Guest Author - Kristin Peoples
As you continue to write your ezine or newsletter, you may think about adding the use of other writers to help spice up your work. When you consider getting the help of other writers, you must keep in mind a few things. You are responsible for all for the content in your ezine or newsletters.
Articles that are submitted to you must be of good quality. The articles must be able to speak for the integrity of your publication and the same tone that you wrote in previous editions. If you do not have time to follow these steps, you may want to hire a project manager to take care of the agreements and check for any problems.
•The terms of your agreement must be laid out in writing so that the writer understands that you own the article. You can spell out in the terms of the agreement if you are giving them credit for the work or if it is a ghostwriter project. If you decide to give them a byline, you have to state that you do not accept responsibility or liability for any articles that may have been copied or infringing on copy written work that is used without permission.
•Once you receive the article, you must edit it to ensure that there are no grammar problems. Be sure to edit the article before you run it in your ezine or newsletter. Once you publish it, it’s too late to review it.
•Determine what fees will be paid to the writer. This must be spelled out in your agreement before the writer begins the work. Be sure to note how much they will be paid and when. If you pay after the article ran in your ezine or newsletter make sure you spell it out in the agreement. It will save you a lot of hassle down the road.
•If the writer will not be paid, it is good practice to add a byline to the article. This helps the writer advertise their work as well as a link to reach them if they want more information.
As the owner of the ezine or newsletter, you must protect yourself accordingly. Any errors or omissions can be challenged. When you have the writer agreement in place, you won’t have to worry if you are protected. If you decide to add pictures to your article, the writer must own the article or the rights to it.
