Writers' Rights Hitt Woman

Emma Hitt is the medical writer who runs The HittList, a free subscription email sent weekly with info about staff and freelance science and medical writing and editing work. It sounds as though she's a freelance writer, and so should understand the concerns of those in the business. On the front page of her site there is a notice about a "$1500 prize for a true story about your experience as a freelance writer or your experience hiring a freelance writer." Apparently she's putting together a book on freelance writing and is looking for material. Well, fine, sounds like a Chicken Soup for the Soul type of formula; get writers to tell their stories, collect said stories, edit and publish for a profit. But get this clause (because the entry form is technically a contract):

Note: all entries will be considered for inclusion into a book about freelancing. By entering this contest, you agree that the piece can be published in this book after the final edited version has been cleared with you and that you relinquish copyright of your piece. You also acknowledge that the piece is true, not embellished, and has not been previously published. You will receive a free copy of the book if your piece is included in the book. Please do not submit your entry if you cannot agree to these conditions.

So, I send in a story based on my own experience and whether it's selected or not, I'm expected to give away the copyright? And only one of the entries will win the $1500 prize? That is ridiculous. Hell, she could be this rapacious and simply ask for non-exclusive anthology rights to include a piece in her book (and leave it at that), though I'd consider that outrageous as well. If there's not enough money to pay the people who actually create the content, why should anyone make money on the project? It's bad enough to see some Craigslist bottom feeder trying to get something for nothing, but someone who not only is a freelance writer but who runs a job list for writers ought to know better - and ought to act better.

Using Sweepstakes in Your Marketing

I've worked on just enough sweepstakes promotions in the past to know they're a pain in the rear. But recently a colleague, Rachel Weingarten, had posted something on a writers' board about having run a contest to promote her own book. Rachel, a marketing and PR pro, got a lot of inquiries from writers who wanted to do the same. She realized that many probably didn't appreciate the legal requirements. Here's a blog post she put together at my request about some of these considerations.