Short Story contract question

[nkkingston]

If he hasn't paid you and the other authors, he should pull the anthology. He offer money in exchange for those rights, and since he hasn't delivered the money he shouldn't be using the rights. Like summonere says, they're in violation of contract. Maybe they can't afford to pay you, and all sympathy for his medical problems, but until he can he shouldn't be selling the book.

Chris P: In my experience, a one off payment is normal for short stories. Sometimes in an anthology you might get offered royalties, but you'll be splitting them with everyone else in the anthology so it's going to be minscule amounts. Unless there's a very good reason for the anthology to sell well (like a story by Rowling!) you're probably going to make more with a one-off payment.

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by nkkingston

Chris P: In my experience, a one off payment is normal for short stories. Sometimes in an anthology you might get offered royalties, but you'll be splitting them with everyone else in the anthology so it's going to be minscule amounts. Unless there's a very good reason for the anthology to sell well (like a story by Rowling!) you're probably going to make more with a one-off payment.

Thanks! I was thinking along these lines as well, not to mention the logistical nightmare of figuring out who gets what cut!

[nkkingston]

I've got a short story in a Ravenous Romance anthology (see sig), and it's $10 up front and then a pro-rata share of the royalties (being an ePub, the royalties are a larger percentage than print). However, having spoken to other RR anthology authors, the odds of earning out the $10 advance are pretty low.