|
| |
Writers Rights Information:
Who Owns The Rights To Your Story?
Here is some writers rights information to help you understand what rights are right for you.
So there you are, looking at the guidelines for a new market, and with every line you read you’re more convinced that it is, in fact, the ideal market for your work.
Your manuscript has everything they’re asking for and everything you’re reading makes perfect sense - that is, until you come to the section telling you which writers rights the publisher wants and will pay you for.
Suddenly, you can’t quite remember the difference between First Rights, All Rights and One Time Rights.
Immediately your enthusiasm wavers and you put down the guidelines telling yourself you’ll look at them again when your brain is a bit clearer on the differences.
So this writers rights information is here to ease the confusion, and to improve your confidence when signing a contract.
Below in this writers rights information is an outline of the more common rights used by publishers.
First Rights
Agreeing to these rights is a promise from you that the manuscript has not previously been published anywhere, through any media.
Often this might read First Australian Rights, or First UK Rights and so on, which means that the work has not been published within the specified country or area before.
Once you have sold a manuscript’s first rights in one location it is possible to go on and sell them to other areas, but not in the same area again.
Second Rights
Offering this shows the editor that the work has been bought previously (in the same area) and that they are being offered the opportunity to purchase it a second time.
As with First Rights, this can also be sold in areas. Payment for Second Rights is less than that for First, but these rights can be sold more than once.
International Rights
This is similar to First Rights except it is not limited to one geographical area.
The publisher has the authority to print your work and sell it in any country.
All Rights
Once All Rights have been sold you can not print, or sell, the manuscript again.
The rights become the property of the publisher or publication.
Since this allows them to print and use your work as they please, consider carefully before deciding whether it’s worth
selling all rights.
First Serial Rights
In this field, any regularly produced publication is referred to as a serial.
Therefore, by offering First Serial Rights you are saying that this particular piece of work has not been published in a magazine, newspaper or similar publication before.
Electronic Rights
This covers any work printed by electronic means such as, on the internet (including ebooks and ezines), on CD Roms, or interactive games.
When selling Electronic Rights there maybe specific areas that the publisher is interested in, always clarify these before signing a contract.
Honorarium
This is relatively new form of Rights is often used in books made up of a variety of stories from different authors.
The publisher is paying you a once off fee for the privilege of using your story.
It covers them for one publication, unless otherwise stated, and leaves you free to sell the rights elsewhere, unless otherwise stated. This is similar to One Time Rights.
Commissioned Work
Should you have a manuscript commissioned to you by a publisher you, as the author, have no rights to sell on the work, nor do you hold the copyright.
Since the editor came up with the idea it is considered that the article, the rights and the copyright, belong to the publisher.
Remember to pay attention to which writers rights you are committing to and use this writers rights information as your starting point.
Return from Writers Rights Information to Writers Guidelines Tips
New! Comments
Have your say about what you've just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
|
|
UPCOMING
CLASSES AND COURSES
3 days of workshops
May 18th, 19th, 20th
All Things Publishing Q&A session
May 27th
Group Coaching for Writers
May 29th to July 3rd
UPCOMING
ONLINE COURSES
Writing from the Heart
(true-life/personal essays)
1st June to 29th June
Intro to Short Story Writing
(fiction)
4th July to 8th August
RESERVE YOUR PLACE
TODAY
What people are saying about our online courses ...
'I'm delighted and proud of my first attempt. Thank you for a wonderful course. I have been enriched.'
AK, Zimbabwe
‘You were my inspiration in actually doing something with my writing. I would like to thank you for kicking me in the butt and insisting I do something!’
Bec, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a terrific, confidence building, well-honed little course. I would thoroughly recommend it.’
Margot, Australia
‘Writing is a labour of love when we expose ourselves by baring our soul. I believe Elizabeth Bezant has the skill to combine respect for our feelings, with pragmatic strategies to help us publish our precious efforts.’
John, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a great course and though it was short it has boosted my confidence in my writing. Thank you!’
Rachael, Australia
‘A very rewarding challenge – not too difficult, not too easy. Every word was welcome and useful. I edit other people’s writing in a really similar manner, but it’s amazing how difficult it is to see those same errors in your own work.’
Margot, Australia
'Great course Elizabeth! I would not have taken the time to seriously try this genre but for your course. I made the last few changes you suggested and have sent the essay in to ............. After reviewing their requirements I see that my piece fits in every way possible.'
SM,Canada
The critiquing to me was the whole point of the course. While the general comments and writing tips were vital as a backbone to the course, the personal interaction and direction was the whole point of it all.’
Sue, Australia
‘I thoroughly enjoyed course, and it being online made it a breeze.’
Rowe, Australia
Fill in the form below to receive regular updates and information through our newsletter.
‘A publisher asked me to send her some of my writing this year. But I never would have without this course.’
Raewyn, Australia
‘I’ve just sent off the last of the assignments for critiquing and before I go any further I must say a very big thank you to you for the joy you have given me! Not only have I learnt so much from you, but I have also so appreciated all the encouragement and your wise counsel in assisting me to do something that I wouldn’t have believed could have been nearly possible. I will miss you.’
Yvonne, Australia
'Thanks to Elizabeth I can now source markets for personal stories, competently make my writing market-ready and sell it with confidence. Your editing skills are an asset to the writing community. I recommend this course to any writer who wants to break into this market.'
JOH, Australia
'I thought the way the market information was presented was not only informative but importantly for me it was written in a friendly manner. It took away some of the awesome fear I have of confronting the real world of publishing.'
KM, Australia
|
