Question about article submissions to magazines

[FJ and G]

I wrote some articles for a model train magazine (I'll leave out the name). Was told that if I were to post information or photos on a forum relating to the article, that I would forfeit getting published in that particular magazine since in effect, I've already published in a public venue. This makes sense and I can see the rationale.

However, that would make me hesitant to share ideas on the forum such as remote control, how to make a functional switchstand, structures, bridges, etc, all topics I've covered in the past.

It would seem that if I present the material differently and use photos of different angles, that I could still submit for publication. But now I'm not so sure.

Is my choice limited to either doing magazine articles or sharing info on the forum?

Your thoughts on this matter appreciated, as I need to respond to the editor who contacted me.

[nitroboy]

If its something you spent many many hours on, and would like it to reach as many as possibly, I would submit it for print in the magazines. The forums are read by many people, but I belive these people probably also read the magazines. Some do not have internet access, or do not wi***o have internet access. If it goes to print, you get both. Plus once it comes out in print, you can post here and say "Hey!! Check out my article....."

[Poppa_Zit]

Let me speak as a professional writer.

Obviously, you have a decision to make. Weigh out the pros/cons and decide your motivation.

What are YOU looking for? Making money? Getting whatever credibility (fame, notoriety) being published in said magazine would/might bring? Getting salient and important information out to your fellow hobbyists?

All three are rewards. Which one is most important to you?

Money -- I would say it should depend on what they're offering to pay. Magazines derive their income from advertising, subscriptions and point-of-purchase sales. So they ostensibly have it coming from three different sources. From my experience, most hobby-oriented magazines don't pay very much because they don't have to. They have a near-endless supply of amateur author/hobbyists who are thrilled just to see their stuff and name in print. They don't need the income to pay their bills like a professional writer. And those same publications may be no more than a "hobby" to their owner(s) and are probably run on a shoestring, like most other cottage industries. The owners have other sources of income and are happy to be a small part of the hobby/industry and "breaking even" is often their goal.

Let me also say here I've heard Kalmbach is very fair in compensating their freelance authors, with their fees above the average. That's because Kalmbach is a big-time, real-deal publishing house. Kalmbach is successful because it isn't afraid to pay for high-quality editorial, which is the engine that drives circulation. And the lofty circulation numbers allow Kalmbach to charge more for advertising -- because what all publications sell to advertisers is "readership." Unlike most hobby publications, which are run by comparative amateurs, Kalmbach has full-time employees and a huge office complex. I know, because I've been there. It's not being run out of a spare room above the garage.

On the other hand, I know a model train publication that has been around for over 40 years and still does not pay its columnists or writers. The downside is its circulation numbers (and advertising fees) have been stuck on a plateau for years (around 3,000) because the magazine's content has absolutely no continuity or focus. Each issue's theme is determined simply by whatever the readers decide to send in -- just to see their name in print. The costs are borne by the subscribers, who pay a premium ($36) for six issues a year. And that in itself is a great hindrance to increased circulation -- and readership.

As an aside, our columnists (career writers) get $200 for an 800-word column, which is pretty high for our category. What compensation you'd get for your article depends on length, quality and professionalism (how much they'd have to edit it). Would you be happy with $10? $100? $500 for a full-length magazine article? It all depends on your motivation and goals.

So now that we've covered money, we're back to the second and third of the top three rewards/motivations. The other two (credibility/notoriety in your hobby, satisfaction in getting your ideas out) are self-explanatory.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Keep us updated, okay?

[dwiemer]

Dave, Poppa_Zit, etc.,
Great points, while searching through the forums, I see lots of information that could be very usefull, but I doubt that the authors would be able to write a full column. What would be nice is a way to provide the information in an easily searchable method. Perhaps a specific location on the web site. While it may not give the people any glory or compensation, I for one would be happy to share information just to help others in the hobby.
I have interacted with many fine, knowledgeable people on this forum, and have no where near the experience of some eg: bob Nelson. I am sure that I could gain lots of information from reading tips and hints from the many contributors to this site. It is just too much to read every post, but if we had a specific spot, or if CTT had a "tips from the forum" area in the magazine containing the best ideas, I think we could all benefit.
Just some ideas,
Dennis

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

I wrote some articles for a model train magazine (I'll leave out the name). Was told that if I were to post information or photos on a forum relating to the article, that I would forfeit getting published in that particular magazine since in effect, I've already published in a public venue. This makes sense and I can see the rationale.

However, that would make me hesitant to share ideas on the forum such as remote control, how to make a functional switchstand, structures, bridges, etc, all topics I've covered in the past.

It would seem that if I present the material differently and use photos of different angles, that I could still submit for publication. But now I'm not so sure.

Is my choice limited to either doing magazine articles or sharing info on the forum?

Your thoughts on this matter appreciated, as I need to respond to the editor who contacted me.

ONE MORE THING: If the article has already been published by this model train magazine and you have been duly compensated, you may now do anything you want with it -- but first read the contract you signed. The standard author/publisher contract talks about things like North American Serial Rights, etc. It gives the publisher the right to use the article ONE time, and one time only -- and this must happen within a time limit also spelled out in the contract. Any additional usage rights must be spelled out in writing.

For instance, there may be an added "no compete" clause that says you cannot sell the article to anyone else for a specified time. This proviso and anything else slightly contentious would have to be added to the standard contract as "clauses." In the absence of a signed contract, you're lucky -- you still retain ALL rights to the article and if you have only a verbal contract, they can still only publish it once. Period. You MUST physically sign away any rights to the material -- nothing can be implied or inferred. It all must be in writing. A good rule would be to eschew any verbal contracts. Any publisher who refuses to set the agreement in writing should be avoided at all cost.

Did you specifically assign all future rights to them in the contract? Did you assign the Internet rights to them? I say this because unless these rights are specifically assigned to the magazine in a written contract, they do not exist for the publisher's use. And yes, unless you assigned 100% publishing and Internet rights to someone in writing, which is highly unlikely, you can use the photos as you wish. Like your article/thoughts/ideas, the photo rights still belong to you --in perpetuity, in fact. You own the photo rights, and can sell/assign their use on a per-request basis.

If the article/photos have not been published yet, but are scheduled to run and you have already sold/assigned the rights in a written contract, those assigned rights say the publisher gets to publish it first (First North American Serial Rights).

Whether someone has already published the article or not, remember this -- the ideas are still yours and yours alone. They paid you for the article, which presented your ideas in a specific written form. But they did NOT buy the ideas themselves. So you can do whatever you want with them in other venues, at any time. You might want to give credit by saying something like "From an article that originally appeared in Toy Train Droppings" -- but it is not required.