No, this isn't one of those "earn $250,000 in your spare time" type of scams. But selling reprints of articles you've already written really is an easy way to generate more income. I've done this a few times with women's general interest articles and writing how-to articles, but now I'm trying to make this more of a focus. Here's how to do it:
- First, make sure that you own the copyright (all the more incentive to negotiate for that upfront) and that the article doesn't contain any time or place references that would be out of place in your new target market. If you can fix too-specific time and places references with a quick rewrite, perfect. If not, the article might lend itself more to a reslant/rewrite than a reprint.
- Make a list of all of the articles you have available for reprint and see if you can create tie-ins with upcoming holidays or events. For instance, a relationship article that you wrote for Valentine's Day might find new life during August, which is Romance Awareness Month (who knew?).
- Read writer's guidelines carefully to see if the editor accepts reprints. Often they will only accept articles that ran in non-competing publications or in other geographic areas (which is why you want to remove geographic indicators). Sometimes the guidelines will tell you to send the whole article as an attachment or in the body of an email. Other times, editors prefer to recieve queries, even for reprints. Follow these instructions carefully and allow an appropriate lead time for holidays or seasonal articles!
- Consider devoting a section of your website to reprints. Here's my new reprint page. I'm hoping that editors who go to my website and need quick filler content will ask for more information, so I've also included links on the homepage and portfolio page. If the article is not already available online, I strongly suggest that you not include the full text on your website. That way, if another website is interested in buying first online rights for a piece that ran exclusively in print, you haven't already blown your chance.
Am I missing anything? I'd love to hear how other writers track and sell reprints, so let me know!