#workforhire

[literaticat]

Hi, Jenn! I don’t know how to phrase this without seeming arrogant or whiny, but I write a LOT. I feel like I would be a good candidate for IP work. I think I’m listed on my agency’s site as being open to IP, but how does that actually happen? Should I push the IP idea with my agent? Do I need to reach out myself?

It doesn't sound arrogant or whiny, it just sounds like a fact. You write a lot and think you would be a good candidate for IP work. Fair enough!

In my experience that usually happens in one of two ways:

-- An editor approaches me about a specific published author I rep. Like, they are looking for somebody who is already published or "known" in some way -- like, "Because Maggie Tokuda-Hall is known for her YA sapphic mermaid fantasy, would Maggie be interested in writing a gay YA romance between Aquaman and Namor set in the baroque underwater world of Atlantis?" -- they might then want Maggie to write a little sample, or they might consider her already-published work to be sample enough, either way, the point is, they are coming to me in this example BECAUSE SHE'S MAGGIE, they aren't looking for some random other person. IF she doesn't want to do it, they'd choose somebody else, but it would likely also be somebody who has something of a name.

-- An editor approaches me (or the agency as a whole) and says something like, "Hey, we are looking to do an IP series about a diverse team of junior league Pickleball players -- think "MG League of Their Own but for Pickleball" -- let me know if you have any authors who do voicey and heartfelt MG that have an interest in pickleball!" And then we give them some names of some potential candidates who do contemporary MG and play pickleball (or whatever), who might "audition" by writing a sample. In this case, they aren't going for a specific author, they'd likely be open to newer authors, though it would have to be somebody who fits whatever demographic (in this case, sports-loving, does voicey contemporary MG), and is good at writing quickly and to a specific kind of brief.

The problem of course is, if you aren't already somewhat well-known/well-published, the first one probably isn't going to happen. The second one might! Though of course, we can't control how often these opportunities come up, OR if you'd necessarily be the appropriate choice for every opportunity. Like, if it was about a group of teenage Mexican-American pickleball players, they might want a Mexican-American sporty YA author. If it was a ghostwriting gig for a Picture Book by a specific Chinese-American pickleball child prodigy, they'd want a PB author who is into sports and is Chinese-American. You get the picture.

So while we probably have a handful of these kinds of IP / ghostwriting type opportunities come in every month, they are usually targeted in such a way that a fairly narrow swath of our possible authors would be appropriate.

ALSO: Some editors have databases of possible IP writers and agents who rep them, and are happy to add to those databases. Even if they don't have any projects cooking RIGHT NOW, your agent can reach out to editors who do a lot of IP and say, hey, I have this great person, please think of them if something appropriate comes up. This just makes it more likely that an editor will reach out to your agent when they DO have something.

So I don't think it would hurt to remind your agent: "Hey, just putting it out in the universe that I'm very keen to be considered for IP opportunities, if you hear about something that would be good for me, please throw my hat in the ring! I'd be especially interested in: [XYZ]. And feel free to be kind of specific here if you like, giving both appropriate categories (MG series? YA? PB? Chapter Books? GN texts? etc) and fave genre/style/topics (fantasy? romance? contemporary? sports stories? animal stories?) and, if applicable, any possibly relevant cultural / pop-cultural / demographic components that might come into play (I am LGBTQIA, I'm into theatre, I'm a Blasian comic book nerd and obsessed with all things Wakanda, I'm a horse person, I'm into martial arts and baking, whatever)

In other words, don't say EVERYTHING, nobody is good at and interested in EVERYTHING, and if you are being a little specific with some key words, that will help you stand out from the crowd when an editor is looking for something specific. (Like, if they are looking for a writer for a MG superhero project, they are unlikely to notice EVERY author who just puts "MG" -- but WILL notice somebody who has MG + superhero, or MG + Marvel, or MG + comic book nerd, yanno?) Yes, that WILL leave you out of some potential opportunities -- but if you're a MG/YA person, you probably wouldn't be the best fit for a PB or whatever anyway -- and IMO, it's much better all around to get an IP project that really is a fit for you, rather than just taking a flyer on something that isn't in your wheelhouse. Once you have some under your belt, and you've proven that you're reliable and good, people will think of you for further ones, too.

[belletristicarts]

Ghostwriting the Wrong Way (?)

I began ghostwriting romance novels in the early days of the pandemic, when I was stuck at home and waiting for my own YA novel to make it through the traditional publishing submission process (still waiting, three revisions later!). It's been fun, but with no professional contacts I started my ghost journey on Upwork, where the pay is peanuts. It may be better for blog writers, copywriters, nonfiction writers, and memoir writers, but ghost writing for fiction pays very poorly. Luckily, I write well, and fast, and enjoy what I do. I love telling a good story. But when I'm struggling to get $0.02/word, it can be a bear. Still, it keeps our self-publishing/author services business afloat. So anyway, I just finished a contract and the client loved the novel I wrote for her, but when I started looking through the listings for another gig, it became obvious what was going on. All of these "authors" on Upwork are posting jobs for ghostwriters with the exact same specs, even at nearly the same price. I believe they're taking a course in how to launch a publishing business, throw ghostwritten novels up on Amazon under their own names, and make a fortune. I don't resent them for that: everyone is trying to make it somehow. Fine. But it occurred to me that with the experience I have at writing and editing romance novels, I can do this for myself and not for two cents a word. I wrote out character sketches and a plot outline this morning, sat down and wrote the first 4000 words, and I'm on my way to a finished MS by the end of the week. The formula that they're using is this: ~ Plot a series of three novels ~ First novel: 10,000 words ~ Second novel: 30,000 words ~ Third Novel: 30-50,000 words ~ Each novel follows the format: Chp. 1: Her POV/Chp. 2: His POV/Chp. 3: Her POV/etc. with each chapter written in alternating first person from the point of view of either the hero or heroine of the novel ~ Pay a total of $1200-$1600 for the series ~ Pay a cover illustrator a few hundred dollars to design the covers for the series ~ MAYBE get an editor/proofreader to read through (although I believe most of these people are doing that themselves) ~ Hire a formatter for $49 to set up the book ~ Post it for sale on Amazon

And repeat. I won't post the name of this particular training, but here's a screenshot of their pricing:

Pretty overpriced, if you ask me. But this is just one of MANY people offering similar courses.None of the ghostwriters are making a decent living for doing this very exacting writing/development/editing work. Maybe it buys groceries. But at two cents a word/15,000 words per week/$300 pay minus the Upwork cut, the pay is pathetic. I am going out on my own, and see if I can sell my intellectual property for myself, while waiting for my trad pub career to start. Writing is tough, I won't lie. But maybe someday it will be my name on the books I write and not someone who paid me two cents a word.

[ronniekingofficial]

So Nice !! Thanks #Pandora . I’m the Original Keyboardplaya on #Stormtrooper and this Version as well!!!!!! and #StoneloveStonelove Happy #20yearanaversary #Konatown #Keyboards #Piano #Specialpaymentsfund #Soundexchange #performanceroyalties #love #musicgame #OriginalKonatownkeyboards #clavenet #Wahwah #studiomusician #Workforhire #withbenifits #calireggae #scene #butwaittheresmore https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0LwsRPdCt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[realmartinart]

Cover sci-fi

[augustothecreator]

Been working and still producing art just haven’t been posting, but here’s a view.

[the-q-method]

Earlier this year I had the chance to color a small sequence for @guanoguycomics by artist @alexanderenlund , It was a blast! 🤘🤘 #workforhire #paidgig #comiccolorist #theguanoguy #makingcomics #theqmethod #indiecomics #digitalcolor https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKdwtBBVKZ/?igshid=19gjaq1sel2u6

[rodneywho76]

“Jimmy No Bones” Here’s an original of mine I’m always trying to improve. It seems to sound better after a good nervous breakdown though🤷🏻‍♂️🤣🙌🏻 Thank you again for all who reached out the other day. I literally wouldn’t have made it through another night without you. I need a manager, a band that loves to practice as much as me, and a schedule to follow. I’ll travel or move anywhere. I’ve written over 300 songs and want to play them for you all live. Please keep your eyes and ears open for me. I don’t know how to make it more clearer. Without some help getting back out there, I’m not sure how long I can keep faking my smile, if you know what I mean?!🤗 I love you all and let’s hope the universe sends me the right people this time. Music or death. It’s one or the other. Please find me a manager of you know one. Love love and music😎👊🏻🎤🎼🖤🙏🏻 #original #songwriter #filmscore #film #needroadmanager #roadmanager #travelready #needband #workforhire #electricchurch #bandsforhire #bassplayerwanted #greenvillesc https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ji1tJDfEA/?igshid=19kmv86gdnmcm

[mrscratch0753]

Forgot to this commission I did for @lexxluna a month or two back. #drawing #sketch #commission #commissionart #pencilart #portraitart #workforhire #igart #artlife #crosshatch #blackandwhiteart #artistsoninstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B43IBPcAks5/?igshid=6uzf5m5xjose

[mermanautmishell]

It’s true !! From #caricature #art, #portraits, #spraycanart, #painting, #sketching and #digitalart !! #acceptingcommissions #Fiverr #etsy #instagram #workforhire #design #create #digitalart #traditionalart #graffiti #caricature #miami #work #artist #career #artdaily #sketchdaily #workdaily #motivation #support (at Miami, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3drjUBgk6L/?igshid=hxzygziy1knx

[thesocialdept]

Robotica!!! Book jacket and interior design. 70+ Robot illustrations inside! #bookdesign #workforhire #bookpublishing #robots #ohioboydesign (at Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxbT7hgJoWi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3ls5xjcs71c

[literaticat]

I'm an agented writer who just sold her first manuscript to a big publisher. How might I become aware of potential ghostwriting/IP projects? Would those offers come via my agent or editor? I might be interested in some side work, but am not sure how that side work actually materializes.

Congratulations on your first book!

So, in my experience, usually my authors who are interested in doing IP projects let me know "hey, I'm interested in doing IP projects, particularly x y z kinds!". I have a little running list of people who do different kinds of projects, and I let the editors who do a lot of IP projects know about these folks.

When IP projects cross my desk (which is random - I'll get no inquiries for ages at a time, and then suddenly get several opportunities at once), the editor often has a particular author in mind. But sometimes, they'll be like "Oh, do you have somebody who is great at writing hilarious middle grade?" or "Hey do you have somebody who is super interested in the Marvel universe and writes picture books?" or "Oh, do you rep any trans authors who would be interested in a quick-turn-around WFH chapter book opportunity?" -- or some such.

Obviously not all of my authors even WANT to do IP, and the ones that do tend to specialize in one or two TYPES of projects. But, anyway, if it IS the right kind of project for that writer, I pitch the writer to the editor who is asking. If they agree that this person might be a great fit, then usually the author does a little sample "audition" of some kind, and the editor decides.

The people who are most likely to get IP/WFH jobs like this tend to be, usually, multi-published authors who have a track record of being delightful to work with, and writing very fast, very clean manuscripts. Which - obviously, you are new, so you don't quite have that going for you YET. But you will. And in the meantime, the first step is to TELL YOUR AGENT that that is a goal, so you are on their radar for it in the first place.

(There may be other ways to get on the radar for IP opportunities btw - I just don't personally know them!)

[dunntown]

I’ve been job hunting since I lost my main source of income in April. I’m so exhausted looking for work. #workforhire #graphicdesign #overqualifed #unemployed #willartforfood https://www.instagram.com/p/BoNCf4MlVA0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1y33ozp1sm3k

[liamnaughton]

Currently open for commissions! Anything from head shots, busts and standalone pieces to full blown comics! Prices are negotiable. Just PM me and we can sort out details. #comics #art #commissions #comiccommissions #artcommissions #headshot #bust #comicpages #indiecomics #workforhire #comicart https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8CKIpHrlj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dltrpptzkpmw

[kpalegal]

Check out our latest video: A collection of videos discussing the basics of various contracts common in the entertainment law industry: Inter-Artist Agreements, Work For Hire Agreements, Talent Contracts and Agency Contracts.

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This video is only for informational purposes. Please note that the contents of this video do not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship between us. Please consult your attorney with regards to any specific legal issue or matter.

[realmartinart]

Diseño para una marca de cerveza

[the-q-method]

Pages from a color job I did over the art of @alexanderenlund for @GuanoGuycomics #workforhire #paidgig #theqmethod #guanoguy #indiecomics #comiccolorist #makingcomics #webcomics #graphicnovel #wacom https://www.instagram.com/theqmethod/p/CXL9ZZOrr6n/?utm_medium=tumblr