What do I do when my book goes out of print?
- Out-of-print books can often have their rights reverted to the author.
- Reversion clauses in the contract govern this.
- Once rights revert, you can republish the book.
- Self-publishing a reverted book reopens its income.
- An out-of-print book is a recoverable asset.
When your traditionally published book goes out of print, treat it as an opportunity to reclaim and revive it. Check your contract's reversion clause and request that the rights revert to you (out-of-print status often triggers this right). Once you hold the rights again, you can republish the book — typically by self-publishing it with a fresh cover and metadata — reopening its income stream under your control. An out-of-print book is not dead; it is a recoverable asset that can earn again once you get the rights back.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Authors often assume an out-of-print book is finished, leaving a valuable asset dormant. In reality, out-of-print status frequently lets you reclaim your rights and republish, turning a dead book into an earning one under your control. Understanding rights reversion and the path to republishing lets authors recover their backlist, which can become a meaningful income source. Knowing that out-of-print is an opportunity, not an ending, is a valuable piece of career knowledge, especially for traditionally published authors.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A check of the contract's reversion clause.
- A request for rights reversion.
- Reclaimed rights enabling republishing.
- Self-publishing with fresh cover and metadata.
- A reopened income stream.
- The book treated as a recoverable asset.
Chapter iii·Example
An author's traditionally published novel goes out of print. She checks her contract, requests reversion, and reclaims the rights. She then self-publishes the book with a new cover and refreshed metadata, reopening its sales under her control. The "dead" out-of-print book becomes an earning backlist title again.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom keeps your rights and backlist organized, so reclaiming and republishing an out-of-print book is straightforward.
See WriteLoom