Never give away work so someone else profits

If you know me or have read this blog, you probably know I focus on the business side of writing as well as the artistic. Recently, I had a troubling experience I want to share where someone wanted to reprint my work for free.

Since I only have suspicions, I am not going to name this person or the market. This isn’t like Mandy DeGeit’s experience, which deserved calling people out by name. For this story, I will call them Editor and Magazine. And the title of Magazine is aimed clearly at writers.

So, I received an email stating:

I really loved your post on publishing short stories here:

http://mattmoorewrites.com/2011/04/06/how-to-publish-a-short-story-know-your-markets/

I edit a magazine called (Magazine)… and am working on my next issue. I was wondering if I could reprint that post in the magazine? If you would like me to promote something for you, maybe the book or a specific web page you want me to point people to I would be more than happy to do it. Because it is an interactive magazine, once people have read the article they can be directed straight to a web page of your choice.

 I wrote back with enthusiasm and asked for a contract. The reply was:

I don’t actually do a formal contract.  Just a ‘verbal’ agreement.  How does that sound?

Since I did not know Editor, I wanted to protect myself. I wrote back, asking for specifics (i.e., what rights were being sought) and payment (i.e., per word, flat fee, contributors copies). I have not received a reply and, frankly, I am not surprised. Because during this exchange, I researched Magazine. Here is what I found:

It is only available as an app for iPad and iPhone that downloads the latest monthly issue automatically. That is, Magazine cannot be easily shared like a PDF or even pay-walled site.
Each issue costs $3.99. And Magazine is electronic-only, so there are no printing or production costs.
While the covers are look good (they have that literary magazine feel to them), no contributors are listed.
On Magazine’s site, social media profiles and iTunes listings, no contributors are listed.
A Google search turned up two other contributors who had also been approached to reprint their blog posts.
A search for Editor’s name did not turn up anything not having to do with Magazine.

This has me thinking: Is Editor’s business model to scan blogs for good posts and bundle them in a magazine that makes him (and only him) money? That is, he makes his money off the work of others? Editor might make the argument that the blog posts are already out there for free, so exposure to Magazine’s subscribers is just compensation. But this is the non-fiction equivalent of magazines and anthologies that pay in “exposure only” while the editors reap all the profits. I don’t discount the effort in laying and producing a magazine, but that is only part of the effort. The content within the magazines and books is what drives sales. And if Editor is sincere in promoting contributors, why not list them by name on the cover, on the site, etc.?

Granted, my blog post is available for free and maybe I might gain a few new readers by appearing in Magazine. But the blog post is on my site with my content easily available surrounded by my branding. Considering Editor has no physical costs in producing Magazine, I don’t think it’s too much to expect that Editor pay his contributors, even if a token amount.

It’s ironic that new and emerging short story writers need to learn the lessons of (1) never give your work away for free, and (2) always know what rights are being purchased. It seems that Editor is asking me to do just that for a magazine aimed at those new story writers.

If you know who Editor and Market are and have had dealings with them—good or bad—please let me know in the comments. But, I may edit out the names since I am only working on suspicion here and don’t want to unfairly tarnish someone. Editor could be writing me right now!