I Hired a Lawyer (and found magic)
In order to best serve my authors and clients I had to enlist the help of a professional. As a classic solopreneur and confident, independent woman, this was uncomfortable for me. I take a lot of pride in doing things on my own and in forging my own path.
Obviously, this is not sustainable; and obviously, I don’t know all the things about all the things. And I know next to nothing about the law besides what I’ve learned on Better Call Saul.
When I originally built my publishing contract, I utilized free online templates and frankensteined pieces together that made sense in a crooked, confusing way. Because why would I hire someone to do something I could do myself on the internet? I knew what kinds of terms I wanted to offer and what my own commitment to a project would be and I fashioned something clunky and unattractive that worked. It wasn’t pretty, but it was binding.
When I began to offer a traditional publishing model in addition to the service-based publishing I have offered from the beginning, I didn’t “grow up” my contract. I just switched a few words and called it good.
Ha!
When I finally wised up, I reached out to a lawyer. I wasn’t looking for Saul Goodman. I was looking for a human connection. As someone with very limited experience in any legal capacity, I didn’t know who I wanted or how to find them if I did.
I reached out to a firm. I said what I needed help with. They said, “try this person.”
“This person” turned out to be a lovely woman with a gentle demeanor who actually listened to me when I said I wanted to edit the contract so that it clearly honours both myself and the author I am serving and leaves no room for confusion. Simple language. Like a pinkie-swear, friendly handshake kind of deal that actually sticks.
In a strange twist of fate—no…magic—it so happened that her brother works for Bloombury Publishing in NYC and she asked if she could give him a peek at the contract and invite his advice. Um, yes please!
Combined with her expertise on contract law and his expertise after years in the publishing industry, the task I dreaded turned out to be a lovely exchange and a nice chat about books. (Of course, “lovely exchange” comes with a high price tag, but all in all, from stories gathered from friends and neighbours and Kim Wexler-I need to count my blessings!)
A connection to Bloomsbury Publishing. In my tiny rural town. This is magic.
I tell these stories, not to prove I know what I’m doing but to appreciate that, even when I don’t, there is a divine whispering that is clearing a path everywhere I go.
It’s been a great reward for me to intentionally recognize moments of magic that others might shrug off as coincidence. There is no coincidence. By looking through the lens of magic I can see that I am part of something so much bigger, that I am playing a role designed for me, and that so much more is available if I keep opening the door.
