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Meredith Tries Again
2007-06-28 20:08:35 Eastern

At one time, Meredith was a reasonable company for a writer to deal with. You could talk to them about alternate contracts and change terms that were patently unreasonable. But once again management is trying to put yet a new master agreement into place. Some early reports suggest that editors, at least of some of their magazines, are holding the line and refusing to make any changes. We have a suggestion. Get the contract before you start working, try negotiating, and if they refuse to offer an alternate document or make reasonable changes, go elsewhere. The market ultimately speaks, and even though publishers and editors like to pretend that writers are a dime a dozen, they know it's not true. It's too hard to find the talent and dedication to get a good story. Try pitching different types of stories to other markets, or take your ideas to their competitors. When the writers they want don't want them, the tune will eventually change. It won't be the first time, and it won't be the last.
   -- The Contracts Committee