(no subject)

[erastes]

Buggrit

Well, you live and learn, I suppose. I was wondering why Aspen Mountain Press haven't sent me an edited version of my novella "Chiaroscuro" which will (should) be coming out in December sometime, and before I emailed the publisher I thought I'd better check the contract. Proves you must ALWAYS read your contract...

The Publisher retains the right to edit and revise the Work for any and all uses described in this agreement providing the meaning of the Work is not materially altered.

HELL. That basically means they can do anything they like to it, and I don't like that at all. *cries* And I won't know anything about it until they go to publication. I shall write to them today and ask them for a version. Edit? Yes. I can't do commas. REVISE???? NO!!!

So - in that vein. Please go and read THIS which Logophilos shared with me recently, all about contracts and why you should read them, and why you should communicate any misgivings and why you need to negotiate. As Treva2007 says: AFTER you signed the contract is the wrong time to ask what it means

Comments

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I started using a pseudonym for some of my erotica, for the gay magazine markets, was that they would edit out references to safer sex. Since I am consistent in my morality with everything I publish under my own name, any time I was publishing something someplace where it was possible this would happen went under the pseud.

But, yes, always good to ask about everything in the contract BEFORE signing it.

Although it sounds like this situation isn't as dire as you were afraid it might be...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I just got mine for Men magazine and it's a horror; they can (if they wanted to) make a movie out of my work and not give me a penny. It's a shame really because that will limit the type of story I send them.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't sign that contract.

Try and negotiate it.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Are they paying enough to make you feel OK if they do make a film of it? If not, negotiate it out (I'd try crossing out that clause, initialing it, and sending it back.) After the hatchet job Alyson did on my piece, I'd question anything.

Great link--thanks!