Personally, I would not sign that contract even if it was non-exclusive because it implies that any work at home or outside of the job would be theirs as well.
George Arnold Hall
https://www.georgearnoldhall.ca
twitter: @georgeahall
Business: George Arnold Hall’s Pen and Pencil
Author/Editor/Publisher/Game Concept Designer/Web Developer/Analyst/Programmer
My Blog: https://www.georgearnoldhall.ca/GalacticPress/
Can you publish my book immediately? My current POD publisher (one of the largest ones) is trying to get more money out of me for marketing so they are STALLING, and have been stalling for about two months now. I told them I am not giving them ONE CENT MORE!!!
I typically write non-fiction: profiles, how-to’s, trend pieces and web copy. It amounts to about 25 to 30 articles and projects per month and represents the bread and butter of my writing. I write for a handful of publications whose editors regularly tap me, and if I pitch to them, they usually accept.
But, as an avid fiction reader, I’ve always wanted to try my hand at fiction. Sometimes, great story ideas just pop into my head and beg to be written. Other times, it’s bits of stories, such as an interesting character, plot twist or scenario that could be part of a good story.
The trouble is, most editors want a complete manuscript since the subjective nature of fiction makes it nearly impossible to rate a story based upon a query letter. Writing a story without a contract could be a complete waste of time if I don’t sell it.
That’s where writing short fiction for Sunday school curriculum publishers has been a terrific way for me to get my fiction writing off the ground…
On a whim, I contacted a family practice here in town (not a pediatrician) and made an appointment for six of us to go in. I thought maybe if they realized we were bringing them a ton of business (for years to come!) they wouldn’t force the vaccine issue.
The doctor and I had a long talk and she agreed that more vaccines would definitely not be a good idea for our child. Since we homeschool, we are at far lower risk than the general population. She even admitted she does not get a flu shot each year. She said if you’re healthy, well-nourished, and well-rested, your body is perfectly capable of fighting off the flu and most other illnesses.
I was SO relieved!!
Last week an author submitted a book that contained some of his friends’ life experiences. I, of course, asked him if he had obtained legal releases from his friends to include their stories in his book. He had not.
What’s the big deal, you ask? His friends voluntarily contributed to the book, right? Yes, they did. But, they might change their minds about doing so someday.
This Week:
As an author, and speaking on behalf of all of us collectively, our primary goal in writing a book is to achieve blockbuster sales and mega success. It’s the ultimate dream happy ending for authors, even if the novels and books we write don’t require a happy ending for the readers. For some, it may even be the reason for writing it…
My printer said they overprinted my books and that they’re selling them at half-price. They are paying me no royalties. They did not have my permission to do this. When I asked my printer about this issue, I was told, quite curtly, that there was nothing that could be done, that I had no recourse and “printers selling cheap, brand new books without permission is a simple fact of publishing.”
I consulted a lawyer on this and other matters and was told that this action was NOT an accepted or legal practice, as far as his research showed.
Am I totally out of line assuming that this is NOT acceptable?
As a freelancer, I’m always looking for the next big gig. It’s easy to come up with topics I’d like to explore, but finding a fun angle for an idea is sometimes challenging. I’ve found the best way to sharpen my hook is to use prompts in my target publication. Let’s say I want to write about list making, because I think lists are useful tools people can use in to enhance productivity and minimize stress. Before I sit down to draft a query, I need a clear sense of direction. Without a hook, my pitch will ramble aimlessly. I want it to pop off the page as a saleable article idea.
We were SO excited on Monday because October had FINALLY arrived! We LOVE everything Halloween and we’d already decorated the inside of our house. Once October was here, we could set up all our offensive yard decorations, too!
