Publication: "Change" (Updated!)
I found it online by accident, but hey, my story "Change" is now live.
Update (06/25/08):
After immediately querying Written Word about why my story was used without contact, a contract, or payment, I was told that emails were lost and that payment would be occurring in less than a month.
I was unhappy, but the story was already live. A reprint is a hard enough sell. Trying to explain that it's not a reprint, it's theft? That would be impossible.
It's been more than two months, no payment.
There was no response to queries.
The worst part of it is, it's more than the loss of income, and the needless nasty, and pointless stress, and the absolute disrespect, it's the murder of the story. I won't be able to place it anywhere else; they effectively killed it.
Since a spread of people could read this blog, I want to take a moment here to tell new writers that I have been doing this a long time--writing professionally, I mean. Most of the people out there are well meaning. Not everyone runs a smooth ship, and that can be frustrating. It sucks--and hard--to get a cheque with your name spelled wrong. And it will happen. Plenty.
But. Most people do act in good faith, even when they make mistakes.
So, don't be so afraid of bad apples that you don't try the cobbler. Worms get eaten. Eventually...
Further Update 07/22/08:
After contacting Ralan to report the deadbeats as, well, deadbeats, he offered to mediate on my behalf. Since I couldn't get them to even respond to my emails, I was grateful for the offer, because it seemed a complete lost cause. And I so didn't need this stupid stress.
It appears they have more fear and respect for Ralan than for a nobody, as a month later I did get some money. I repeat some money, not the full amount owed. But, one supposes, some money is better than no money. Obviously, it is still not a market I'll be dealing with again.
I'll repeat for newbies, most of my editors have been pure awesome. Be not afraid. There are tons of great sweet people out there. There's just...jerk sprinkles. Be careful of those.
Update (06/25/08):
After immediately querying Written Word about why my story was used without contact, a contract, or payment, I was told that emails were lost and that payment would be occurring in less than a month.
I was unhappy, but the story was already live. A reprint is a hard enough sell. Trying to explain that it's not a reprint, it's theft? That would be impossible.
It's been more than two months, no payment.
There was no response to queries.
The worst part of it is, it's more than the loss of income, and the needless nasty, and pointless stress, and the absolute disrespect, it's the murder of the story. I won't be able to place it anywhere else; they effectively killed it.
Since a spread of people could read this blog, I want to take a moment here to tell new writers that I have been doing this a long time--writing professionally, I mean. Most of the people out there are well meaning. Not everyone runs a smooth ship, and that can be frustrating. It sucks--and hard--to get a cheque with your name spelled wrong. And it will happen. Plenty.
But. Most people do act in good faith, even when they make mistakes.
So, don't be so afraid of bad apples that you don't try the cobbler. Worms get eaten. Eventually...
Further Update 07/22/08:
After contacting Ralan to report the deadbeats as, well, deadbeats, he offered to mediate on my behalf. Since I couldn't get them to even respond to my emails, I was grateful for the offer, because it seemed a complete lost cause. And I so didn't need this stupid stress.
It appears they have more fear and respect for Ralan than for a nobody, as a month later I did get some money. I repeat some money, not the full amount owed. But, one supposes, some money is better than no money. Obviously, it is still not a market I'll be dealing with again.
I'll repeat for newbies, most of my editors have been pure awesome. Be not afraid. There are tons of great sweet people out there. There's just...jerk sprinkles. Be careful of those.
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