What is the downside to this

[Boxlicker101]

Today, I received a check for $120US from GroupMVP for six of my stories they have printed in their magazines. Last month I got a check for $60 for three stories. Last summer I gave them permission to print five stories and some more in a novel. All together, they have paid me $430, which is not a lot but it is better than anything I have gotten from anybody else.

The five stories and the novel were with my full agreement but since then, they have taken nine stories and printed them without asking. I don't really mind this, but I can't help wondering if there is more of a downside. I have some hopes of selling some stories to a more generous publisher, and I wonder if the stories having appeared elsewhere would make that impossible.

I still retain all rights to them, and it would be legal for me to sell them elsewhere, but I have to wonder if the elsewhere would buy them.

 

[J.Q. Hack]

I don't have any experience with publishing but this sounds a little fishy to me that they are continuing to re-publish your stories. I thought they would have to get permission each time to publish if you still indeed have full copyright and control of your stories. If you do still have full control of the story then I'd think they owe you money for each time they re-printed but if you don't your stories might not even be yours anymore to sale anywhere else.

Hopefully there is somebody on here that has more knowledge on copyright and related issues to give you some guidance.

J.Q. Hack

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I have some hopes of selling some stories to a more generous publisher, and I wonder if the stories having appeared elsewhere would make that impossible.

It might. You'd have to consult the publisher you're considering and ask.

I'm more concerned about the reprints with no royalties paid to you?

 

[impressive]

I'm more concerned about the reprints with no royalties paid to you?

I agree.

 

[Boxlicker101]

It might. You'd have to consult the publisher you're considering and ask.

I'm more concerned about the reprints with no royalties paid to you?

The agreement I have with MVP regarding the five short stories last summer and what they call a novel is that there is to be a one time printing, and nothing else. As for the more recent stories that were printed, there has been no agreement at all.

Imp, some of the stories that were printed are listed for vetting, but they don't seem be going anywhere there anyhow.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

The agreement I have with MVP regarding the five short stories last summer and what they call a novel is that there is to be a one time printing, and nothing else. As for the more recent stories that were printed, there has been no agreement at all.

Imp, some of the stories that were printed are listed for vetting, but they don't seem be going anywhere there anyhow.

Wait... they're printing stories of yours... WITHOUT a contract/agreement? And they're not paying you?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Wait... they're printing stories of yours... WITHOUT a contract/agreement? And they're not paying you?

They printed five short stories in magazines last summer, as well as a "novel". The last was actually seven short stories involving the same narrator and some women, many of whom appeared in more than one story. I was paid $20 each for the short stories and $150 for the novel, with the agreement that the only right they had was to print them the one time. I retain all other rights.

So far this year, they have printed nine other stories and have paid me $20 each for them, but there has been no agreement regarding them.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

They printed five short stories in magazines last summer, as well as a "novel". The last was actually seven short stories involving the same narrator and some women, many of whom appeared in more than one story. I was paid $20 each for the short stories and $150 for the novel, with the agreement that the only right they had was to print them the one time. I retain all other rights.

So far this year, they have printed nine other stories and have paid me $20 each for them, but there has been no agreement regarding them.

They offered me 120.00 for Montana Summer...I never bothered replying to their offer...I'll let people read it for free before selling it for crumbs....

 

[Boxlicker101]

They offered me 120.00 for Montana Summer...I never bothered replying to their offer...I'll let people read it for free before selling it for crumbs....

People do read the stories for free. They are all on Lit. and thousands of people (Presumably) read them for free. I am just thinking about the effect on future sales, if any. As of right now, I have no offers, but I might have some time.