Contracts!
When you're a freelance writer, the contract is a critical thing. You don't have to be a legal whiz to understand them, but it's important to read them and familiarize yourself with terms commonly used. Don't be intimidated by big, unfamiliar words!
Most importantly, make sure the contract spells out clearly what rights you are giving to the publisher, and what rights are retained by the writer.
Having just returned my signed copy of the contract for my story in the anthology Sidekicks! from Alliteration Ink Publishing, this is understandably on my mind.
Make sure you have a contract in hand before your story, or your art, is published anywhere. Make sure too that the copyright for your part of the work is listed as yours, and the copyright for the project as a whole is the publisher's.
Also, be sure that a "kill date" is included in the contract. By "kill date" I mean that if the publisher fails to get your work published initially within a certain time frame (anywhere up to 12 months, usually), OR if your work is left out of print for a set period of time, the contract is void and all rights revert back to you. remember that digital rights can sometimes be different than print rights, and keeping a book "in print" can sometimes mean having it available as a digital download rather than an actual print book. Remember: READ YOUR CONTRACT!
As with most contracts, many details are negotiable. When you're new, be prepared to be flexible, but also stand up for your rights if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you. Most importantly, communicate well with your publisher, and don't be afraid to ask questions. By phrasing your concerns as "I'm uncomfortable with this clause; can you explain it to me?" rather than "You're trying to cheat me!" you will get a great deal farther in life.
Most importantly, make sure the contract spells out clearly what rights you are giving to the publisher, and what rights are retained by the writer.
Having just returned my signed copy of the contract for my story in the anthology Sidekicks! from Alliteration Ink Publishing, this is understandably on my mind.
Make sure you have a contract in hand before your story, or your art, is published anywhere. Make sure too that the copyright for your part of the work is listed as yours, and the copyright for the project as a whole is the publisher's.
Also, be sure that a "kill date" is included in the contract. By "kill date" I mean that if the publisher fails to get your work published initially within a certain time frame (anywhere up to 12 months, usually), OR if your work is left out of print for a set period of time, the contract is void and all rights revert back to you. remember that digital rights can sometimes be different than print rights, and keeping a book "in print" can sometimes mean having it available as a digital download rather than an actual print book. Remember: READ YOUR CONTRACT!
As with most contracts, many details are negotiable. When you're new, be prepared to be flexible, but also stand up for your rights if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you. Most importantly, communicate well with your publisher, and don't be afraid to ask questions. By phrasing your concerns as "I'm uncomfortable with this clause; can you explain it to me?" rather than "You're trying to cheat me!" you will get a great deal farther in life.
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