out of proceeds from the project, not to exceed $250 per year.

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Clause 10 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Governing Law

This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of [insert state of literary agency].

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Clause 11 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Dispute Resolution

Author and Agency agree that any and all disputes arising under this Agreement that they are unable to resolve themselves shall be addressed solely and exclusively by engaging the services of a mediator who is mutually agreed upon by the parties. The parties shall share the costs of the mediation equally.

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Clause 12 – Sample Literary Agent Contract

Notices

All notices hereunder shall be delivered by hand, by overnight courier service, or by certified US Mail, return receipt requested (in which case notice will be deemed to have been given on the day following the first attempt at delivery by the Postal Service).

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Now, click here to read the next article in this 8-part series and learn the difference between a literary agent and a Literary Agent Attorney.