Are contracts necessary between writers and editors or writers and publishers? One particular editor, when asked to provide a contract for work he had committed to assign to me, wrote me a nasty letter about how insulted he was that I, so beneath him & would bother him with such a request. The publication was a supersized collection of ads from people looking to buy or sell rare records The (not so dear) editor informed me that many writers were lining up to write for this publication,, without the bother of a contract. He decided to put me on a permanent blacklist. I didn't recover from that for 3 years (then I prayed he'd go to 'ell someday). So - I can't imaging writing a book, counting on a promise from one publishing company or another, without a written contract. Same for magazine articles. Wouldn't a contract be expected so that neither publisher/editor or writer gets shafted?
The particular editor you worked with is obviously the problem here. What an absurd, awful response to your request! The only time I can think that you wouldn't have a contract is if the work is done for free (lots of writers are expected to write for free if they're unknown or just getting into the industry. It's seen as a way IN to the writing world. But you absolutely do not need to do this. Many consider the expectation to do free work not only unjust but even abusive). There's also a common process called "writing on spec" or "speculation" in which a writer produces work before receiving a contract as a kind of test to see if the writer can produce good work or whether the particular piece will be any good or not. If the publisher/editor likes it, then you'll usually get a contract for the work. I'm so sorry that you had this experience. There are thousands of publications and publishers to write and publish through, and though most in the industry are wonderful people, you will run into a-holes who abuse what little power they have (just like you do in the regularly population). Hopefully you can simply complain about the bad ones to your writers' network, wipe your hands of them, and move on to the next. (Join our Facebook group if you're in need of such a network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341571862095022). You should also be able to get recs for good and bad editors to work with. For instance, the free website Duotrope usually has writers sharing information about certain editors and agents in terms of the writer's experience with them. That way, you can avoid the bad seeds. If you do a search, I believe there are similar websites out there. Good luck!
I've been nursing this one for more than 2-decades and, because the horrible being in question has thrived and not followed the karma outlined for him, (and is known to many, not as a dried chip under one's shoe, but a likeable fellow and established/writer-editor - author, the negativity has grown) I did ask the SoB if he ever worked with a contract or wrote a book without one. Never received an answer.
Ah! If only karma worked out in the here and now. When I face something like this, I think: I refuse to grant this person the power and importance to continue to upset me, to take up any mental or emotional space in my life. In that way, karma in many ways is determined by the beholder. You can make him small only in deciding that he no longer matters to you or your universe in the way that you determine it in any way.
Thanks for your kind response, helpful info, and more. I wish I could post the name of the cad so that the writers who believe he's such a great guy could know the truth, but I choose not to. So, I suffer(ed). I do feel better publicly acknowledging his unscrupulous actions. and will consider this a closed issue.
i was so honored to talk with Michelle Hoover--and to get a chance to read my first pages!!
Thanks so much for taking the time! You were wonderful.
Are contracts necessary between writers and editors or writers and publishers? One particular editor, when asked to provide a contract for work he had committed to assign to me, wrote me a nasty letter about how insulted he was that I, so beneath him & would bother him with such a request. The publication was a supersized collection of ads from people looking to buy or sell rare records The (not so dear) editor informed me that many writers were lining up to write for this publication,, without the bother of a contract. He decided to put me on a permanent blacklist. I didn't recover from that for 3 years (then I prayed he'd go to 'ell someday). So - I can't imaging writing a book, counting on a promise from one publishing company or another, without a written contract. Same for magazine articles. Wouldn't a contract be expected so that neither publisher/editor or writer gets shafted?
The particular editor you worked with is obviously the problem here. What an absurd, awful response to your request! The only time I can think that you wouldn't have a contract is if the work is done for free (lots of writers are expected to write for free if they're unknown or just getting into the industry. It's seen as a way IN to the writing world. But you absolutely do not need to do this. Many consider the expectation to do free work not only unjust but even abusive). There's also a common process called "writing on spec" or "speculation" in which a writer produces work before receiving a contract as a kind of test to see if the writer can produce good work or whether the particular piece will be any good or not. If the publisher/editor likes it, then you'll usually get a contract for the work. I'm so sorry that you had this experience. There are thousands of publications and publishers to write and publish through, and though most in the industry are wonderful people, you will run into a-holes who abuse what little power they have (just like you do in the regularly population). Hopefully you can simply complain about the bad ones to your writers' network, wipe your hands of them, and move on to the next. (Join our Facebook group if you're in need of such a network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341571862095022). You should also be able to get recs for good and bad editors to work with. For instance, the free website Duotrope usually has writers sharing information about certain editors and agents in terms of the writer's experience with them. That way, you can avoid the bad seeds. If you do a search, I believe there are similar websites out there. Good luck!
I've been nursing this one for more than 2-decades and, because the horrible being in question has thrived and not followed the karma outlined for him, (and is known to many, not as a dried chip under one's shoe, but a likeable fellow and established/writer-editor - author, the negativity has grown) I did ask the SoB if he ever worked with a contract or wrote a book without one. Never received an answer.
Ah! If only karma worked out in the here and now. When I face something like this, I think: I refuse to grant this person the power and importance to continue to upset me, to take up any mental or emotional space in my life. In that way, karma in many ways is determined by the beholder. You can make him small only in deciding that he no longer matters to you or your universe in the way that you determine it in any way.
Thanks for your kind response, helpful info, and more. I wish I could post the name of the cad so that the writers who believe he's such a great guy could know the truth, but I choose not to. So, I suffer(ed). I do feel better publicly acknowledging his unscrupulous actions. and will consider this a closed issue.