Question about Rights

tlbodine · Oct 23, 2011

I have a question! I know that if I write an article for someone for a content site (like for a client on Textbroker) that I cannot use that article as a sample on a site like Guru or whatever as I no longer retain any rights to it.

But can I link to the place on the web where the article was published? Like, would it be OK to include links to my content on my website/blog as examples of my work?

If not, how do I go about building clips for clients when I'm primarily doing ghostwritten webcopy? I mean, I can totally come up with fake/original samples, but I'd imagine published copy would be worth more?

herdon · Oct 23, 2011

Dunno about the contracts you have with your clients and whether or not you are allowed to take any credit, but you could always publish some stuff under your own name to build clips.

Old Hack · Oct 25, 2011

tlbodine said:
I have a question! I know that if I write an article for someone for a content site (like for a client on Textbroker) that I cannot use that article as a sample on a site like Guru or whatever as I no longer retain any rights to it.

But can I link to the place on the web where the article was published? Like, would it be OK to include links to my content on my website/blog as examples of my work?

It all depends on the terms of your contract. Does it allow you to claim authorship?

If not, how do I go about building clips for clients when I'm primarily doing ghostwritten webcopy? I mean, I can totally come up with fake/original samples, but I'd imagine published copy would be worth more?

I don't know about you but if I were considering employing someone to write copy for me I'd want them to have a portfolio of published pieces, not a collection of unpublished stuff. The latter would make them seem inept to me.

tlbodine · Oct 25, 2011

No authorship - all the things I write are published under the buyer's name/psuedonym.

And, yeah, that was my thought as well. It's frustrating when I have 80+ ghostwritten articles that I can't use as clips lol but I suppose that's the nature of the beast.

Old Hack · Oct 26, 2011

I've ghostwritten about 20 published books and can't claim a single one of them as my own. I don't even tell my friends which books I've written because it's just not in my interests to be found in breach of contract and risk having to pay back real money as a result.

It's frustrating: but it's earned me good money over the years, which is what I did it for. So I try not to complain about it.

tlbodine · Oct 26, 2011

Old Hack - thanks for your input!

I definitely don't care about the byline or getting credit. I just want to have some measure of credibility when I apply for a gig. What's to keep someone from claiming to have done way more ghostwriting than they claim? I guess that's my thought. Then again I suppose it doesn't matter as your work should speak for itself...but I haven't gotten the hang of pitching myself without samples to back it up. Any suggestions?

Old Hack · Oct 26, 2011

Start small, with specialist magazines. I used to keep chickens and peafowl and so began writing under my own name by writing articles for obscure smallholding magazines. It didn't pay much but such magazines are desperate to find reliable, knowledgeable writers to fill their pages for them. Within a year I was writing for the national papers under my own name; and because I only sold those magazines the rights to use my pieces once, I then resold them to other interested publications. Some pieces had four or five outings, and earned me over £1,000.

Deleted member 42 · Oct 26, 2011

Old Hack said:
I've ghostwritten about 20 published books and can't claim a single one of them as my own. I don't even tell my friends which books I've written because it's just not in my interests to be found in breach of contract and risk having to pay back real money as a result.

It's frustrating: but it's earned me good money over the years, which is what I did it for. So I try not to complain about it.

Exactly. It's paid a lot of my education bills, and I'm glad for the opportunity.

Plus, the authors have recommended me as someone to write other books.

scorpiodragon · Oct 26, 2011

But can I link to the place on the web where the article was published? Like, would it be OK to include links to my content on my website/blog as examples of my work?

Most things for content sites are considered work-for-hire and you can generally use them for sample purposes by linking back to content through your website/blog. Most content sites don't mind this since it can help generate site traffic. I've done content work for DS (Demand Studios) and link back to it. I also have PDF versions of my articles that I have in a electronic sample portfolio that I send to prospective clients.

HJW · Oct 26, 2011

Old Hack said:
I've ghostwritten about 20 published books and can't claim a single one of them as my own. I don't even tell my friends which books I've written because it's just not in my interests to be found in breach of contract and risk having to pay back real money as a result.

It's frustrating: but it's earned me good money over the years, which is what I did it for. So I try not to complain about it.

Old Hack, are you allowed to claim those ghostwritten books as publishing credits?

I know you have an agent, but say you didn't, would you be able to list your ghostwitten books, or does the fact that you wrote them have to remain a secret between you and the publisher? Would you only be able to say 'I've worked for XYZ book packager' or whatever?

Old Hack · Oct 26, 2011

If I'm ever asked about them I say, "I've ghost-written about twenty books, mostly non-fiction, on subjects ranging from mythology to the environment." Or similar. I don't name the books, I don't name the authors. Ever.

HJW · Oct 27, 2011

Thanks OH.

Question about Rights

tlbodine

herdon

What's up?

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

tlbodine

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

tlbodine

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Deleted member 42

scorpiodragon

Black belt in awesome

HJW

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

HJW