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Marking Time for Money
How long have you waited to get paid? Revisiting my invoicing post yesterday for just a moment, one writer responded she’d been waiting a year for a publication to publish her piece. And naturally, they pay on publication. Nothing upsets me more than to hear of writers having to mark time while editors hold on to a piece for endless amounts of time. Frankly, I’d wait no longer than six months, then I’d retract the submission and shop it elsewhere. If it’s an article with time-sensitive info, I’d wait no more than a few months before taking it to another pub.
In general, there seems to be a general lax in standards among the publishing community. Gone are the days when a query is responded to, let alone acknowledged. Writers sit not knowing if the query is being considered. Follow-up requests for status updates are just as ignored. Is there no more protocol within the publishing community? Or is it that we happen to have an influx of management that does not believe in wasting precious time treating its hired help with proper respect?
I don’t know. This is one I need to ponder for a while. Maybe I’m too old, but I remember a time not so long ago when editors and writers alike followed a standard procedure that showed respect to our colleagues. We communicated, as those in the communication industry should. But maybe I’m just hearing the horror stories. Please, if you have a success story, or you’d like to nominate an editor or client who has been a professional from start to finish, tell me so we can sing their praises here.
Here’s today’s list of job openings. Good luck!
Freelance Project Writer
Freelance Design Writers
Freelance Copywriter
Freelance Tech Writing
Experienced Developmental Editor
Writers for Jewelry Newsletter
Website Copywriter
Book Editor
PT Technical Writer (Telecommute)
Freelance Tech Writers
Financial Writer
I’ve been waiting 71 days for payment for some advertising copy I wrote for a marketing firm.
I’ve sent payment requests, copies of invoices, notice of impending late fees, and I’ve even used your “please pay to avoid litigation” line.
I even reported the company to Writer’s Weekly. When Angela contacted the company owner to get his side of the story, he simply said “Sorry, we don’t discuss vendors we have a problem with with 3rd parties.”
The only way I am going to get paid, I think, is if I take him to small claims court.
Take him then, Leigh. You’ll get a judgment if you can show regular attempts to collect. That’s not saying he’ll pay, but a judgment doesn’t expire. Eventually, it will come.
This makes me wonder – for the second time this afternoon – why publishers/clients/etc. expect the utmost speedy and professional service from us, while we’re very often left wondering about publishing, payment, etc.
Very good question, Alicia. I’ve often wondered the same thing (today, as well).
I know a few editors that are awesome. But, I think how awesome they are depends on how awesome they think you are.
In most cases, we went to work together knowing I was getting more elsewhere, and that they should probably keep me happy to keep me working for them.
I’d like to help by naming names, but that would be like posting an ad that says they need writers without their permission.
And, as one might suspect, as nice as they are, they are seldom without writers.
PS-I tried a collection agency once and got no where.
My advice? “An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.”
David, I think you’re right. In many cases, our problems boil down to a mismatch in communication styles.
But then there are those times when it’s clearly a lack of professional behavior on the part of the client. Thankfully, that’s rare.