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Market Watch

Nancy B. Leake

Publishing Jargon for Copyright Rights

When you market your writing, it is important to know what rights you are selling. Certain copyright rights allow you to resell your material; others do not. I will clarify some of the terms and their differences.

All World Rights (All Rights): This means the author assigns all rights to the publication and the work becomes the property of the publication. They can print and reprint the story as many times as they want without further payment to the writer. The author will never be able to sell this work again or derive another piece from this work. The author no longer owns it.

All World Serial Rights: (AWSR) The publisher acquires serial rights to publish the article in serial publications such as, magazines and newspapers, and the author may not resell it to any other serial publications. The author does have the right to use it in a book chapter and sell it as a movie or video.

First North American Serial Rights: (FNASR) The magazine or other serial publication has the exclusive right to publish the article for the first time in North America. After that, the author has the right to resell or change the work. The author owns all other rights.

Second Serial Rights (or Reprint Rights): The author gives the nonexclusive right for a serial publication to republish an article after it has already appeared elsewhere.

One-Time Rights (or Simultaneous Rights): This gives the publication the right to publish a previously unpublished work one time. This is a nonexclusive right. The author can sell it to another publication at the same time.

Electronic Rights: Electronic rights are no different than any other copyright rights. The author originally owns the rights until given away in writing.

Below are most of the terms on electronic publication that I have noted. Many publications are unsure of copyright laws as they relate to electronic writing and terms are developing to explain the laws. So you may see various terms not listed below while looking at markets, but these terms should cover most conditions. The copyright rights for electronic publications are no different than those for other written formats.

All Electronic Rights: The publication has the right to publish the work as many times as they like without further payment to the author. The author loses all rights to use this article electronically -- webzines, web sites, or ezines. (This can be for a specific period, such as for 6 months after publication, if noted. If not, then they own the article.)

First Electronic Rights (Exclusive First Electronic Rights, Exclusive First Time World Rights, First Serial Rights): The publisher has the exclusive right to publish the work for the first time. Then the author has the right to resell or rework the article. The author owns all other rights.

One-Time Electronic World Rights: This gives the electronic publication the right to publish a previously unpublished work one time. This is nonexclusive. The author can sell to another publication at the same time.

Archive Rights: The company has the rights to archive the work for a given period of time or forever.

An excellent resource on copyright is The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect & Use Written Works by Attorney Stephen Fishman.

Remember when you submit your writing to always enclose a query letter that looks professional and enclose a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE), if you want a response or want your manuscript returned.

"A ratio of failures is built into the process of writing. The wastebasket has evolved for a reason. Think of it as the altar of the Muse Oblivion, to whom you sacrifice your botched first drafts, the tokens of your human imperfection."
Margaret Atwood

I would like to hear about your experiences in submitting your writing, whether good or bad.

When you send your suggestions to me please enclose:

• The name and type of the market,
• What type of writing they publish and the word count,
• The guidelines for submission or how to get the guidelines,
• How to contact the company, and who to contact,
• What they pay,
• If they accept submission from new writers, if noted.

Print Markets:

VIBE is a magazine published ten times a year, covering urban music and culture. Query with clips to individual editors as listed below. For cultural, political or social issues, Jeanine Amber, features editor; music features, Tiarra Mukherju, music editor; (800- 3,000 words). Individual columns, Start (introductory news-based section) (75-400 words), Brett Johnson, senior editor; Revolutions (Music reviews) (100-800 words), Karen Good, assistant editor; and Book reviews, Tiarra Mukherju. Payment $1/word for all rights. Response time 2 months. Sample copy available on newsstands. VIBE, 215 Lexington Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016, 212-448-7300, Fax: 212-448-7400.

FAMILYFUN is a Disney magazine published ten times a year for parents of children ages three to twelve and covers great things families can do together: educational projects, holiday celebrations, crafts, travel, cooking, and more. Send queries for features describing the content, structure, and tone of the article with clips to Jon Adolph, Executive Editor or Ann Hallock, Editor. Features should be fun for the family: travel, food, crafts, activities, games, and educational projects (850-3,000 words). Pays $1/word. Family Almanac publishes ideas and projects (200­600 words) $.50/word or $75 for ideas used, Cindy Littlefield, Associate Editor. Family Traveler, newsy items about family travel (100-125 words) $100, or $50 for ideas, Deb Geigis Berry, Travel Editor. Family Ties, a first person column of family life that is humorous, inspirational, or interesting (1500 words) $1,500, Ann Hallock, Editor. My Great Idea explains fun and inventive ideas that have worked for the writer’s family (800-1,000 words) $750, Greg Lauzon, Staff Writer. My Great Idea, letters from writers and readers (100-150 words) $25, send to My Great Ideas Editor. They buy simultaneous rights. Response time is two months. Sample magazines available for $3. ATTN: (name of appropriate editor), FAMILY FUN, 244 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060.

MORE MAGAZINE is a bimonthly magazine covering smart, sophisticated 40+ women. They need nonfiction essays, expose, general interest, interview/profile, personal interest, and travel (300-3,000 words). Payment depends on writer/story length. Columns $300 minimum. They buy FNASR, first rights, or all rights. Response time is 3 months. The online magazine carries content from the print edition. Contact Meredith Corp., 125 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017, Fax 212-455-1433, E-mail: more@mdp.com, Web: http://www.lhj.com.

OUTLET (7) Heroines. Outlet is an annual magazine. The July 1, 2001, issue is on literary heroines (meaning female authors or literary characters as well as new poetry/prose along heroic themes). Query about specific authors for availability at dblelucy@lanminds.com. Sample issues can be ordered for $5 on website. Payment not mentioned. Send between March 1-May 15, 2001 to specific editor: Editor/publisher, Elizabeth Treadwell; Poetry editor, Sarah Anne Cox, Critical Prose Editor, Grace Lovelace; and Fictional Prose Editor, Carol Treadwell. Outlet/Double Lucy Books, P.O. Box 9013, Berkeley, CA 94709, http://www.users.lanminds.com/dblelucy.

PASSIONFRUIT is a quarterly magazine for women who recognize that a journey is more than a vacation. It is an opportunity to challenge our beliefs and expand our minds. All departments are seeking submissions, including: Sojourners (First-person perspectives from women travelers), Encounters (Profiles of women we meet along the way), Reflections (Going solo and other travel considerations for women), Wrong Turns (Tales of adventures gone awry), Earth Mothers (Traveling with children), Rites of Passage (Traveling in times of transition), Nesting (Options for living abroad), Trailblazers (Stories that honor early women travelers), Exploring Tourism (Investigations of travel-related issues), Creative Journeys (Fiction and Poetry about women around the world), Worth Repeating (Quotes about travel), and Reading For The Road (Book reviews for the worldly woman). Features 1,500-4,000 words, Departments 100-2000 words. Payment is $20-$100 for first serial rights and the right to excerpt to the Internet for promotional purposes. They also ask for NASR for one year after publication. Samples are available for $6 on the newsstand. Passionfruit, Michele Jin, editor, 2917 Telegraph Avenue, PMB 136, Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-595-5522, www.passionfruit.com/submissions/submissions.html, e-mail submissions@passionfruit.com or michele@passionfruit.com.

Freelance Markets:

An anthology dedicated to stopping school violence is being put together by Word Museum. All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Blue Ribbon Campaign to stop school violence and to Rachel’s Fund (named for a student who died in the Columbine shooting). Short stories and poetry are needed. The focus is on healing and preventing future occurrences. Send submissions and queries to LoriSoard@yahoo.com. Deadline May 19, 2001.

Saddle Up: Women Write About High Adventure With Horses. Seeking original, true stories on women’s journeys from wilderness expeditions to urban wilds that push the boundaries, challenge oneself, and connect with equus. Include emotional and spiritual awakenings or humorous stories. For complete guidelines email EditWorks@hotmail.com, PO Box 750363, Torrey, UT 84775.

"I Love My Job Too!" Humorous stories from the workplace for a book collection by Riverbank Books. Payment is ($25-$100) if included in the collection, www.netfeed.com/~herbelin/stories.htm. All stories will be considered for inclusion in a free ezine (no pay). Submit to www.riverbankbooks.com/submit.html.

Amberley Greeting Card Company, a company specializing in humorous and innovative greeting cards to the retail and distributor trade. They need humorous ideas for greeting cards, verses for birthday, friendship, miss you, anniversary, get well, thank you, etc. They want simple short verses general enough for anyone. Include cover words and inside punch line. The company purchases all rights. Send to Amberley Greeting Card Company, 11510 Goldcoast Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45249 -1695, Phone 513-489-2775, fax 513-489-2857, www.amberleygreeting.com.

Multiple Sclerosis Anthology Editor is seeking literary essays/memoirs by or about people with MS. Reprints and simultaneous submissions are accepted. A percentage of sales will benefit National MS Society. Tracy Ekstrand, MS Anthology, PO Box 272027, Ft. Collins, CO 80527-2027, tekst@juno.com or 970-226-4884.

Fillers:

Mademoiselle needs opinions, thoughts, and tips, (Things like, how to pluck your eyebrows without pain). Payment is $50. Mademoiselle, Reader Mail, 4 Times Square, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036, milliemag@aol.com.

Working Mother needs articles and tips dealing with time, home, and money management, family relationships, and job-related work/family issues (700-1500 words). Writer’s Market rates them as a high-paying market. Editorial Department, Working Mother Magazine, 135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020, www.workingmother.com/index.html.

Writer’s Digest is looking for anecdotes and short humor for or about writers, and the writing life (50 - 250 words). No pay rate mentioned. Writer’s Digest, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207.

Web Markets:

Discovery Travel Online wants writers from outside the United States for information on travel news about new developments, openings, attractions, events and trends related to travel with a Discovery spin (connected to science, nature, animals, technology, health, culture, space, etc.). Pays, for 300-500 words, $150-$200. Regular contributors may have a slight pay increase. Discovery Travel Online, 2 Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA, Amy Sweeting, Travel News Producer, Fax: 301-771-3139, email amysweeting@aol.com, http://travel.discovery.com

Author Network is a website for writers, about writing. They need reviews ($5-$30), interviews ($5-$30), tips for writers, articles, and how-to pieces ($10-$30, 1,000 ­ 1,500 words); short stories $5-$30, 500-3,000 words); and poetry ($5-$20, 100 lines maximum). They buy one-time electronic rights for a specific time-period. Simultaneous, multi-submissions, and previously published work accepted. Response time 10-28 days. Karen Scott, editor, karen@author-network.com, http://www.author-network.com.

The Write Moves a bi-weekly newsletter for web writers. They now pay for articles about e-publishing and freelance web writing (about 800 words) $10. They purchase first rights and archive rights. Query first at kal_1@msn.com, subject: Write Moves Query. www.allthewritemoves.com.

Would That It Were is a webzine of historical science fiction that prints material on subjects that fit both categories (sci-fi set in periods before the modern era). Flash fiction (<500 words, $.05-.10/word up to $50); short-short (501-3,000 words, $.03-.05/word up to $150); Short stories (3,001- 5,000 words, $.03-.05/word up to $250); longer submissions $.03/word by special arrangement. First electronic rights. Encourages unpublished writers. E-mail to Don Muchow editor@wouldthatitwere.com, Subject: title. www.wouldthatitwere.com.

Poor Payers

Rose Dog (www.rosedog.com) allows writers to submit their work to be displayed to publishers and other markets. If they sell the story, they take a percentage. Writers get no pay unless it is sold.

Instant Agora (www.instantagora.com) gives authors reward points. Since this is a new site; how this will work is unknown.

Don’t Bother

MightyWords.com (www.MightyWords.com) and Fatbrain.com (www.Fatbrain.com) have sent out letters to its authors announcing plans to dump work of anyone that is not a well-known author.

BellaOnline.com has a non-compete clause in their contract that you should be aware of before signing with them. During the term of the contract and for 90 days following termination of the contract, you cannot without written approval from the company own, operate, work for, or contribute to any website or other topical web area online. You can continue to operate your website as long as you are not affiliated with any online service, syndicator, advertising firm, site network, or co-op for the same period. You must also prominently link your website back to your BellaOnline.com work. For six months after termination of the contract you will not solicit, accept, advertise or receive revenue from any advertisers from the BellaOnline.com site that were advertisers during your contract.

Email your markets to me.

All opinions stated in this column are my own and not opinions of T-zero or Writer’s Village University.