Money The Write Way a free eMagazine for writers of integrity *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ September 10, 2003 Volume 1 Number 15 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ To join our more than 4000 subscribers, and receive the FREE eBook, "So You Want to be a Travel Writer," click on: http://www.moneythewriteway.com It's FREE! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In this issue: 1.) Letter From The Publisher---On The Home Front 2.) Ask an Expert/Questions and Answers 3.) COMP-ortunity of the month 4.) The Business of Writing by Duane Newcomb 5.) Editor's Pick/Reviews by Victoria Beninga 6.) The Boast Post---Bragging Board of Writers Triumphs and Victories *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine ISSN pending. Copyright 2003 Write Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Start Comping today by purchasing our best selling eBook: "BEEN THERE---COMPED THAT!" Free Travel, Dining, and Entertainment, All for the Cost of Some Ink Available at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ On The Home Front Carmel L. Mooney It seems human nature motivates people to actually find it entertaining hearing about others' miseries and hardships. I can't believe certain daytime talk shows and tabloids still succeed but their success rests on this fact. So let me entertain you. Since I always preach how hard writers must overcome obstacles and setbacks and maintain a positive attitude amidst adversity I'll share with you why this issue is a little late this month. The last day of August, I returned from a week-and a-half out of state vacation with my family to find that lightning had struck our mountain destroying the phone line and my computer. That's right, no communication, no computer, no email, nothing from my abode in the national forest. I was incommunicado. Intermittently I could get a weak cell signal from a certain peak by my house. This was only more frustrating because the only messages I could hear (but not respond to) were publishers wondering why I wasn't responding to their emails. Well, 5 days later I got phone restored and yesterday I got computer access restored. But not until I had cleared over 400 emails from the Worm that invaded the computer emails the day we left. So here I sit, dust settling, getting this emagazine out to you all a little late but not without smiles and chuckles at the challenges all of us writers face. By the way, don't feel too terribly sorry for me. The reason I was out of state was that a major cruise line comped my family and me an Alaskan cruise. It was spectacular. I am now thoroughly sold on cruising. It was our second comped cruise this year. Extensive cruise writing most certainly lies in my future. May your ink always flow freely, Carmel *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ This week's newest COMP-ortunity Aramark Parks and Resorts Website: http://www.laketahoecruises.com Address: 625 Hwy 50, P.O. Box 12309, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 Phone: 775-588-5678 Ext 28 Contact: Carol Chaplin Description: Numerous day and evening cruises on Lake Tahoe including champagne brunch cruise, dinner cruise, dance cruise, Mark Twain Tales of Tahoe cruise, paddlewheeler cruises, cabins, snowmobiling, charters, special events, MS Dixie, and Tahoe Queen Coverage desired: Print media coverage of various recreational opportunities as well as Family-Friendly cruises. Prefers writers with any of the following: letter of assignment, or press credentials, or writing samples/clips for review Possible comp: various cruises and recreational opportunities *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ "Ask a Pro" Publishing/Comping/Writing Q&A "Your Questions---You Always Wanted To Ask," answered by professional writing consultant/coach/author/instructor, Carmel L. Mooney To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com. Questions may be edited for length or content if necessary. Question: Ms. Mooney, I am seventeen years old, and a budding poet. I have been writing for seven years now, and am coming to a point where I am ready to begin publishing. I actually have two questions for you: Are there any excellent opportunities for someone my age to begin publishing; and if so where do I begin? Do you know of any scholarships based on writing poetry? B. Gibson Lakeland, FL Answer: Yes, I highly recommend getting your feet wet by publishing an eBook and then perhaps a Print on Demand book of your poetry. The eBook will cost nothing and the Print on Demand is very reasonable through http://www.ebookstand.com Then you might consider entering some local poetry contests through local libraries and even getting printed in some anthologies. Lastly, the back of the Writer's Market is a good place to look for contests and grants and scholarships. Also, spend some time on the web. Question: I'm a rookie freelancer with a couple of soon-to-be-published articles, and a strong interest in copywriting. I'd love to offer my copywriting services to the people I've interviewed for these features, but I read somewhere that this is unethical. Is there a way to avoid the whole conflict-of-interest issue? J.Rounsaville Answer: I disagree. As writers, networking is the lifeblood of our success. I have often gotten clients for one type of writing because I knew them from a different type of work I'd done previously. Once I was writing an article about a historic hotel. When the hotel saw the article come out in the magazine they remembered I had mentioned that I did some copywriting so they asked me to do their next brochure and to even take the photos. They loved the brochure so much they offered me comped stays twice. Always exercise the utmost in ethics and professionalism and definitely market yourself with your existing writing contacts. Question: Am I correct in stating that it is a wise idea to fire off multiple queries on a particular subject in hope that one or more is accepted? This I believe would be an acceptable method for an article "to be written", but is this wise regarding a manuscript that is "already written"?? Some magazines take weeks and others months to respond to queries and manuscripts. What if when I send an already written manuscript/query regarding a single particular subject to multiple magazines, that by a rare gift chance the manuscript is accepted by more than one magazine? Won't I damage my credibility if I withdraw from one? If I do withdraw, how would that be done actually? Furthermore, it is my understanding that if a particular manuscript is changed 60 % or more, that it becomes a "new" article...even under "All Rights" previous acceptance terms. What does 60% entail? Does that mean just mixing up the "old" sentences and paragraphs in a "new" order, or rewriting 60% of the sentences (and how can you tell what 60% is?), or replacing "thesaurusly" 60% of the words?? Many magazines want "All Rights", but I would like to be able to resell a manuscript that generates a strong, broader interest to more than just one magazine and maximize the article's profitability. Speaking of "All Rights"...in Writer's Market when a magazine says only the words "All Rights", does that "All Rights" mean only accepting "All Rights" articles, or does it mean they will accept "All Rights" as in any type offered? If the magazine asks for "Only All Rights" would they consider other "Rights" if offered, or do they just trash the article without a second thought and label the writer as not accepting "All Rights" and disregard all future non-"All Rights" queries? Has the "issue" of "Electronic Rights" been resolved in relationship to "All Rights" agreements? Are they or aren't they included? Should a writer stipulate that "Electronic Rights are Negotiable" or "Electronic Rights Negotiated Separately" in addition to any other rights offered? Would this "offend" the editors, OR give them reason to believe the writer is knowledgeable or experienced? Any help would be appreciated. PW, Meadow Vista, California Answer: Multiple submissions are the norm these days although it wasn't years ago. Just send off 10-40 queries at a time (that's what I did when I first started out). If you get more than one acceptance---no problem... you just communicate honestly to the ones you want most (that pay the best) and tell them. Most editors understand. You can sell reprints to the others as long as they aren't competing overlapping markets. Just sell the highest paying markets the first rights. I wouldn't get hung up too much on the 60% thing. After selling more than 500 articles, I have only sold all rights a few times and I have mixed up, rearranged, and rewritten articles using the same facts, quotes, and anecdotes (a few minutes cutting and pasting on the computer with a little thesaurus usage, and rewriting accomplishes this). Even when they request "all rights" you can usually negotiate. I wouldn't mention e-rights at all unless asked. The laws are constantly changing on this issue but you may want to look them up off the Internet. The last I heard a magazine could not use electronic rights at all without your permission...but it may fall under ALL rights. To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com. Carmel Mooney is also available by phone and/or email for private consultation, editing, and coaching. Carmel has helped hundreds of writers achieve writing and publishing success. Email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com or call her at: 916-205-4763 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Business Side of Writing Duane Newcomb Work-Made-For-Hire Contracts What is work-made-for-hire? After you have sold a number of articles you will, at one point or another begin to receive a contract prior to the publication of your article. The work made for hire contract simply states that you are writing the article as the publisher's employee. Newspapers and some magazines frequently offer this contract to their regular contributors. This means that all rights and the copyright now belong to the magazine or newspaper. You can't resell your work to any other publisher or share in any royalties obtained from subsequent publication. I, for instance, sold an automotive magazine an article on skin diving for gold. The article was picked up by my Weekly Reader which paid a fee for it. I unfortunately didn't get another penny since I had signed a work made for hire contract. You also can't put your article or book on your website without the publisher's permission. When you sign one of these contracts, you, in effect, become an employee of the publisher (an independent contractor) for the purpose of this article, but you can't participate in health insurance, retirement plans or paid vacations. Some publishing contracts also now have what they call a "belt-and-suspenders" clause. Many book and magazine publishers back up their work made for hire contract with an "all rights" provision. These give the publisher exclusive publication rights to your work, including electronic rights throughout the world forever without additional compensation." Under this contract you have transferred your rights to the publisher and the article is no longer yours no matter how the publisher uses it. Article writers have increasingly refused to sign work-made-for-hire (WMFH) or all-rights contracts, except when it is technical or corporate writing done exclusively for a particular company. Journalists hoped that if all professional writers refused to sign this kind of contract that publishers would give in or be forced to rely on less capable writers. This hasn't happened. When the Internet began taking material, publishers often seized the electronic rights and published the article on their websites without permission and without paying for it. However, In June 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court found that publishers had exceeded their print rights when they posted articles on electronic databases without paying for them. To counter this, publishers begin to demand all rights up front. An increasing number of publishers now refuse to work with writers unless they sign away all rights or agree to work made for hire contracts. Some contracts even demand rights to use the material in "any media that may be invented in the future, anywhere in the universe." Today, article writers are seeing more and more of the work made for hire and the "all rights" contracts. When you are presented with a publishing contract that includes an all-rights or work-made-for-hire clause, here are several possible responses: Offer Them First North America Serial Rights. Tell the editor or publisher that most professional writers' organizations oppose all-rights and work-made-for-hire contracts. I usually also add that these contracts are unfair. Unfortunately, even if the publisher offers to modify the contract you still have to watch out for the magazine trying to take additional rights. They may, for instance, may try to include an electronic rights clause that allows them to put your article on their website without additional payment. Ask For Additional Payment: The more rights a publisher asks for, the more they should pay. If a publisher wants to post your article on their website, remind them of the Supreme Court decision and offer to negotiate electronic rights. These are usually from 25% to 50% of the original article rate. Since articles and book excerpts stay on a website for some time, one writer grants these rights for a 3 year period and gets total payment up front. Offer a Time Limit on Rights. Suggest that instead of all rights or work for hire that you will grant a limited all-rights contract, with rights reverting to the author at the end of an agreed-upon period. A few contracts often specify a 1-to-3 year time period. This will sometimes be accepted when you have been working for the same magazine for a number of years and the editor knows your work. He or she often has some limited discretion in contract negotiations. Demand More Money: If you have tried everything and the publication still wants a work made for hire or an all rights contract and you must grant it or lose the sale, ask for a higher fee. You can point out that under ordinary conditions you would sell the article elsewhere after the magazine publishes it. We need to remember that freelance writing is a business with considerable risks and overhead. You wouldn't work for any other employer for free; you shouldn't have to work for a newspaper or magazine for free. Duane Newcomb is a literary consultant with 36 non-fiction books to his credit, over 5000 articles and more than 150 client books in print. He has taught article and non-fiction book courses at numerous colleges, universities and writer's conferences across the United States. Visit Duane Newcomb's website: The Booksite at www.bookforce.bizland.com offers a cornucopia of information on writing, publishing and promoting your nonfiction book. Need a Book Website that you can build yourself? I can help. Visit our build-a -Website Page at: www.bookforce.bizland.com/id41.html *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ Editor's Pick Book, Magazine, Website, and e-Book Review Victoria Beninga, Editor This Month's Review: PBS-U If you have satellite or cable TV, check your listings for PBS YOU or PBS-U. Then grab a pencil and paper and get ready to take notes from some great shows which offer video classes for writers. For example, the schedule for "A Writer's Exchange" lists episodes which include Writing with an Informative Aim, Organizing Ideas, and Writing Under Pressure. The show "Advanced English Composition: Research for Writers" offers episodes which include Communicating Your Ideas, Using the Library, and Gathering Information. There are two shows that concentrate on writing for newspapers and TV news shows. The show "News Writing" includes episodes such as Beyond the Summary Lead, Column Writing and Editorial Writing, The Ethics of Journalism, and Covering Disasters. You can find episodes entitled The Concept and The Research listed for the show "Broadcast News Writing." Not only can you utilize these video classes to improve your writing skills, you can also choose to earn college credit. To learn more about PBS YOU, go to their web site at http://www.pbs.org/pbsyou/. Victoria Beninga Travel Columnist/Editor/Publisher, GOLD COUNTRY FAMILIES, a FREE eMagazine and FREE e-mail newsletter of child-friendly local activities and getaways for Sierra Nevada Gold Country Families, http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com Columnist/Associate Editor, MONEY THE WRITE WAY, a FREE eMagazine for Writers of Integrity, http://www.moneythewriteway.com RV eBooks available at http://www.ebookstand.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Boast Post Don't be modest-we applaud you! Whether it's an assignment victory, a publishing accomplishment, comp, or a writing goal achieved, we'd love to hear it. Please include your full name or initials, and your city and state. Send your boast in 75 words or less to: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com (may be edited for length or content) Boast: August was a record month for me in comp-ortunities. Between cruises, resorts, airline tickets, vacation beach rentals, restaurant reviews, excursions, train rides, sailing tours, day tours, two theme parks and much more our family's total free travel, dining, and entertainment exceeded $7000...all for the cost of some travel writing ink. CM, N. California *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Coming Soon/Around the Corner: Great writing courses by nationally acclaimed writing instructors! Take them from the privacy of your home and have email access to your questions from the instructor. COMING SOON! Email for more information; there's no obligation. Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Websites for Writers! ---Hazel Nieves, expert on Internet Marketing and Online business success, is owner of Web Development Company, Sierra Technology Solutions, Inc. She has 20 years experience in sales, marketing, and technology and is a committed crusader in helping take the confusion out of taking your business online. You can contact Hazel at 530-367-2915 or Customerservice@sierratechnologysolutions.com Special Offer! Writers Special E-biz Website Package Turn-key Package Includes: *5 Custom Pages *Shopping Cart (up to 10 products) *Secure Server *One year hosting service *Uses your own domain *Up to 15 Email accounts *Attractive Professional designs to choose from *Copyright Statement page Special Price: $ 600.00 complete Get started today with your Affordable Professional E-business website here: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com /writers/writers_special.htm Learn more from Hazel at: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It's FREE---List your inn, resort, restaurant, entertainment venue, business, or destination seeking written coverage---contact the publisher: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine TO SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with "subscribe" as the subject to: subscribe@moneythewriteway.com TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with "unsubscribe" as the subject to: unsubscribe@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Have something you'd like to offer more than 4000 writers and authors? Place YOUR ad in Money the Write Way today! It's affordable and effective. Email for rates and details: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Write Spirit Publishing P.O. Box 3405 Auburn, CA 95604 Contact us at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com We welcome your: comments/suggestions/requests/contributions Carmel L. Mooney, Publisher Victoria Beninga, Associate Editor http://www.moneythewriteway.com Should the links we provide not work, this may mean your E-mail program doesn't like our code. Simply go directly to our current online archived issue at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com You may freely distribute this eMag to friends, discussion lists, and writing groups as long as the issue is included in its entirety. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~