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I'm a minor who's working on the second draft of my novel (the first was about 77k words). Can I traditionally publish my it when it's done? If so, then will my parents get credit for it instead of me since they'll probably have to sign the contracts?

Laurel
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Izzy E. Stewart
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With the exception of works for hire, copyright is owned by the author, until and unless the author assigns it to someone else. There is hardly ever a good reason to do this, so don't do it.

If a minor signs a contract, they are not held to the same standard as adults. Of course, this makes the age of the minor a factor. This means that publishers may be reluctant to enter into a contract with a minor since the minor can't be compelled to fully comply with the terms of the agreement. It is more than likely a publisher will require the guardian of the minor to sign the contract.

EDL
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I’m pretty certain Christopher Paolini was only 15 when his first novel, Eragon, was published, and Clare North/Kate Griffin/Catherine Webb was only 14 when Mirror Dreams came out. In my albeit limited experience, publishers want a story they can sell, doesn’t matter who wrote it. You’ll probably have a harder time finding an agent to represent you than persuading a publisher to buy your book, and your age might actually become a the hook they sell it by.

user60594
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