Let's say a writer is offered his first-ever short story publishing contract. How much of a writer's faux pas is it to request an edit in the contract's wording?...especially when it comes to rights.
Here's one example: a mag with a web presence requests the purchase of first world electronic rights for my short story. As a writer, I might ask that they change it to first world electronic rights in English (with the obvious intention of being able to sell first world electronic rights to a similar electronic pub in their native language).
What kind of experience have you had with doing something like that? Or, is this simply a taboo idea for a newbie writer?
Thanx in advance!
S! S!
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Go ahead and ask. The worst thing they can say (and I mean this) is "we haven't done that for any of our other writers."
Then you can try asking if it would make any difference to them to do it for you? Do they plan to have the story translated, etc?
If they still won't change it, then you decide how important it is to you.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Well, I suppose the REALLY worst thing they could say is "never mind," but they don't usually say such things to questions about contract wording.