Do I Need A Model Release From Relatives?
Do I need a model release form if I use a picture of my granddaughter on the cover of my book? I'm the one who took the photograph.…
Ask The Expert
Can I Post My Sold Articles on My Website?
I've had lots of stuff published in the consumer zines and in professional journals. I'd like to take some of these and put them on my MySpace thingie, hoping perhaps it'll generate more business. My concern is that the articles and manuscripts essentially now belong to others and I was wondering if, even though I was the author and they would be going onto a social networking site, if plagiarism issues can result. If so, what if I added to each article or manuscript "This article/manuscript appeared in such-and-such magazine (or journal) on (whatever date)"? Would that cover me? Or, should I just drop the whole idea altogether? …
Should I Pay a Site to Showcase My Work to Editors?
I'd like your opinion of the new Reptile Media site posted online. Writers are supposed to post unpublished articles on the site. Editors are supposed to look at the site, pick the ones they like and make an offer to the writer. This saves the trouble of writing a query letter or targeting a publication. Besides writing on spec, it seems like it would be open season for the people that steal other writers' work. Your opinion? …
Book Formatting, Fonts, and an Index? What’s best?
I'm starting to write a book from my journal memoirs and it's around 550 pages in Word. What format and font/style, etc. should I create it in so that it can more easily be published later? How do I set up a proper index? …
But…What If Somebody Steals My Book?!
I'm really in a muddle about epublishing because I can't figure HOW it works. If I put my book online and someone wishes to buy it, how does that happen? I do understand there is no way to prevent people from burning my book on CD's and selling them or giving them away. That's the down side. But I don't understand why people cannot just download the book to begin with. Please explain at your convenience. …
Do Non-fiction Books Need Agents?
Do you suggest getting an agent for nonfiction books? Or sending the book proposal directly to a publisher? …
Should I Hire a Printer or a Publishing Service?
I have completed a business book. It was written using Word and I have converted it to pdf. The front and back covers are designed and saved as Word files along with the spine design. I have an ISBN and have assigned a number to the book. I am considering going to a standard printer, but would like to consider going with a POD publisher instead, or maybe also. Does this make sense? …
Internship or Indentured Servitude?
I keep seeing freelancing writing ads for "interns" but I'm not sure they're legitimate. Can you help? …
Royalties Based on List Price vs. Net Profit
I'm feeling a little stupid - I read on your website that iUniverse gives authors only a 20% royalty for a book sold on Amazon. However, if I understand correctly, your royalty (for wholesale orders) is only 15%, which is even less. What am I missing? …
How Can I Get My Book Into Bookstores?
How can I get my book into bookstores? Would I go up to the purchasing agent of that bookstore and tell them about my book? Or will they not work with me? …
Google EVERY Company That Asks You to Pay Money or Sign a Contract!
I received this e-mail from an agent I queried for my novel. ANYTIME a prospective agent offers editing services as part of their "full package", AND at the author's expense, it raises a red flag. To me it's a complete conflict of interest. What do you think? …
Freelance Job-Bidding Website
It's a service for freelancers in several fields. The writing jobs are incredibly low paid ($1.00 per page...$15 for a 1000-word article!).…
What Is Happening to Editors’ Manners?!
I am curious to know your take on a situation I have encountered the last few months with publications--their editors, in particular--whose "writers wanted" ads I have responded to after seeing them listed in WritersWeekly's jobs and opportunities. The issue is this: professional courtesy and timeliness in responding to e-mail and returning phone calls. …
Should I Serialize My New Novel BEFORE It’s Published?
Q. The editor of the local paper, who serialized my first book after it was published, suggests I serialize my next book as it progresses, BEFORE publication. What do you suggest? A. The original star of electronic book serialization (not newspaper) was famous novelist Doug Clegg. Years ago, long before Stephen King took a shot at it, Clegg was distributing a free chapter of his book to his fans every Friday, via email... …
Can I Copy This Without Permission? Nope!
In writing my autobiography, is it okay to incorporate material one sees on the Internet if there are no conditons such as; "cannot be copied, etc., without the author's permission?" …
My Book is Out of Print…But Still Being Sold?
My book has been out of print for a long time but it is still listed for sale on lots of websites. Why? …
Which Rights Did I Give Up?
I wrote an article for a small magazine that was accepted for their January 2005 issue. There were no rights discussed (I'm not so naive now!), just the acceptance, which read that they had accepted my article and to let them know if I had any questions. Now I would like to use the article in its entirety in my upcoming book. Do I need to secure permission? …
Can I Quote This Celebrity?
I want to publish a funny celebrity quote on my book cover. Can I legally do this? …
Sending Chapters Into Magazines As Articles
I think I heard somewhere that if one is writing a book on the subject, you can't take chapters and send them into magazines as articles. But, I don't know if that's true, and don't know the reasoning behind it. …
I Sent A Review Copy To A Journalist…And Then He Tried To Sell Me Advertising!
I sent a review copy of my book ON REQUEST to a journalist...and he then tried to sell me an ad!…
“Isn’t Everything Online Royalty Free?” No!!!
"I found an image online that I want to use on my book cover but I can't find out who owns it. Isn't everything on the Internet royalty free?" …
Who’s Supposed to Be Marketing My Book?!
I don't understand why my publisher, Ingram and Amazon aren't marketing my book. Isn't that what they do? …
How Do I Go About Finding a Legit Agent?
How do I go about finding a legit agent? Is an agent paid up front, or does agent take a percentage of the book sales? …
“On-Site” Freelancers and Contractors Might Be Entitled To Benefits and Overtime Pay!
I have been unable to find a clear definition of what "freelance writing" is and is not. …
The Squawking Bird Gets the First Payment!
A publishing firm owes me payment for a British-English copy edit completed in late August. On 23 September 2008 I sent an invoice for an American-English copy edit. Those are the only jobs I've done for the firm... …
Should I Name Names in My Memoir?
Between what I've written prior to your class and all the new stories cascading from your memory triggers, I need some advice. I'm writing to ask a question about naming real characters in stories. Since this is a memoir, I figured it's appropriate to keep honest and name names. It's certainly easier to keep track of everyone this way. However, some of the people I have written about are not likely to appreciate this. For example, I had a fourth grade teacher who went around the bend one day. I'm quite sure she's dead, but who knows? Then, there was the bully at school. Although his crime was nothing to alert the S.W.A.T. team over, it had a huge impact on me. Oh, and my family? I had 41 first cousins, 35 on my Mother's side. They couldn't agree on a memory if they were there. HELP! How do you suggest I handle this? …
Bargain Basement PODs – You Get What You Pay For
I am considering two different POD companies, BookLocker and CreateSpace. From what I can see, CreateSpace (owned by Amazon) has no set up fee but you pay a little more for each book sold. Honestly, after reading all the information you provide, I like your approach and I have purchased a book from you and I like the way it feels and looks, but I am having trouble justifying paying $500 when I can pay $0 in set up fees. Can you tell me if I am missing something with CreateSpace? I see they are not one of the companies you discussed in the comparison article. Thanks for any additional information you can provide! …
POD and Returns
I was reading the web page of Booklocker.com and I saw your name in there. What I would like to know is; are there any POD publishers out there who take books back from the bookstores? …
What is AP Style?
I have a question, in a guideline I received it said that the submissions should be in "AP" style. I have looked all over the place or places and I can find no reference to AP style. Do you know what that means? Please help!! …
Why Do Some Pubs Offer Such Insulting Pay?
Just a short note to state my opinion about the way writers are paid. Personally I think it is an insult what some magazines offer. How can you ask for 6,000 words and pay between $10.00 & $25.00 for it? I don't know of any writers who can knock off 6,000 words the first time without several rewrites. Do they think they are doing us a favor by publishing what we write??? They certainly aren't paying for the privilege of using our work. This isn't just a few. It is most of what I've come across. It takes me forever to find an editor willing to pay for what they want. They ask for perfection and offer zilch in return. Who works for 10 cents an hour. Writers???? Why do they offer such a piss poor excuse for a payment! I was in business management and accounting. That was the way to support my family. Now I'm disabled and I can do what I love, writing. Maybe I think in dollars and cents because of my previous occupation but I don't think it's right to offer next to nothing for hard work. I've searched many places and it is an insult to be offered a nothing amount. Why do they do that?? …