Yes, unless you've done something truly odd and signed something to contrary, generally in blood. In which case, you're hosed.

The first time I ever got kill-fee'd was a professor doing Elizabethan lit critique (article). Won't say who, when or what country. even now. I signed something, did two months worth of writing and research for a minimal weekly fee and the understanding that I'd get a co-credit and a big fat pub cheque.

I got dick-all. The bugger invoked the kill-fee clause and the article, without my name with damned all my work, appeared anyway.

Rebecca, most of the kill fees I've come across are generally the EQ of a publisher taking your book out of print; after a certain time, the rights revert to you. But it really depends on the individual scenario.

nnnargh. Feedback? Best drug ever.

Rebecca, most of the kill fees I've come across are generally the EQ of a publisher taking your book out of print; after a certain time, the rights revert to you. But it really depends on the individual scenario.

OK. Half-remembering something from a seminar years ago.

Although when the piece is time-sensitive, you're hosed on the resell. And generally one has to do some significant rewriting to fit a new publication anyhow.

Rock on, Dana. It's lovely.

Dana, you write GG that makes my mouth water.

My mom's publshed about eighteen books. She's been in the book publishing world as a writer and editor for about thirty years. Just watching her struggle so hard, and in vain, is heartbreaking. I never want to go through that. I've already gotten a book published; I'm not worried about it for the future.

I have published nothing.

Of course, I haven't tried to publish anything, but given the general state of my career, I'm unlikely to do so.

What with the frustrated enough as it is part of things, and all.

I have two bookcovers and one uncredited photograph in a newspaper to my credit, if not my name. I don't imagine I'll ever write anything for publication.

I did about six articles for one of Philadelphia's weekly papers back in the day. So far, that's all I've been paid for. But I'm posting this on a break from typing in some of those old clips (I've long since lost the original Word files) so DH can upload them to the web and I can use them when I email queries. As soon as they're live, my first query is going out. And, I'm working on my first novel.

I've written fanfic in the past, and probably will again. I've got a farm full of Buffy plot bunnies which are going unwritten mostly because of sheer lack of time. Now that I'm taking Saturdays off from any of my "work" projects, I might go back to it.