Before you agree to let anyone publish your book or story, you will have to sign a contract that will allow them the right to release it. At the minimum, the contract should state the legal names and addresses of both parties (yourself as the author and the publisher), the rights assigned, terms of payment, and length of contract.
Some publishers’ contracts are open to negotiation. Usually this means that you can request a different length of the contract or a different royalty rate. If you want to negotiate better terms, and if the publisher is open to negotiation, don’t just send an e-mail saying you want to change things without being specific about what it is you want to change.
Just because a contract is negotiable, though, doesn’t mean the publisher will just accept your terms with
