On the subject of WRITIN’ NOVELS, I have thoughts, and my thoughts on that grow more complicated when you add in WORK-FOR-HIRE to that whole gig. I spoke about it on The Twitters today, and figured it was worth Storifying for your enjoyment, edification, or irritation.
Here be that Storify, yarrrr.
terribleminds says:
And if that embed doesn’t work for you properly, the link:
https://storify.com/ChuckWendig/caveats-around-work-for-hire-book-publishing
March 24, 2017 — 12:43 PM
conniejjasperson says:
I’m too rebellious to work for hire because I don’t like writing in a story that has a history I must remain true to. My creative muse is not well behaved at all. I admire those who can.
March 24, 2017 — 12:56 PM
Holly Daugherty says:
Chuck, I am not a writer, just a lowly reader. I really respect your honesty and explanation of how this works. I read you blogs because I really appreciate what you do. It is very interesting when you give insight to the publishing industry. Thanks for doing what you do!
March 24, 2017 — 12:59 PM
Beth Turnage says:
I ghostwrite, which means that everything I do, except my own work is work for hire. And I’m fine with it. It’s in a different genre than I prefer to write, and I don’t have to mess with much of the stuff that authors do, galleys, promotion, extensive rewrites (I don’t do extensive rewrites, period. I have other work to do.) I make money, they get their story, and I go on to the next one. Not that I don’t try to write the best story I can. I do. It likes being a surrogate mom. You birth the story and hand it off to the proud parent, er, author. Someday I have the privilege (I hope) of rising to the rank of publishing with a publishing house, but until then I polish my craft under another writer’s name.
One thing I learned indie publishing a couple of my own titles is that marketing counts for 50% of generating sales. It takes money and time and I’d rather write. Silly writer.
March 24, 2017 — 1:08 PM
Jeff Evans says:
I’ve heard it’s also a question of leverage… by doing work for hire for a bigger/established IP (the aforementioned HALO, Star Wars, Trek, etc) is that by doing good work there, readers may follow back to the well and “see what else they’ve done”. But one usually gets access to the bigger properties by already doing good work.
Thank you for the reminder!
March 24, 2017 — 4:09 PM
chacha1 says:
Hope your dog is recovering well.
March 27, 2017 — 4:59 PM
Julie Clark (@_JulieClark_) says:
Experienced this not with my books, but with articles I’ve written. Years ago made the newbie mistake of never asking a certain place about article rights (typically in most contracts). This place is great, has helped me when I was starting out, but they are calling life rights of pieces they pay me very, very little for. Small detail? They didn’t tell me this until it dawned on me to ask them several months ago. Well, at least lesson learned. Do I regret writing for them? No. I love them, but can’t work this way anymore.
Thanks for the piece.
March 28, 2017 — 10:55 AM
Victoria K Martin (@victoriakmartin) says:
Thank you very much for this post. I just came across the Abaddon Open Call and wanted to get some firsthand info about working for them and this was perfect. Not sure if I’ll submit anything (it could be a fun chance to play in one of the “licensed storyworlds”) but I feel much more informed now.
May 26, 2017 — 11:49 AM