If you want to become a copywriter you should seriously consider attending this. I’m tempted even though I’m not particularly interested in it.

Write well and often,

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Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

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We start this week with 39 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

That’s fewer than usual, but let’s see what the rest of the week brings.

If you’re new to applying for freelance writing jobs or need a refresher, How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job may help.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

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If you’ve got a blog you may want to consider these basics about making money with it. This video is a good place to start.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

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This picture is how part of me feels this morning at 5:45 on this Saturday morning. I was going to link to an article on one of my websites and went to look it over… all my sites are down, and it’s not because I haven’t paid my bill.

I called customer service and was told “a server is down.” I hadn’t known where on the planet my websites are served from and it turns out to be Kansas. I asked for that information so I could estimate how long my sites are down. I may ask for a credit.

In truth, this is the first time this has ever happened to me with my own sites. Oh, I’m sure they’ve been down when I haven’t known it, but apparently never for very long. Hopefully this won’t be long either.

Write well and often, (and, duh, the sig jpg won’t work either ’cause it’s served from… yep, Kansas!)

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

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Hi Anne,
I’m a freelancer new to the game. I have been offered a gig at a local parenting magazine that has a huge circulation. They have only recently sent the writers agreement even though my column has already appeared in two issues. I really need some advice, like I said, I’m a newbie and don’t want to be taken advantage of.

Here is part of the contract. I have left out the specifics of the publication.

“In purchasing First North American serial rights, the content will appear first and exclusively in XXXX (and cannot appear elsewhere in print within the first 90 days of publication). We reserve the right to publish the columns in any XXXX Publications magazine and/or Web site now and in the future. We own electronic rights, which includes archival (only links to the columns may appear on other sites). In addition, XXXX Publications will maintain a 50 percent share and copyright ownership of any future reprint/syndication agreements and compensation as long as kd writes the column. One-time reprints must include a disclaimer that the column first appeared in XXXX. Syndication is defined as offering the column on a nonexclusive basis to several different publications that are not in direct competition with one another or with any XXXX Publications magazine or Web site. Either the magazine or the writer can seek reprint agreements and will be responsible for notifying and compensating the other party for any sales of the content. In addition, XXXX Publications will maintain the copyright to the column name “XXXX” and reserves the right to continue the column with another writer into perpetuity.”

Any advice is truly appreciated. Thank you.

knd

Dear KND,

I’m not sure what sort of advice you’re looking for. A great deal depends on what you want, on where you see writing this column might lead, how much they are paying you, etc. etc. etc.

And please, remember, I’m not a lawyer or a judge… just a freelance writer like you. That said, here’s my very personal take on it:

First rights generally means they publisher gets to publish it first. It seems to me this goes beyond that, which is, of course, their right do ask for..

They are asking a lot, including 50% of any reprints you might sell in the future.

On the other hand, if they are paying you well for each column, and I’d probably want something like a dollar a word or more since they want half of any reprint rights, it might be worth it. It might also be worth it if the column creates the kind of exposure you want for your career. Are you going to get a bio line or two each time.

They are asking a lot, but it may be worth it.

Do some dreaming about the future. How does this column fit in with where you’d like to go? How difficult is it for you to write the column? If it’s easy, it will be fairly simple for you to totally rewrite the material down the road should you want to. (Remember, ideas can’t be copyrighted, only their expression.) You might want to push back a bit and see if they’d settle for 25% or bonus pay if they put your work in other magazines or websites. You can frame this sort of thing as a question, gently asked, to begin to get a sense if it’s a make or break situation.

Another thing to consider, is that if this publication wants you, others probably will as well. Do you want to find out or do you want to take this one and see how it goes. Truly, only you can decide if this contract with or without changes suits you and your situation right now.

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that’s me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, you’ll find some Q&A’s here:

Ask Anne, The Pro Writer

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

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I just posted 60 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

Not sure why it took me so long, but I’m going for a nap even tho’ it’s fairly early yet. I’m truly sleepy!

Just one more reason I love freelancing.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

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I got the copy edited version of my book on writing books back. I have to tell you, I wasn’t anxious to open it; in fact, I postponed it two days. I was afraid of what I would see for two reasons.

1. It’s always hard to look at any criticism, even when I’m the one who asked for it.
2. I hired a new copy editor and wasn’t a bit sure how she’d work out.

So far I’ve been delighted. She did exactly what I asked - that is, she didn’t do any rewriting, corrected mistakes and highlighted anything that confused her. I’m about a third of the way through now and I’m loving what she’s done… mostly she’s understood what I was saying, highlighting only a bit here and there. And she’s caught the typos I never ever see.

Good copy editors rock!

You might want to read: The Editing Process: What do editors do anyway?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

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We’re sneaking up on Halloween and the holidays, can you believe it?

If you’re new to applying for freelance writing jobs or need a refresher, How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job may help.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Share This

I have a question about fiction submissions and copyrights.

Several years back, I wrote a few stories that won short fiction awards and were published in my college’s literary journals. Now I am thinking of sending them out to other publications for reprinting. The problem is that I want to edit and rewrite (to a degree) these stories. Does that affect the fact that they have already been published?

Once I publish something in a literary journal, does that mean I can’t rewrite it and sell it again, even if it is to a ‘accepts previously published material’ publication? Because, then wouldn’t it be inaccurate to say that the story was published when it was a different version that was previously published in the first place?

I hope this makes sense. I was thinking of mentioning that “a previous version of this story was published in a…” Is that enough? Or, should I not edit the story at all and send it the way that it was published so many years ago?

Trisha

Dear Trisha,

Thanks for asking, I think! I say it that way because I am not a lawyer; I’m not even pretending to be one!

You’re really asking what rights you sold or gave away when you agreed to let the collage magazine or literary magazine publish your stories. If you still have a copy you may be able to find some information in their masthead.

Assuming the magazine has “first rights” (not a reasonable assumption exactly since it’s a college publication) that means you gave them the right to publish your story the first time. “All rights” would mean they own the stories completely. There are all sorts of rights.

But, you say you want to rewrite the stories. At some point in the editing process they will become new stories. The problem is there’s no magic number or percentage to tell you just when that happens.

I’d probably rewrite etc., then in my cover letter say something like “based on my original stories that won awards in college.”

I’d do that because I’d want to claim the award when I was pitching the stories. If they hadn’t won an award and I was just reworking them I’d probably say nothing.

Yeah, I know, this isn’t totally helpful. That’s because copyright isn’t always black and white.

And for those of you thinking of giving stories away to your college or other publication, retain the copyright. Then you won’t have this problem down the road.

You might also find Copyrights and Wrongs for Freelance Writers helpful.

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that’s me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, you’ll find some Q&A’s here:

Ask Anne, The Pro Writer

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

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I don’t know about you, but I find the whole world of taxes utterly confusing. Used to scare me, truth be known. Kelly Phillips Erb to the rescue, now at www.taxgirl.com. You won’t notice much difference, but she’s on her own now. So change your feeds and make sure you keep up with what you need to know by subscribing.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

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