Presentation | Literary Artists
a behind-the-scenes look
Publishers offer book contracts on the basis of outlines, sample chapters, brand identity and the team that brings the manuscript to the media mogul's table.
Therefore, Colossal Concepts Management focuses its attention on four things:
Assisting with a confidential outline preparation
Analyzing (sans critique) sample chapters as both literature and as saleable material
Branding and imaging the author, part of the confidential client support package
Identifying a proper literary agency (when necessary) and editor(s)
We work closely behind the scenes in over a dozen areas right by your side to help you deliver a product to a publicist who turns literature into a saleable product; then, we help turn you into a marketable fixture on the lecture, electronic media circuit and its counterpart, the blogosphere.*
We help you make clear the following to prospective or repeat publishers:
Top sheet content -- the abstract of the outline in heading form: working title; alternative titles; manuscript length; divisions; completion time; illustrations; and, test market outcomes for each major heading
Interior sheet content -- the project description outline tackled in terms of style, length, markets and sales potential, competing volumes, author's qualifications, and who we can help you convince to write a forward or end notes or jacket remarks
Sample chapters -- the flow, rhythm and connectivity of your writing made evident
Cooperating with an intellectual property Attorney to assure the Author of fair dealings in the following: Grant of Rights; Competing Works; Author's Warranty; Manuscript Preparations by Publishers; Viability & Publication Delay Issues; Copyright Considerations; Proofing & Editing by Publishers; Publication; Royalties; Advances; Foreign Sales; Deep Discount and Book Club Schemes; Sale of Rights; Payments; Reserve Against Returns; Author's Copies; Revised Editions; Translation Editions; and, Out of Print Issues
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Finally, we determine 'what's missing' ---
in terms of press kit essentials, electronic media, blog materials, adapters, web presence
and we handle the following as a matter of daily business on behalf of our management clients:
Making a Market
Scheduling
Finding Agents, as needed & Editors & Previewers
Gatekeeping
Working with PR Specialists and Publicists
Positioning the Brand or Experience
Collecting Revenues
Defining Target Demographics and Psychographics
Handling Perquisities
Networking: Publishers, Producers, Directors, Collaborators, Coaches, Licensing Manufacturers & Designers,
Networking: Historians, Documentarians, Sponsors & Underwriters
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All management communiques and relationships are strictly confidential.
colossal concepts management | 2005-2015 primer
Our partner, CCM-OP allows authors to benefit from the following:
Thousands of hours of original research...
Hundreds of pro forma documents...
Plain-English guidance...
Real-world and in-depth analysis...
Time-saving access to...
Alternative approaches...
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The CCM value-added business proposition:
For these management services rendered, we receive reimbursements of up to 61% of all associated PR, Publicity and Promotional costs plus between 8-9% (average) in management commissions - all on a 'short-leash' arrangement, whereby the client can release CCM on 3-months notice, thereby capping any and all downside risks and costs.
STRATEGIES I & II : The Value-Added Chain... THE NUMBERS
more
Intellectual Property Environmental Dynamics & Often What's Missing in Author's Packages
What we instruct, what we advise, and what we help make possible for agents and authors:
more
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how ccm often works with literary agents & publishers, in-house & freelance editors
- We only shop book-length works to agents and production companies.
- We attend writers' conferences and 'workshops' when needed -- that is when our client's literary agent cannot represent our author.
- We seek relationships with agents who are members of SAR, The Soc. of Authors' Representatives and the ILAA (The Independent Literary Agents Assn.)
- We build a lasting relationship with agents, producers, directors, documentary film makers, talk show gatekeepers
- We help authors follow the guidelines set forth by agents as to exclusive review time and multiple submission authorizations
- We help build a case for both marketability and critical acclaim that is extraordinarily useful to agents and their associated or affiliated publishers and editors
- We help build a wall around the author by means of a production company designed to protect subsidiary and use rights, and that makes for a good fit with legitimate literary agency objectives
- We help edit the outline, the synopses and the first 40-50 pages of a completed manuscript, including copyright protections -- all as prelude to what the literary agent must shape as a sellable 'package'
- We also help prepare one or more marketing pitches that can be amended by the agent into a number of submission 'pitches' made to prospective publishers, editors
- For nonfiction projects, we help coordinate multiple submissions to publishers, complete with deadlines, a statement of expeditiousness, ground rules, etc.
- For authors with highly commercial properties, we help fashion bases for winning guaranteed print orders, publicity rounds' planning, bidding and auction procedures
- We often handle financial matters: Advances, commissions, royalties, expenses, fulfilling contractual matters, "agency clause" issues, subsidiary rights, funds management - sometimes with or without tax attorney or literary agent assistance
- We often work with literary agents to handle publisher negotiations and exchanges in cooperation with agents or assigns: Expectations as to consultations on marketing, the choice of publishers, the number of submissions made to prospective publishers, the frequency of contact between management, literary agent(s), author, and publicist(s), foreign sales issues, publishing advances, rejection letter pass-through, quarterly summaries, reviews and summaries, territories granted, approvals and/or consults as to jacket design, advertising guarantees (for the established author), option requirements, publication schedules, publishing house promotions, reprints, book club sales, hard-soft deals, trade paperback deals, co-presentations with author's production company
- We handle creativity issues with the blessings of the author: Formulating book ideas, passing along notions from editors, publishers, literary agents, introducing agents and editors, previewers, writer contributions as to forwards, book jacket quotes, collaborative projects
- We handle what some literary agents cannot, as a rule, be realistically expected to do: Publicity, PR and promotions coordination, and special event productions coordinated with bookstores, chains, and scheduling around the lives of professionals who express themselves through their writing while often conducting busy careers that may or may not be centered in writing, editing and promoting books
Note: All services are offered as confidential, career management tasks (refer to our latest dispatches detailing what we do on behalf of our roster of exclusive and non-exclusive authors, artists and composers). CCM works exclusively for its individual and ensemble clients and studios, not for publishers or distributors.
colossal concepts management | http://colossalconcepts.weebly.com | drthomas19@hotmail.com | Phone: 202.670.3457 or 309.621.3590 | for additional information, go to our venture philanthropy partner and co-creator of the colossal concepts family of services: www.7artsfoundation.org
Copyright 2005-2017, by colossal concepts management | All rights reserved.
Featured Links to Our Affiliated or Associated Reviewers, Previewers |
Featured Author PageAuthor Tom Wright | 2 Novels, What Dies in Summer & BLACKBIRD, under 9 contracts, worldwide | CCM Manager: Dr. Marshall Thomas | Literary Agent: A M Heath, London, UK | Sale of 1-book deal to 9 publishing houses... also, licensing arrangements for art and design work - exclusively via CCM... Other books by Father Ambrose Press
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a detailed look at some costs and benefits

For an unpublished writer, the author compensation varies greatly. However, there are some realistic fee and other considerations, especially if a second or third book is outlined or in the pipeline.
And, like any doctor, I cannot judge what an emerging author's material is worth without gauging it against comparable work written for very specific, narrowly defined markets. Generally, the following applies for our career management clients looking to make a market, or two, work to their advantage --
We can recommend the following minimum fees for the initial period (which can be either waived or modified up or down by an established author on a case-by-case basis) -- these are often the starting points:
* Adapted from our Colossal Concepts Management Guidebook, updated this past April.
CCM receives between 7.5-10% in management fees for untried authors, composers and artists with a single submission or portfolio to agents; we receive 8-9% for authors, composers and artists with multiple projects and with bankable works which literary agents can latch onto... For all emerging authors, we also absorb between 50-60% of all publicity, PR and promotions costs from day one and, too, we absorb 60% of the office support costs - the balance of which is to be recouped by authors out of translation rights sales; we always recommend working through an author-controlled production company account and an established literary agent. We produce results through recognized and emerging designers, techs, publicists, re-write specialists, translators, etc., on two continents. We are not literary agents, although parts of their work can fall to us; and, it has been known to happen that works sell to publishers due in large part to the efforts of managers alone.
And, like any doctor, I cannot judge what an emerging author's material is worth without gauging it against comparable work written for very specific, narrowly defined markets. Generally, the following applies for our career management clients looking to make a market, or two, work to their advantage --
We can recommend the following minimum fees for the initial period (which can be either waived or modified up or down by an established author on a case-by-case basis) -- these are often the starting points:
- $2300-11,000 Book Publishing Engagements... first-time authors
- $195-300 Periodical Publishing...
- $3000-5500 Legitimate stage and other adaptations...
- $30,000-59,000 Completed Motion Picture Script and/or Adapatation...
- $160-250 Radio and/or Web Internet Engagements...
- $500-1000 Television and Cable Engagements...
- $500-900 Lectures, Trade, Technical Essay Engagements...
- $200-300 All Other Adaptations..."*
- $4000-7900 Book-length Translations
* Adapted from our Colossal Concepts Management Guidebook, updated this past April.
CCM receives between 7.5-10% in management fees for untried authors, composers and artists with a single submission or portfolio to agents; we receive 8-9% for authors, composers and artists with multiple projects and with bankable works which literary agents can latch onto... For all emerging authors, we also absorb between 50-60% of all publicity, PR and promotions costs from day one and, too, we absorb 60% of the office support costs - the balance of which is to be recouped by authors out of translation rights sales; we always recommend working through an author-controlled production company account and an established literary agent. We produce results through recognized and emerging designers, techs, publicists, re-write specialists, translators, etc., on two continents. We are not literary agents, although parts of their work can fall to us; and, it has been known to happen that works sell to publishers due in large part to the efforts of managers alone.
Contact Dr. Thomas 202-670-3457/309.621.3590 | drthomas19@hotmail.com | All original artwork copyright Dr. Marshall Thomas; all rights reserved. | http://colossalconceptsmanagement.org |
Disclaimer Copyright © 2010=2015 CCM-OP. All rights reserved. All trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies. The content of this white paper has been prepared for educational and information purposes only. The content does not provide legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship between CCM-OP, the author(s), or the publishers and you. You should not act or refrain from acting on any legal matter based on the content without seeking professional counsel. | All original artwork copyright Dr. Marshall Thomas unless otherwise indicated; all rights reserved.
Colossal Concepts Management | a division of the Arts & Cultural Corridor Partnership | an affiliate of the 7 Arts Foundation | a member of Fractured Atlas | manager to polymaths, practices, small-cap businesses & partnerships
202-670-3457/309.621.3590
Je fais un emploi j'ai sinon, comment dans un souci decréativité ce n'était pas que je dois faire une vie.
Our adoptive motto: French
Disclaimer Copyright © 2010=2015 CCM-OP. All rights reserved. All trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies. The content of this white paper has been prepared for educational and information purposes only. The content does not provide legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship between CCM-OP, the author(s), or the publishers and you. You should not act or refrain from acting on any legal matter based on the content without seeking professional counsel. | All original artwork copyright Dr. Marshall Thomas unless otherwise indicated; all rights reserved.
Colossal Concepts Management | a division of the Arts & Cultural Corridor Partnership | an affiliate of the 7 Arts Foundation | a member of Fractured Atlas | manager to polymaths, practices, small-cap businesses & partnerships
202-670-3457/309.621.3590
Je fais un emploi j'ai sinon, comment dans un souci decréativité ce n'était pas que je dois faire une vie.
Our adoptive motto: French