Letters To The Editor For March 15th
This Week:
- Should Ghostwriters Charge Hourly Rate Or Flat Fee?
- Writer Receives $500 For Unauthorized Use Of Her Work
- Thanks!
I Didn’t Sell All Rights!
Occasionally I freelance for the local newspapers and, per my contract, I retain the rights to the story. However, I’ve found my stories on “research” sites.
Can I approach these sites for unauthorized use of my work (it’s the “research” part that’s throwing me off)? Until I started freelancing full-time last year I was pretty lax on rights, but now that it’s my sole livelihood, I’m trying to be more vigilant. Any light you can shed on the topic would be
appreciated.
Write What You Live By Kristina Seleshanko
Yes, we all know the old adage to “write what you know,” but sometimes it’s tough to apply in our hum-drum lives. If your day consists of sitting at a desk, with quick trips to the kitchen for Chai tea (as mine does, and yours might, also), there may not seem very many things in your life that editors would be willing to pay for. Still, my career is all about writing what I live.
Max is Pregnant
After weeks of feeling the baby move in my tummy, Max (age 4) has announced he’s pregnant, too. His baby is a “grill” (that’s how he pronounces girl) and if you put your hand on his tummy, he pushes it way out and says his baby just kicked you.
Writer Receives $500 for Unauthorized Use of Her Work By Angela Hoy
We were recently notified by a travel writer that some of her work had been posted to a website without her permission. The site’s owner immediately responded to the writer and apologized, then she surprised us all by writing this:
“I would hope this wouldn’t be necessary but understand if you want to proceed and will respond through my attorney. I am actually shocked by your attitude. My material and articles have been published without my agreement all over the internet. I take that as a compliment and am willing to share my thoughts and experiences. I am actually very saddened by your email.”
Letters To The Editor For March 8th
This Week:
- Mean People
- I Love My OLD Cell Phone
- Don’t Sit on Your Hands – Query!
10 Places to Find Ideas By Barbra Annino
Have you ever read an article and wondered where the writer came up with the idea? You may think that the pros are assigned most of their stories, but that’s rarely the case. Neophytes and seasoned writers alike have to come up with article topics on their own for the most part. So where do you turn when your idea arsenal is running low? The short answer is EVERYWHERE.
How Much Do Ghostwriters Charge?
A chaplain I know has approached me about ghostwriting a book on his experience in overseas last year. I’ve never ghostwritten professionally before, and I’m concerned that websites I’ve surfed for information on ghostwriting may be money-making businesses rather than true ghostwriting sites for real writers. Do you know where I can find some valid information on going rates for ghostwriters, how they get paid, if the proposal costs extra or should be included in the total cost, etc.?
The Leap By Shaunna Privratsky
I’ve been here before. My feet perch precariously on the homemade wooden platform. The ground looks a million miles below me. I clutch the rough hemp of the thick rope and wrap my legs around the large knot near the end. I take a breath and jump…
Is That Gatorade in Your Ear, Dear?!
The old cell phone model I use is a gadget our children now call archaic. Richard keeps asking me if I want to upgrade but I always say no. My first excuse was that I didn’t want to spend the money. Only when Richard let me know the new phone would be free with our plan did I admit my true reservations, whining, “But then I’d have to learn how to use a new phone all over again!”