- First, make sure that you own the copyright (all the more incentive to negotiate for that upfront) and that the article doesn't contain any time or place references that would be out of place in your new target market. If you can fix too-specific time and places references with a quick rewrite, perfect. If not, the article might lend itself more to a reslant/rewrite than a reprint.
- Make a list of all of the articles you have available for reprint and see if you can create tie-ins with upcoming holidays or events. For instance, a relationship article that you wrote for Valentine's Day might find new life during August, which is Romance Awareness Month (who knew?).
- Read writer's guidelines carefully to see if the editor accepts reprints. Often they will only accept articles that ran in non-competing publications or in other geographic areas (which is why you want to remove geographic indicators). Sometimes the guidelines will tell you to send the whole article as an attachment or in the body of an email. Other times, editors prefer to recieve queries, even for reprints. Follow these instructions carefully and allow an appropriate lead time for holidays or seasonal articles!
- Consider devoting a section of your website to reprints. Here's my new reprint page. I'm hoping that editors who go to my website and need quick filler content will ask for more information, so I've also included links on the homepage and portfolio page. If the article is not already available online, I strongly suggest that you not include the full text on your website. That way, if another website is interested in buying first online rights for a piece that ran exclusively in print, you haven't already blown your chance.
Am I missing anything? I'd love to hear how other writers track and sell reprints, so let me know!
9 comments:
This is TOO scary, Susan! I've been working on reprints today too! I've even been meaning to do the reprint/available articles page on my website like you've done. What a great job of showcasing your reprints. I'm sure they'll appeal to editors! :-)
I just sent another query for a reprint article, right before I came to read your blog. *fingers crossed!*
*smiles*
Michele
@Michele: that's great! I haven't been as diligent about reprints as I should be. I think it's more fun to pitch new ideas, but those require more time and research, so this makes more financial sense. Good luck with your reprints!
Thanks, Susan, you too! :-)
I know what you mean... once I've written something, it's off to another piece. I get bored--quick!
I am finding it hard to keep track of all the articles I've written and I am relatively new so I don't have that many. How do you keep track of everything you have done?
@Patricia: I have a giant spreadsheet for assignments so I can keep track deadlines, payment, and so on. I have a separate worksheet for tracking queries so I know when to follow up. Only a small portion of my articles lend themselves to reprints (most of them are from the same website which went bust last year), so those are pretty easy to remember.
Excellent points, Susan. My portfolio is in dire of updating, and I really like your "reprint page" idea! Thanks!
I've been meaning to update my site, too.
Susan and Amanda, I thought you might like to read this:
Reprints Have Become My Gold Mines By Renie Burghardt
I think we're all thinking along the same lines--reprints!
*smiles*
Michele
@Michele: that is incredibly timely. Thanks for sharing!
Isn't it though? It's very encouraging!
You're most welcome!
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