After lunch, Pengpeng took a nap in the room, and Zhang Zhong took some time to interact with readers on the "Agitation Literature" website.
The number of comments has grown rapidly in the past two days. With more refinement and replying, Zhang Zhong would definitely be too busy to read every single one. He could only randomly select a few replies.
The manuscript fee increased as fast as the number of comments, and in just two days it was already almost 20,000.
While he was busy replying to readers' comments, the phone rang and it was editor Fang Xingkai.
After Fang Xingkai called last time, he saved the number.
"Hello, Editor Fang, good afternoon." After answering the phone, Zhang Zhong smiled and said hello. He hoped that Fang Xingkai could also bring him good news.
"Good afternoon Mr. Zhang, I didn't delay your rest."
"No, I just had dinner."
"Well, it's like this, Mr. Zhang. I have read all your manuscripts, and my admiration for you has deepened. In the morning, I showed the manuscript to the editor-in-chief, and he just gave me a reply, asking me to ask you a question.
I would like to ask if you would like to publish this book in our publishing house." Fang Xingkai said.
"If possible, I would of course be willing to hand over "Jieyou Grocery Store" to your company," Zhang Zhong said.
Fang Xingkai originally wanted to test Zhang Zhong's tone, but Zhang Zhong's answer was too simple and made no waves at all.
He could only tell Zhang Zhong the conditions first, "Our opinion is that the contract will be signed for ten years and the royalties will be eight points."
Zhang Zhongxian did not express his opinion on these two conditions, but asked, "Film and television adaptation rights, audio adaptation rights, as well as traditional Chinese and foreign language publication, what do you mean by these authorizations?"
Fang Xingkai on the other end of the phone scratched his head. This Zhang Zhong didn't look like a newcomer. He actually knew all these things.
"These will be mentioned in the contract. If you license the work to us, if profits are generated, you will be paid in proportion." Fang Xingkai said.
Zhang Zhong frowned, this was a bit of a trap. If he signed this contract, it would mean that he would have no right to dispose of his works at all, at least for ten years.
It is said that profits are distributed, but when it comes to giving more or less, it is not up to others to decide.
"Editor Fang, I feel that your company's condition is a bit unsincere." Zhang Zhong said straight to the point.
Fang Xingkai said, "Mr. Zhang, what do you think? What are your conditions? You can tell us. Let's talk about it. It's not time to make a decision yet."
"Well, in that case, I will state my conditions. I will keep the audio adaptation rights of film and television dramas myself, and it doesn't matter if I license everything else to you. I don't want the royalties to be too high, just ten points will be enough, and the time will be changed to five years.
." Zhang Zhong stated his conditions, and then added, "Editor Fang, I said these conditions are not for you to counteroffer. What I mean is that if your company thinks it is okay, then we will sign a contract. If
No, I'll look elsewhere."
Fang Xingkai was a little surprised. He had talked about copyright matters with many authors. Others were either not good at talking about these things, so they just said whatever they wanted, or they asked for exorbitant prices and wasted their time. But few were as decisive and straightforward as Zhang Zhong, even
No room left at all.
The conditions Zhang Zhong mentioned were not high in terms of royalties, or even a little low. The authority he wanted from the editor-in-chief was 11%, which was a bit higher than Zhang Zhong's.
Whether the contract is signed for five years or ten years may sound like a big change, but for publishers, there is usually not much difference between signing for five years or ten years.
Normally, the life span of a book is only one or two years. If it exceeds this time, subsequent sales will be much less.
Unless those are classic works, or works that become popular because of certain things, such as winning awards or film and television adaptations, other works may not be able to sell as much in the next five years as they did in the first few days.
However, Fang Xingkai and his editor-in-chief are very optimistic about the book "Jieyou Grocery Store". They are not only optimistic about the content of the book, but also the commercial value of the book. At the same time, they also feel that this book should be adapted in film and television.
There will be a good performance.
In this case, there is a difference between five years and ten years.
Not to mention, Zhang Chong was not even willing to let go of the film and television adaptation rights.
It's not easy to talk about. Fang Xingkai patted his forehead and said, "Mr. Zhang, this film and television adaptation and copyright grant time are really difficult for us to accept."
"It doesn't matter. Editor Fang, you can discuss it with the editor-in-chief of your publisher. If it doesn't work, I can wait. To be honest, I'm not in a hurry to publish now." Zhang Zhong is indeed not in a hurry. The current remuneration is completely
This can relieve an urgent need.
But he was not in a hurry, but Fang Xingkai was a little anxious.
In fact, Fang Xingkai also knew that Zhang Chongti's conditions were not excessive at all. The quality of the book and the response from readers in the past two days definitely made it worth the conditions.
The reason why he is not willing to give high conditions is because Zhang Zhong is a new author and wants to lower the price. Now that he has not lowered the price, the pressure is on the side of "Agitation Literature".
In fact, if you want to lower the price, there are many other ways, such as removing the book from the homepage to reduce its popularity.
But this method is equivalent to the Seven-Injury Fist. In the end, it is a lose-lose situation. Editors like them are not so short-sighted.
"Mr. Zhang, I'll talk to the editor-in-chief first, and I'll call you later."
After Fang Xingkai hung up the phone, he hurried to the editor-in-chief's office.
"Come in!" Li Nan heard the knock on the door and raised his head to shout. When he saw Fang Xingkai, he smiled and said, "How is it? Have you negotiated the copyright for "Jieyou Grocery Store"?"
Fang Xingkai shook his head, "It's a bit troublesome. He is not satisfied with our conditions and raised his own conditions."
Then he told Li Nan every detail of Zhang Chong's conditions.
After hearing this, Li Nan frowned and said thoughtfully, "Is there no room for discussion?"
"He insisted like this. I only have 11% of the royalty bottom line left in my hand. However, I didn't play this card. In fact, I didn't know at all. I don't know if the extra 1% can be exchanged.
It will give priority to film and television adaptation and five years." Fang Xingkai said.
"That's it." Li Nan tapped his four fingers on the table back and forth. The atmosphere in the office became a little tense. Fang Xingkai stared at Li Nan, wondering what the editor-in-chief was thinking now.
"It's right not to hit him. There is a high chance that he won't get anything in exchange, and he may have to give it away in vain. If you want to hit it with one hit, just give him thirteen points and let him agree to our other conditions."
Li Nan said.
"Thirteen o'clock!" Fang Xingkai looked stunned, "That's a bit too much."
"Not much, just two points more than the authority I gave you before. A book costs a few cents less, and a hundred thousand copies only costs tens of thousands. If this book can sell more than one million copies, then we still have
Do you have to worry about whether it’s worth Thirteen’s royalties?”