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The Contracts You Should Never Sign
I just got into a discussion on Facebook about how much I would charge for all rights to a set of my IP.
I said “No amount of money” because I know what has happened to people in, say, the comics industry. The other person says they would take such a deal for enough money to retire on.
I have to admit, at that point it would be tempting, but in this case the company was asking for all rights on future work in that world. I don’t want to be chained to anyone. (Shared world and tie-ins are a different matter. I will absolutely write any tie-ins you want me to write unless I hate the world if you pay me).
How much you charge for all rights and whether you will sign them over is a point of argument.
But there are a few things you should not sign.
Edits Without Approval
This actually happened to a professional writer recently. He sold a story to a new magazine.
When he got the contract, it said they could do whatever edits they wanted and he wouldn’t even see them. He asked about it, and they promptly withdrew the acceptance.
Bullet dodged!
Unless you are in a work for hire situation, do not sign a contract that allows the publisher to edit your work without your…