Books & rights
Translation rights
The same book, in another language, with another publisher, and another cheque.
A translation deal is a licence: a foreign publisher pays an advance against royalties for the right to publish your book in a given language and territory, and then pays a translator (not you) to do the work. One English-language book can generate a dozen of these. Many never do. The ones that do can out-earn the original edition.
- Typical pay
- Advances from a few hundred euros for a small house to tens of thousands for a hot title in a large language. Agent commission on foreign deals is commonly 20%.
- Ceiling
- Uncapped
- Speed
- A long game
- Effort
- Light extra work
- Needs
- Needs a book
How it works
- 01
Your agent, a sub-agent, or your publisher's rights team offers the book at fairs — Frankfurt, London, Bologna — and by submission.
- 02
A foreign publisher licenses a language (sometimes a territory) for a term, pays an advance, and publishes their edition.
- 03
You are paid your share of that advance and of subsequent royalties, via whoever holds the right.
How to start
- 01
Do not try to sell translation rights yourself unless you already know the scouts. This is specialist work.
- 02
If you self-publish, you still own these rights. A rights agent can represent a self-published book.
- 03
A strong English-language track record, a clear hook, and a sample that travels culturally will do more than a covering letter in French.
Watch out
- 01
Publishers love to take world rights. That is convenient; it is not always profitable for you.
- 02
A translation advance can sit in a chain of sub-agents, each taking a cut. Ask who is in the chain.
- 03
Some countries pay well and report slowly. Keep records.
My books have been translated into a dozen languages. I did not learn those languages, and I did not make those deals over coffee. I made the English book as exportable as I could — a clear premise, a voice that survives a translator — and then I let people who go to Frankfurt do their job.