My headache is still in evidence, and it’s turned into a harbinger of flu. Blah. Staying home today. Going to curl up on the couch with chamomile tea and court Mr. Sandman.
Writing Stuff:
In between naps, and riding the jitters from Sudafed, I managed 500 words on the “Island Love Story.” It’s done! It’s raw, in dire need of a rewrite, but the story’s down from start to finish. It logs in at a whooping 10K manuscript count (around 8.9K word processor count). This one’s going to be a hard sell. But I’m at zero draft! Rah.
Also sold another reprint of “Second Daughter” to the new market Story Station. This is my second reprint sale of this story, my third sale of it total. Sweet.
I asked the editor when to expect a contract, and he said that they don’t have contracts (!) and if that affected whether I wanted my story published by them to let him know immediately. I responded by emailing him a standard contract–almost identical to the one I wrangled up for the previous reprint sale actually–and asked him if he had any problems with it. I haven’t heard back from him yet. I’m a little anxious, but I really do feel strongly about contracts, even if they’re just simple, down-and-dirty ones. I would like this to work out, though, as there are so few children’s lit markets.
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks, sweetie. I’m working on it!
Feel better, Eugie, and good luck with the no-contract editor.
~Maggie
I actually do feel better now–after a long nap and a pot full of chamomile tea. Although my head still feels terribly fragile.
And the editor okayed the contract, so we’re all good. Hurray!
Hope you feel well soon, and definitely watch your back around someone not willing to offer a contract. Smells fishy to me. Go with your gut. Is the sale worth getting potentially burned? And maybe you insisting on a contract will help him realize that, yes, there really do need to be such things.
Thank you!
And the editor had no problem agreeing to my contract, so I’ve got peace of mind on that front. He’s not the only editor I’ve run across that didn’t have contracts, either, although those folks are in the vast minority. In such cases, I’ve assembled my own–something incredibly short and straightforward–and I haven’t had a problem with any of them. You’d think that everyone in the biz would be very contract-conscious as it protects all involved. I believe this market only recently became a paying one, which might excuse their lack of contract savvy, although I would still expect even 4theluv markets to do contracts . . .
Get well soon, sweetie! Try to enjoy the rest. Do you feel well enough to curl up with a book? That’s how I spend my sick time.
Thank you! I spent a good chunk of today napping, and occasionally pecking at my laptop. I feel much better, although my head still feels terribly delicate.
hope you feel better later, hon. *hugs*
I’m better, but I can’t seem to shake this headache. Ugh.