We all know how exciting it is to receive a contract for something; be it a fancy new car, a new house or in this case, an offer of publication. You wouldn’t sign a deal on a car without checking the fine details of what the car will be and the same should be done for publishing.

Here are a few things to check before you rush into signing your name.

• Find out what format your book will be in. Some contracts just cover e-book and paperback, some paperback and hardback, some just hardback and others just E-Book. It’s important to ask your editor before you sign- it should be clearly stated in your contract, so if you have any issue with it, speak to someone.

• What size your book will be is also a good question to ask. There are dozens of variations of book sizes. From square, royal landscape to the regular paperback size. Remember to ask before!

• The finish of the book also varies. This can be from the cover to the paper used. Most publishing houses use a standard paper type depending on the genre of the book. Covers can have a matt, gloss, embossed or textured cover. Every book is different, so ask your editor so you know.

• Other small details that should be asked about are: how royalties work, how long the publisher has to release the book, how important it is to reply to your publisher as quickly as possible, explaining how illustrations work… and many other details.

There are lots of details that should be looked into. Overall, anything in your contract that you don’t understand should be asked about, and if you are going to sign a contract, it goes without saying that it is vital you read it and keep your own copy of it safe.