I sent a response to a need for articles on another site. The Writer's Desk was looking for writers, but the ad was vague. I sent an email saying that I was interested. This is the response I received:
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April 1, 2005
Terms and Conditions
Payment:
By replying to this e-mail:
You understand that QuickMarket Publishing: Writer’s Desk will pay you, the journalist, fifteen United States Dollars ($15 USD) per article you submit to be published in the Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine). You also understand that you will only be paid for articles submitted to Writer’s Desk, but not for any stories and poems submitted.
You understand that QuickMarket Publishing may refuse payment to you, the journalist, if less than fifty (50) copies of Writer’s Desk are sold of an issue.
You understand that you may not be sent any payments owed to you for any articles submitted to Writer's Desk, until the last day of every month. Payment will be given by check, money order, or Pay Pal (to be decided by QuickMarket Publishing).
You agree that if no sales representatives can be hired to sell the Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine), you will additionally take on a position as a sales representative. Therefore, you will then be required to sell a minimum of fifty (50) copies of Writer’s Desk per issue. You will, thus, be paid accordingly, in addition to the payment you should receive for any articles submitted.
Acknowledgment:
By replying to this e-mail, you acknowledge that you understand that:
All articles you wish to submit to be published in an issue of Writer’s Desk are due by the fourteenth of every month.
The article(s) submitted will only be published in the present month’s issue.
Writer’s Desk only allows each journalist to have a maximum of four (4) articles published in Writer’s Desk, per issue. (This is not including stories and poems, which you may submit regardless of the number of articles you have appearing in the issue.)
Writer’s Desk will publish your articles, stories and poems, provided that it does not contain pornographic or offensive material. We retain the right in our sole discretion to reject any submissions that we feel is inappropriate for publication in Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine).
Limitation of Liability:
By replying to this e-mail and submitting your work to Writer’s Desk, you agree to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against any and all claims, actions, demands, damages, costs, liabilities, losses and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the site and the publication of your article(s) through our site, including without limitation third party claims of rights in the article(s) or similar infringement claims, or your other violation of the rights of another.
__________________________________________________________
FOR THOSE WHO LIVE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES: Please give me the address which you would like payment to be sent to.
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When I was contacted again asking what I thought, I replied stating that I couldn't agree to those terms. Their response was:
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I understand. I wish I could promise you that, however, we are not popular enough an e-zine yet. If the terms change, I will notify you.
Thank you for your time.
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Your previous works seems nicely written. I am hiring you to write for Writer's Desk. You may choose which sections you write for, however, make sure your articles are clear and concise and that they fit nicely within their section. Try to write for more than one section, if you write multiple articles. By replying to this e-mail you agree to the terms and conditions defined below:
April 1, 2005
PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW:
Writer’s Desk
Terms and Conditions
Payment:
By replying to this e-mail:
You understand that QuickMarket Publishing: Writer’s Desk will pay you, the journalist, fifteen United States Dollars ($15 USD) per article you submit to be published in the Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine). You also understand that you will only be paid for articles submitted to Writer’s Desk, but not for any stories and poems submitted.
You understand that QuickMarket Publishing may refuse payment to you, the journalist, if less than fifty (50) copies of Writer’s Desk are sold of an issue.
You understand that you may not be sent any payments owed to you for any articles submitted to Writer's Desk, until the last day of every month. Payment will be given by check, money order, or Pay Pal (to be decided by QuickMarket Publishing).
You agree that if no sales representatives can be hired to sell the Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine), you will additionally take on a position as a sales representative. Therefore, you will then be required to sell a minimum of fifty (50) copies of Writer’s Desk per issue. You will, thus, be paid accordingly, in addition to the payment you should receive for any articles submitted.
Acknowledgment:
By replying to this e-mail, you acknowledge that you understand that:
All articles you wish to submit to be published in an issue of Writer’s Desk are due by the fourteenth of every month.
The article(s) submitted will only be published in the present month’s issue.
Writer’s Desk only allows each journalist to have a maximum of four (4) articles published in Writer’s Desk, per issue. (This is not including stories and poems, which you may submit regardless of the number of articles you have appearing in the issue.)
Writer’s Desk will publish your articles, stories and poems, provided that it does not contain pornographic or offensive material. We retain the right in our sole discretion to reject any submissions that we feel is inappropriate for publication in Writer’s Desk electronic magazine (e-zine).
Limitation of Liability:
By replying to this e-mail and submitting your work to Writer’s Desk, you agree to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against any and all claims, actions, demands, damages, costs, liabilities, losses and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the site and the publication of your article(s) through our site, including without limitation third party claims of rights in the article(s) or similar infringement claims, or your other violation of the rights of another.
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Please Reply To This E-Mail If You Agree With the Terms and Conditions.
THE NEXT ISSUE OF WRITER'S DESK IS PLANNED TO RELEASE APRIL 21, 2005.
Please Have All Submissions In By APRIL 14, 2005.FOR THOSE WHO LIVE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES: Please give me the address which you would like payment to be sent to.
Jeremy Abrams
www.quickmarketpublishing.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I was contacted again asking what I thought, I replied stating that I couldn't agree to those terms. Their response was:
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I understand. I wish I could promise you that, however, we are not popular enough an e-zine yet. If the terms change, I will notify you.
Thank you for your time.
Jeremy Abrams
www.quickmarketpublishing.com/desk
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Just wanted to let you all know!
www.quickmarketpublishing.com/desk
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Just wanted to let you all know!
Last edited by a moderator:
Most importantly, I wanted to warn people about this publisher. I have never seen anything like this before. The terms of agreement are just unreal. They are by far the worst I have ever seen! (I have seen some pretty bad ones, too).