Author: Sandra Chapman
Date:   12-08-04 23:05

Can anyone explain in detail what a kill fee is?

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   12-08-04 23:10

A periodical contracts an article/essay/short story from you and then doesn't publish it. Depending how reputable they are, they can pay you in full for it, pay you a kill fee (giving full publishing rights back to you and paying you a fee in lieu of publishing), or just stiff you and leave you in limbo.

Author: Sandra Chapman
Date:   12-08-04 23:24

So, if a periodic offers a kill fee, that means they will pay me something if they don't use the piece?

Author: Mya Bell
Date:   12-08-04 23:26

Kill fees vary widely, Sandra.

If the article is killed, you may get as little as nothing, as Gary has pointed out, or as much as the original verbal or written agreement.

I used to write for journals and glossy magazines and I had a couple of articles killed. In one case, a huge news story broke and they killed all the articles scheduled for the issue (by all authors) and wrote about the news story instead. I was paid a 100-percent kill fee.

In the other case, the editors changed and the new editor had a whole different direction planned. I received a 60-percent kill fee because he didn't feel any particular obligation to uphold the "promises" of the previous editor. Rather than fighting with him, I took the fee and resold the article elsewhere, which means I got paid 160 percent for writing it once.

Kill fees are mixed blessings. The disadvantage is you don't get to see the article in print when and where you expected. The advantage is you get paid extra if you can place it elsewhere (this isn't always possible and even if it is, it might take months to resell it).

In my experience, the larger magazines tend to pay higher kill fees.

--- Mya Bell

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   12-08-04 23:30

"So, if a periodic offers a kill fee, that means they will pay me something if they don't use the piece?"

Yes, that's what they're saying they will do. There's no set amount for such a fee, however.

Author: Sandra Chapman
Date:   12-08-04 23:36

Thank you. I like the fact that you can resell the work!

Author: Robert Raven
Date:   12-09-04 00:44

Isn't this something Tony Soprano offers?

RR

Author: R W
Date:   12-09-04 07:59

only when fee tics Tony off!!

Author: Debra Storky
Date:   12-09-04 08:44

I was paid for my article shortly after acceptance, but it hasn't been published yet. Is there a chance the magazine could change its mind and ask me to return all but the 25% kill fee? Yes, I am paranoid. Thanks.

Author: Jerry Hatchett
Date:   12-09-04 10:12

No, Debra. They're not gonna ask for a refund. :-)

j

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   12-09-04 10:37

But, if they do, you would have an opportunity to write a killer rejection letter.

(Note, however, that if they don't formally turn this into a kill fee and still don't publish, they will retain whatever rights to the work that originally were specified.)

Author: Debra Storky
Date:   12-09-04 12:13

Thanks!

But now I need something new to worry about. Hmm, what are the odds of terrorists attacking Orange County? I wonder if my house is earthquake-safe. What if the magazine publishes my article as an example of bad writing?

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   12-09-04 12:31

Code Orange

probably not

cash the check

Author: Debra Storky
Date:   12-09-04 15:11

lol