How much does it cost to use RightsWord?

We offer three plans: Free (evaluation with 20 publishers, no fees), Solo at $99 (700+ publishers, no commission — keep 100%), and Premium at $199 (1,500+ publishers, dedicated agent, 20% commission on deals, with the $199 credited back from your first commissions).

How is this different from just uploading to Amazon?

Amazon is self-publishing where you handle everything. We connect you with traditional publishers who pay advances, handle translation, printing, marketing, and distribution in their market. You get a dedicated publishing house in each country.

What kind of books can I submit?

Fiction and non-fiction in all genres. Your book should be completed and you must hold the translation/foreign rights - meaning you're self-published, or your publisher granted you these rights.

What happens after a publisher makes an offer?

We handle the entire negotiation - advances, royalty rates, rights duration, territory scope. Once you accept, the contract is signed and the publisher pays the advance.

What do publishers handle after buying rights?

Everything: translation, editing, cover design, printing, marketing, and distribution. You don't invest any money - you simply receive royalty payments. Truly passive income.

How long does it typically take to get a deal?

Some authors receive offers within weeks, others take several months. Your book stays active indefinitely, and we continuously match it with new publishers joining our network.

Is my manuscript safe on the platform?

Publishers only see your synopsis and sample initially. Full manuscripts are shared only with seriously interested publishers under confidentiality terms.

Can I use RightsWord if I already have a literary agent?

If your agent handles foreign rights, work through them. But many agents focus on domestic markets - if you hold your foreign rights, we can complement your existing representation.

Do I need a literary agent to use RightsWord?

No. RightsWord was built specifically for authors who don't have foreign rights representation. We work directly with independent and self-published authors - no agent required. If you do have an agent, we can complement their domestic focus with international outreach.

Can I submit a book that's already on Amazon?

Absolutely. Most of our authors are self-published on Amazon or other platforms. As long as you hold your translation and foreign rights (which self-published authors automatically do), you're eligible. Having existing sales data actually strengthens your pitch to international publishers.

How much do translation rights typically pay?

Advances typically range from $500 to $5,000 per language deal, with ongoing royalties of 7%-12% on every copy sold. Premium authors with strong sales records or high-demand genres can command higher advances. Multiple deals across different countries create compounding passive income.

What genres sell best internationally?

Thrillers, romance, literary fiction, self-help, and business books tend to have the strongest international demand. However, every genre has markets - children's books do exceptionally well in certain regions, and niche non-fiction can find dedicated publishers. We evaluate each book's global potential individually.

What countries buy the most translation rights?

Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil are among the largest markets for translation rights. Asian markets like China, Japan, and Korea are rapidly growing. Eastern European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are also very active buyers. Our network covers 50+ countries across all continents.

How Long Does It Take to Sell Translation Rights? (2026 Timeline)

One of the most common reasons indie authors give up on translation rights is timing. They send 30 pitches, hear nothing for three weeks, assume the book failed, and stop. In reality, the response cycle for foreign rights is one of the slowest in publishing. Knowing the real timeline keeps you from quitting in week three of a six-month process.

Stage 1: Pitch sent to publisher response

Typical wait: 3 to 10 weeks. Worst case: 6 months. Best case: 48 hours.

Foreign rights editors receive between 20 and 100 pitches per week. They read in batches, usually when traveling or after a book fair. A response in under two weeks is fast. A response in 8 to 10 weeks is normal. No response after 12 weeks usually means a soft pass - send one polite nudge, then move on.

Stage 2: Initial interest to reading the full manuscript

Typical wait: 4 to 12 weeks.

If the editor likes your synopsis and sample, they will request the full manuscript. Then they need to read it themselves (or assign an external reader who reports back). Reader reports take 4 to 8 weeks. Editors often wait until they have 2 to 3 reader reports before bringing the book to the acquisitions meeting.

Stage 3: Acquisitions decision

Typical wait: 2 to 6 weeks after the full read.

Most foreign publishers have weekly or biweekly acquisitions meetings. The editor pitches your book internally. Marketing, sales, and finance weigh in. Either the publisher passes (most common), counters with a small offer, or asks for more time. A clean yes at this stage with a real number on the table is the moment you have a deal.

Stage 4: Offer to signed contract

Typical wait: 4 to 10 weeks.

Once an offer is on the table, expect: a week or two negotiating advance, royalty, and term; another two to three weeks for the publisher's legal team to send a draft contract; one to three weeks for your review and markup; and a final week for signatures. Wire payment of the advance typically arrives 30 to 60 days after signature.

Stage 5: Signed contract to published edition

Typical wait: 12 to 24 months.

This part you do not control. After signing, the publisher hires the translator (2 to 6 months of work), edits the translation (2 to 4 months), produces and proofs the book (2 to 3 months), and slots it into a release calendar (often planned 6 to 12 months out). 18 months from signature to printed book is standard.

End-to-end: first pitch to first royalty check

First pitch sent: Month 0
First serious interest: Month 1 to 3
First signed contract: Month 4 to 12
Advance paid: Month 5 to 13
Translated edition published: Month 18 to 36
First royalty statement (if advance earns out): Month 24 to 42

That is for the first deal. Once you have one foreign edition in print, the second and third deals usually move 2 to 3 times faster because you can point to a real translation that exists.

What speeds the timeline up

Working with an agency that already has publisher relationships. RightsWord and similar agencies cut Stage 1 from months to days because the editor opens the email knowing the sender.
Book fair season. Pitches in the 6 weeks before Frankfurt, London, or Bologna get read faster because editors are actively building their meeting lists. See our guide to book fair rights season.
Strong sales data. An indie title with 10,000+ verified sales and good reviews moves through acquisitions faster than one with 200 sales.
Available sample translation. If the editor does not read English well, having even 20 translated pages cuts evaluation time dramatically.

What slows it down

Pitching in July, August, or late December (most foreign editors are out).
Sending unfinished or unedited samples - publishers spot this in minutes and pass.
Long synopses (more than 2 pages) or pitches that bury the hook.
Pitching publishers who do not publish your genre - wrong-fit pitches get instant rejections.

The honest summary

Translation rights are a 4 to 12 month sales process, not a campaign with a deadline. Authors who treat it like cold outbound sales - consistent pitching, polite follow-ups, no panic, no quitting - land deals. Authors who send 20 pitches in one week and expect responses by Friday almost never do.

How Long Does It Take to Sell Translation Rights? A Realistic Timeline