Option/Purchase Agreements: Avoiding Common Pitfalls?

Hey fellow writers! Haley Bergstrom here, working on a new psychological thriller and the conversations are starting to lean towards potential options. It's exhilarating, but also a little daunting because honestly, my first go-round with contracts felt like I was reading a foreign language. I know I just sort of... trusted what was presented, which in hindsight, probably wasn't the smartest move for my long-term interests.

I’m trying to be much more proactive this time, really understand the ins and outs. So, I’m genuinely curious: looking back, what's a common mistake you see new writers make when they first encounter option and purchase agreements, maybe something you've even done yourself? What's that one essential piece of advice you'd give to ensure they don't unwittingly undervalue their work or sign away too much early on?