Free biweekly newsletter Enter e-mail here. The ultimate guide to Internet resources and opportunities for writers. Available in print and electronic editions. Allen has sold more than 250 articles and columns to print and online publications.
Freelance writing is a business.
The quick and easy answer to this question, therefore, is that you should keep every file that relates to the running of that business. If you don't receive even that much, create your own letter of agreement specifying the rights you are licensing. For the greatest degree of protection, ask your editor to countersign a copy of this letter and send it back to you. If you have no record of the terms under which your material was published, it will be very difficult for you to prove the terms of that agreement. Even rejection letters are important, however.