Contract Bridge

Last Book Read: Deduct It! by Attorney Stephen Fishman

I do not know a lot about contracts. I've been fortunate to have had most of my work published and, on rare occasion, compensated according to what the editor/publisher set forth in the contract or in their e-mail correspondence. Hell, I feel fortunate to have been published at all. There has been one bump in a road.

One story is still waiting on publication after a lengthy delay. The editor has recently pledged to resolve the problem. Just prior to that pledge, I went back to the contract and discovered I didn't have many options if the editor never published the story.

This reminded me of the Boskone panel on "How Not To Get Published". One panelists described a foolish thing many authors do, which is to not carefully read their contracts. Sitting at that panel I thought 'Oh, none of that applies to me.' I'm eating a nice plate of crow; would anyone else care for a slice?

Over at the SFWA site are sample contracts. I imagine there are all kinds of resources on the web. But my experience so far is that standard contracts are kind of like standard manuscript formats, everyone has their own idea of what 'standard' means.

There was a clause in the contract for my story on On The Premises which I thought very useful to me as a writer. I'm posting it below with the following ...

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A LAWYER NOR DO I PLAY ONE ON TELEVISION. ANYONE SO FOOLISH TO LOOK TO THIS BLOG FOR LEGAL COUNSEL ON CONTRACTS OR SANE AND RATIONAL ADVICE ON ANY TOPIC IS ON THEIR OWN WITH MY SYMPATHY.

"8(a). In the event that the Work is not published within 
six months of signing of this agreement, all rights revert to 
the Author, and the Author has the right to sell or arrange 
for publication of the above-named Work in any manner. The 
Author shall keep any payments made by the Publisher to 
him/her."

I like best the part about keeping the money.

Now, regarding the bump in the road referenced above, a new contract was issued. I added a modified version of the above text to the new contract and was glad that the editor agreed to it. I will do the same for future contracts that lack such a provision.

I'd be interested in hearing any of your experiences, good, bad or indifferent, regarding contracts. I've got a lot to learn.

Rockin' Robin

Last Book Read: Cosmos Latinos, Andrea M. Bell and Yolanda Molina-Gavilán, editors

The robins are here along with spring. All is right with the world.

March Wrapup
Actually, let's just stipulate that March was less than stellar. April is a back to basics, no fooling, straight edge, brass tacks month.

Fiction
Not mine. Rhonda S. Garcia is an acquaintance through the OWW SFF site. Her story, Douen Mother appeared in Abyss & Apex a few years ago. But, still a good read if you haven't seen it.

In the current issue of Farrago's Wainscot is the very amusing She Has A Nice Personality by E.C. Myers.

Also in that issue is Flowertongue, an excellent tale of Victorian orchid hunters, by Jessica Reisman.

Finally, if you happen to be in Boston on April 12, stop by Pandemonium Books at 2 pm. You will find some of the authors of Desolate Places on hand to autograph and discuss the anthology.