What does this mean? Submission question:

I've written a short story and was planning on submitting it this week.

In essence I've created an earlier time frame or backstory to the loooooooong fantasy I've been editing.

My question is to ask what this phrase means:

"We buy first North American and foreign serial rights and an option on anthology rights. All other rights are retained by the author."

I'm not sure what this means legally. Would it be permissible for me to use characters from this story, because I threw in some characters from the future books? Would I be able to refer to some of this material in the backstory of the books?

I just want to make sure I'm not throwing away something I may want to keep?

It means, that if they buy the stroy, you agree that it has not been previously published and that they will be the first company to publish that story in America and foreign markets. It also means that you grant them the option to publish it in an anthology later at negotiation.

Ypou may use the characters and themes wherever and however you wish. You may publish the story later (for reprint or one-time rights) wherever you wish. All it states is that they get to be the first one's to publish it and that the story isn't in any other magazines at that time.

Yep, what Hapsburg said.

Thanks Hapsburg. That seems rather benign.

I have another question which I'll pose on this thread. I've seen a number of links that show how to format a short story for submission. If anyone has a quick link they can post, it would be appreciated.

I just want to double check this against the list before I send it out. The double space, one inch margins...etc.

I don't know any links off the top of my head but if it is being submitted online, their guidlines will often say what format to submit, they vary whether its in the body of an email, attachment, or online form etc.

For paper submissions, for fiction:

Name and contact info upper left hand corner of first page, Rights sold on top right hand corner with word count immediately below (just word count if unpublished)

Centered all caps title a third of the way down the page (that space is used for the editor to indicate printer directions) double space below centered "by your name".

Drop 4-6 lines double space whole story on one side of plain white paper. Additional pages last name/title upper left corner page number upper right corner.

A few lines down from ending type *** or -00- or -30- or THE END

www.sfwa.org/writing/vonda/mssprep.pdf

Take note: That's a pdf above.

www.sfwa.org/writing/format_betancourt.htm

www.sfwa.org/writing/format_rothman.htm

And, for a humorous take: www.sfwa.org/writing/howto.htm

They're all at the sfwa website. Click around the writing articles, Nate. You'll like it there.

Thanks

I appreciate your help everyone.

Re: New question on grammar

I was recently told to put two spaces after a period.

Since I never had a typing class, this never occurred to me. Is this going to be a problem when submitting something for publishing?

If this is necessary, is there any way to edit (Select All) to change this, or does it have to be done manually.

Selling your story's copyrights

Nateskate, sorry to be a depressing party pooper, but you are selling one story to a market that wants your 1st N. American rights,all your foreign rights and anthology rights? I am not American so your copyright system is a little different but I do sell in America and I only sell my 1st USA rights as I then sell the same story in Canada, Australia, the UK, maybe South Africa, New Zealand, Eire, and the EEC journals. I also sell the anthology rights where I can.

If this market you are thinking of submitting to pays a huge fee to cover you giving them all those rights then fine, but otherwise you should politely bargain for 1st N. American Serial Rights only.

I'm frantically busy and may have grabbed hold of the wrong end of the stick and am not understanding what this market is asking for, but it sounds a bit of rip off. One story should earn you at least four or five fees.

Re: Selling your story's copyrights

An option on anthology rights isn't unreasonable.

Does this market publish overseas? Do they have a history of bringing out anthologies?

Generally speaking, you should hesitate before signing over rights that the publisher isn't able to exploit. And they shouldn't have a problem with letting you keep the rights that they can't do anything with.

Are they offering a lot of money? For a big enough check I'll give a publisher almost any right they want.

Re: Selling your story's copyrights

Thanks for the advice. I've never haggled with a publisher, and didn't know how much leeway there is.