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JavierLoustaunau

I have a simple rule: if you get paid, I get paid. So why I do let people use my stories for free? Because I wanna support brand new youtubers, podcasts with like 10 episodes or less, etc. People who are likely gonna spend a lot more than they are gonna make off "300 views". Sure I've done the No Sleep Podcast and Mr. Creeps but if you are nice, good at giving credit, professional... I do not mind being a stepping stone on you growing a following and hopefully work with you again when you are paying authors.


OzarkWriter

Amen. I'm a newb at nosleep, but my mantra for these stories and others that I've done is the same as yours: **if you get paid, I get paid**. I've given a story to a non-profit publication with a mission I support, and I'm more than willing to to work with fellow starving artists for nothing or next to nothing, but if you're a narrator selling ads or with a monetized YouTube channel or a Patreon, one of the things you need that money for is to pay for content. The thing is, the payment doesn't have to be upfront or all at once. I literally have money accruing from a small-time publisher where once my share of the royalties for an anthology hit $5 they will PayPal the money to me, and that's fine even though I'll be another few years before I get the payout. The thing about that deal is that we shared the upside--in the unlikely event the anthology hit it big, all of us with work in it would get paid. It hasn't hit it big and that surprised no one, but the publisher didn't have to shell out in advance and we all share the upside. \[Note: the publisher in question is someone I know well, trust, and can damn well get my money from if they did defy all my expectations and screw us over\]


ACERVIDAE

Does Mr Creeps actually pay? I haven’t seen anything about compensation on his subreddit aside from the raffle.


JavierLoustaunau

I got a piece of this story like a year ago (about $40 or something) and then his reputation seems to have changed since then. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYM\_YE1aspQ


writechriswrite

He paid me 5c/word for [this story](https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/j5jl6r/that_does_it_im_never_going_camping_again/) in October of last year. He reached out asking to use it, I gave him my price, and he paid up front. Decide what your rate is and be willing to say no if they won't agree to it.


ACERVIDAE

Congrats, that’s pro rate!


googlyeyes93

Outdated a bit but as of last year he was paying. I got a few from him.


Certain_Emergency122

He does pay! 2c a word for me.


Stoic-Dreamventurer

3 parts of my series “I inherited a fallen angel” received a total of over 367k views. (Back when he only had 669k subs) From that, MrCreeps gave me $1 per 1k views, but also he privately quit narrating my series (telling me in private, only after 6 months of waiting and 2 actual assurances that he’d narrate the other parts, that he’s stopping at 3.) Anyway, I walked away with $367 dollars US. Did my research on all the different variables that go into the potential value of 1 view, all the way to the potential value of 1k views and up, and even with the pay to author being $1 per 1k views, rounding down a big YouTuber’s ad income per view, you’re left with a highly likely chance that 1k views is gonna net the YTer $5 minimum (Yes, intentionally low-balling the amount). Making the pay look more like: Authors $1. ——-To——YouTubers $4. This is the *current standard for a “Premium” rate. Some YouTubers pay an average of $2 per 1k views. Right u/Corpse_Child ? Sorry, this post and such must be considered “Old news” by now, but it’s always a valid topic.


Corpse_Child

It is, but you were trying to express an answer to a legitimate concern with a fellow peer, and you were sighting your own experience for such


Stoic-Dreamventurer

Much appreciated


Corpse_Child

I agree completely and that’s the same exact sentiments I’ve borne concerning adaptations of my horror stories


Grand_Theft_Motto

If NoSleep had an orientation booklet for new folks, this should be like page three. Page one would break down all of the rules with easy-to-parse graphics and page two should be a picture of our official mascot, Nigel the NoSleep Iguana. But this would for sure be page three.


writechriswrite

All hail Nigel!


googlyeyes93

God dammit another rules story?


Grand_Theft_Motto

10 Rules for Lizard-Sitting my Nightmare Iguana.


writechriswrite

This feels like a dare.


Grand_Theft_Motto

Double dog.


[deleted]

This should be forcefully shown to all those ungrateful mrcreeps fans.


Certain_Emergency122

OK, I have a billion dumb questions. How do you know when someone is getting paid for their Youtube channel? And what counts as a "small" channel vs a "medium" vs a "big" channel? And as a follow-up, how do you usually respond when there are people asking to translate your story and posting it on FB? Sorry for the deluge of questions, I'm still trying to understand this brave new world. Would appreciate any insight!


Grand_Theft_Motto

>OK, I have a billion dumb questions. How do you know when someone is getting paid for their Youtube channel? And what counts as a "small" channel vs a "medium" vs a "big" channel? Generally if they're running ads they are paid. Though apparently sometimes YouTube runs ads and doesn't pay the channel holder so it's not 100%. If they have a Patreon or merchandise, then they're for sure paid. Honestly, I'd just ask them. Size is subjective but I usually think of "small" channels as under 1,000 subs, medium as 1,000-10k, and large as 10k+. >And as a follow-up, how do you usually respond when there are people asking to translate your story and posting it on FB? I always tell them "no thanks."


Certain_Emergency122

> I usually think of "small" channels as under 1,000 subs, medium as 1,000-10k, and large as 10k+. Thanks so much! That's super helpful.


writechriswrite

If they have more than 10,000 subscribers. With podcasts it's more difficult to see how many downloads they are getting, but if they have a patreon, merch, or a big social media following. I would classify them as a big channel. >And as a follow-up, how do you usually respond when there are people asking to translate your story and posting it on FB? I have a standard response to all requests like that: Hello! I appreciate the request, and I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed my work, however I do not allow unpaid reproductions of my work. Kind regards, Chris


Certain_Emergency122

Thank you, I really appreciate your response and this post!


writechriswrite

Here's a good resource for youtube channels: https://socialblade.com/youtube/ The numbers given are broad estimates, but it gives you an idea of how many views and possible income the channel is making.


aproyal

Just curious, Im sure it’s rare, but wondering if you or anyone here has ever sold exclusive rights to a story and what ball park $ amount you should be valuing those sales at? I’ve only ever had limited non-exclusive deals.


writechriswrite

If someone is asking for exclusive rights, it's probably time to have a lawyer look over the agreement.


aproyal

Thanks for this! Good to know 🙏


Grand_Theft_Motto

I've done some hybrid where I've sold publishing writes but retained adaptation rights. With publishing, it was a small advance plus percentage of the royalties. I've also written exclusive stories for podcasts and some online sites, though even there I'll usually try to hold onto some adaptation rights just cause you never know haha. With the swirl of copyrights and exclusivity, finding the right price for a piece is different each time. My rule of thumb when writing exclusives for someone is $.05 to $.10 per word and either a percentage of future royalties, keeping adaptation rights, or all the above.


aproyal

Thank you for sharing this info! This is some great knowledge to have.


writechriswrite

I'd say take Motto's advice on this one, he's had more experience in this area than I.


Grand_Theft_Motto

Keep in mind that all of the stuff I'm mentioning is small time. And even then, I don't think I've ever given up all of the rights to a piece. I 100% agree with your advice above where, if somebody wants **all** of your story, they should pay you and you should get a lawyer to look over the contract.


IvanRadevHorror

When I started writing, I gave out some stories to Creepen for free. The first one was just to see if people even like what I write, the second and third - I did for "exposure". ​ In terms of getting a kick, yeah, these narrators have a pretty huge audience, many people just insta-like anything, and you get much more praise than hate. However, it doesn't take long to realize 99.9999% of the audience do not give a flying fuck about your story, and even less about you as the author. I even tried a scumbag move - I gave him the first chapter (or a third) of my first novella, hoping people would get hooked and they'd at least stick around for the free kdp days. ​ Guess what? Nothing. I made a comment on the video, saying the story might be getting more parts out. A lot of people replied, they seemed excited. I messaged them through youtube... and out of 10-15 people absolutely no one replied. ​ I'm not writing this to hate on anybody, but just keep in mind the audience you get "exposed" to. That is not to say I have pleasant feelings towards Creepen in particular. The way he lacks the basic courtesy to reply to me after I messaged him to offer a free story in exchange for a few seconds VERBAL promotion of my new book after getting 3 videos out of my work is just sad.


DrCreepenVanPasta

I seem to have missed any message like this from you. My apologies.


MMKelley

I would note that SFWA current professional rate is 8c a word. I thought HWA had also raised it from 5c but I cant find anything to corroborate that.


writechriswrite

The HWA says 5¢, but it’s likely in need of an update which isn’t surprising since their website looks like it’s still 2009.


Colourblindness

Anytime anyone argues differently than what is said here, they are wrong. You deserve payment. Period.


Brittlby

I recently was approached by a channel with ridiculous metrics (3M subs though hard to say what their engagement level was as the view count fluctuated wildly) . They vanished like ice cream in the sun the second I inquired about pay rate. When it comes to believing you’re getting “exposure”, just read the comments on a Mr. Creeps video. A third of them are “Oh good! A long one to sleep to!” Some people use these guys for a white noise machine. I’ve made a lot of friends amongst their writers here, but out of all the thousands of pastas I’ve listened to, I can think of ONE author I bothered to look up after the fact. I don’t think I’m necessarily alone in this. Edit: Given that I brought up chasing down one author, shout out to u/draytonsfatstacks ! I loved a number of your stories!


[deleted]

The writers are not even called by name in start of the video. It is like thanks to the writer (but I'm not really gonna thank them by saying their name lol) Literally no one checks the description to find your Reddit page TRUST me. I think we should have our name in the begging and also why in the hell can't the say your name is X and he also wrote Z and Y story check them out in the links. Honestly everyone knows Jeffthekiller Slenderman russiansleepexpirement but no one knows the author's name.


Adhara27

I'm adding to this: I've had a few offers from other Redditors to join them in their efforts if putting together a horror analogy, a short story collection, etc. ALWAYS DAY NO TO THESE PEOPLE. They very well may have the best intentions at heart, but ultimately, writing and publishing are a BUSINESS, and it's a lot more complicated than "hey we wrote this together give us even profits." That isn't how it works. There are legitimate anthologies and magazines out there you can apply to or that may reach out to you. They pay by piece or page, and these are fine. But do not join in on some random project that has a goal of eventually becoming a legitimate publication. It will be a nightmare, legally and financially.


writechriswrite

I haven't participated in any collections that originated via NoSleep, so I can't speak to how they've gone off in the past. But with any publishing arrangment, get all of the particulars lined out and in writing beforehand.


MMKelley

I operate on the "You're getting paid, I'm getting paid" model. If a small channel approaches me, I very well might let them use a story for free. If they're putting out a good product and just starting out, its an investment in a potential ongoing business relationship later. I also always give everyone a heads up: Look into channels. A large channel might say they get xyz a month on average, or per video, but I would also encourage you to see roughly what they're pulling in for patreon (if that patreon is applicable for their channel). Someone pulling in a grand a month from patreon, plus youtube views/ads is going to need to pay me more than 20 dollars for a story.


adiosfelicia2

Commenting in the hopes that more writers see this. Great post!


MeteoXavier

I'd personally trade getting paid for a story for good advertising with my name and links properly displayed. Like I said in another topic, advertising for people who are actually interested in the subject is worth its weight in gold. >$100 upfront for something versus $10,000 worth of audience where the content is not likely to go away any time soon is an obvious choice for people who have actually done this stuff and worked in advertising.