This is such an eye-opener, about the future impacts of signing such a contract, but also very inspiring. Thank you for being such a whizz at the business of writing, and for sharing that knowledge
Future media (Woman's weekly, Best of Woman's weekly, Woman mags and also any seasonal WW specials) also take all rights.
However, I know of one womag writer who was allowed to have work accepted and published under the old contract recently.
It's unfair of Future Media, because when the all rights contracts came out, it was take it or leave it. This writer decided to leave it but now Future have changed their mind about asking all writers to sign an all right contract.
I suspect that this writer is being paid under the old pay rate too, which I suspect is a higher rate than those under the all rights contract.
It's a good point about putting womag stories in e-collection and selling it, but I don't have the IT skills required and even if I had them, I don't feel that it would sell that well. I used to have my stories and poems on my website, but no -one read them!
The womag market is shrinking as every year passes, so we have to do what we can to try and clinch those precious slots. It's more competitive than it's ever been.
Yes, it's a shame more and more contracts are heading this way. And I understand your point about not having the IT skills required to compile an eBook. But you never know, there might be an easier way in the future that allows writers to upload your stories somewhere to create an eBook, and if you still have those rights, then it becomes an opportunity you might be able to do something with. If you've sign all rights, then there's nothing you can do. I miss some of those old pay rates too! 😜
There isn't really a great demand for e-books of short stories. Even a collection of crime twist in tales (my speciality) probably won't sell that well. I wouldn't expect it to.
I know of another writer who admits that they're spending money on promoting their self published books, so they're hardly making a profit- and they are a good writer. Hearst and Future media have the rights to make audio books out of their stories, and to develop into movies and TV series, but in reality, I don't think they will have the time, the finances or the inclination to do so.
No film or TV production company is going to be keen take a punt on a mag story writer that they've never heard of! I realise that it's the story and not the writer, but even so, a short story is not a proper drama script. I've never heard of this happening, not from a UK mag story. It's usually novels that are adapted for TV and films.
If one of my all rights stories is broadcast on a Hearst radio station then so be it, but their radio stations don't produce radio drama, do they? That's what I mean by them having no inclination.
Yes, that sounded a bit doom-laden and mysterious, didn't it? It wasn't meant to be, and, to be honest, when ISN'T a reminder to value our work a timely one?
This is such an eye-opener, about the future impacts of signing such a contract, but also very inspiring. Thank you for being such a whizz at the business of writing, and for sharing that knowledge
This is why YA GOTTA READ THE GUIDELINES!
Future media (Woman's weekly, Best of Woman's weekly, Woman mags and also any seasonal WW specials) also take all rights.
However, I know of one womag writer who was allowed to have work accepted and published under the old contract recently.
It's unfair of Future Media, because when the all rights contracts came out, it was take it or leave it. This writer decided to leave it but now Future have changed their mind about asking all writers to sign an all right contract.
I suspect that this writer is being paid under the old pay rate too, which I suspect is a higher rate than those under the all rights contract.
It's a good point about putting womag stories in e-collection and selling it, but I don't have the IT skills required and even if I had them, I don't feel that it would sell that well. I used to have my stories and poems on my website, but no -one read them!
The womag market is shrinking as every year passes, so we have to do what we can to try and clinch those precious slots. It's more competitive than it's ever been.
Yes, it's a shame more and more contracts are heading this way. And I understand your point about not having the IT skills required to compile an eBook. But you never know, there might be an easier way in the future that allows writers to upload your stories somewhere to create an eBook, and if you still have those rights, then it becomes an opportunity you might be able to do something with. If you've sign all rights, then there's nothing you can do. I miss some of those old pay rates too! 😜
There isn't really a great demand for e-books of short stories. Even a collection of crime twist in tales (my speciality) probably won't sell that well. I wouldn't expect it to.
I know of another writer who admits that they're spending money on promoting their self published books, so they're hardly making a profit- and they are a good writer. Hearst and Future media have the rights to make audio books out of their stories, and to develop into movies and TV series, but in reality, I don't think they will have the time, the finances or the inclination to do so.
No film or TV production company is going to be keen take a punt on a mag story writer that they've never heard of! I realise that it's the story and not the writer, but even so, a short story is not a proper drama script. I've never heard of this happening, not from a UK mag story. It's usually novels that are adapted for TV and films.
If one of my all rights stories is broadcast on a Hearst radio station then so be it, but their radio stations don't produce radio drama, do they? That's what I mean by them having no inclination.
Such a great reminder of the value of our work, Simon, and very timely for me.
Ooh, sounds intriguing! 😁
Yes, that sounded a bit doom-laden and mysterious, didn't it? It wasn't meant to be, and, to be honest, when ISN'T a reminder to value our work a timely one?