I’m out of the office this week, but I left vapor trails for you. Being the duty-bound soul I am, I had to write some posts in advance so as not to lose any of you faithful followers. Yes, I have a sickness. It’s called punctuality. I can quit any time I want. Really.
In looking at what worked for me last year, I realized that I hadn’t done nearly enough magazine writing. A shame, because I’ve located a few great sources of work that pay well and on time (again, punctuality is a thing for me). This year, I plan to look for more magazine work using trusted sources. Note the trusted sources part – that’s essential. Let me explain.
I once worked for a publication that was quite legitimate, but had some mighty strange working habits. I wrote a story based on their assignment, almost to the letter, and they rejected it, saying I’d missed the boat. Since I was in the middle of my next assignment for them, I wasn’t too concerned as yet another assignment was also being determined. What brought all this to a screeching halt was our contract negotiations. As I explained in previous posts, the publisher flat-out refused to sign one, saying he was a stand-up guy and I needed to trust him at his word. A few emails and realizations later, I ended the working relationship mid-article. He took high offense. I walked away knowing it was the best decision I’ve ever made (based partly on his taking high offense, but mostly on the red flags that were increasingly present). The only question that remains is if he actually used that rejected article. The reason – they’re an online subscription-only publication that can’t be viewed without paying the steep subscription price. There’s no way for me to know if it was used or rejected as they claimed. I’m leaning toward the former.
I’ve also worked with new-to-me magazines that just don’t pay either on time or at all in some cases. I’ve wasted countless hours badgering, tacking on late fees, and threatening legal action to secure the cash owed me. I got it, but it’s just not worth it.
Finding trusted sources isn’t easy. It requires that you tap in to the wisdom of other writers. They may not want to share their good clients, either. But it doesn’t hurt to ask them if they’d put in a good word should the magazine need more help. Also, you’ll have to read regularly the posts on sites like Writers Weekly, where writers post warnings on certain publications. And if you toddle over to About Freelance Writing, you can post questions about specific magazines on the forum.
How do you locate trusted sources?
Lori, I started out part-time writing for a couple of niche magazines and now that I write full time for business realized I’ve gotten away from it. I have been formulating a plan to get back into it as well. Thanks for sharing the resources.
I look at the magazines I enjoy reading and figure out whether or not I can write for them. I spend time at libraries, newsstands, and in bookstores browsing, and then go and do a little research on the reputations.
I don’t know a single other industry where employees have to spend so much #%!#%!%? time tracking down their payments or worrying legitimately that their work is being ripped off! Danged frustrating.
I have the same “sickness.”
I don’t write for magazines for all those reasons mentioned. It just is not worth my time. In the amount of time that it would take me to hunt up a magazine, check ’em out, query it, and write the article, I could make at least four times that amount doing web copy, AND I’d have at least 50% payment up front.
I do, however, google every prospective client. It’s amazing what you can find sometimes – prospects who have been involved in lawsuits, prospects who don’t pay their bills, prospects who have owned 5 different businesses in as many years … needless to say, these prospects never become my clients.
Eileen, I wonder just how many of these trusted sources of mine will disappear in the current economy. You bring up a good point about those who don’t pay their bills. I give them one shot. If they don’t pay as expected, I’m no longer their writer.