How Much?
I always find it interesting that some new markets hate to include their payment rates with the guidelines. This one comes from a new market for women called "Flawless".
"Pay: Absolutely. If your article is accepted and published, you’ll
be paid. Please include a projected word count in your pitch and we’ll
let you know the rate. Business Professionals who are focused on brand
building and audience expansion can opt to receive other benefits, such
as a listing on our Expert Contributor Page with bio and links, as well
as deeply discounted advertising."
Of course, if you don't like the pay, you can always refuse the job, but the time spent putting together a pitch is lost. Certainly not a "flawless" way to work.
7 comments:
I can't think of a good reason not to simply list their pay scale.
I can't either, Manuel. It seems like a natural part of business. This is what we want - this is what we'll pay. It isn't a swap meet after all.
I would worry that different contributors would be offered different rates - and there's no way of ever finding out.
I think that goes on all the time in the bigger print magazine markets, Fiona. The more experience the higher the pay. Of course, with everything switching to online maybe that doesn't happen so much anymore.
Many publications offer variable pay rates. A filler in the front of the magazine just isn't worth as much as a multi-page expose, and a short story by you or me isn't worth as much as one by Stephen King.
Once upon a time it was difficult (though not impossible) to discover what some publications paid prior to having an offer in hand. Some listed pay rates in their guidelines--and you had to send a SASE in order to receive their guidelines--and some didn't. Writer would swap information--"I just received an offer from Really Cool Publication. Is that comparable to what they paid you for your last article/story?"
So, we're getting spoiled thinking that all publications should list their rates on their websites.
At the same time, there's no reason for a publisher to be coy about pay rates. After all, the speed with which potential contributors can share information these days makes it darn near impossible to keep that information private.
If a publication does pay variable rates, it isn't difficult to include that information. "We pay on a sliding scale from a low $xx of to a high of $xx." Or: "We pay $xx for fillers and front-of-the-book material and $xx for feature articles."
I very much dislike it when pay rates aren't listed. It makes me suspicious. I also dislike it when we're asked to give our pay rates for freelance work. Mostly, these are publications I avoid.
You're right about the variable pay rates, Michael, and I understand that. It's just annoying when they won't give you an idea of what the basic pay rate might be. I like the way you phrased it and wish more editors would do that.
Yes, Jacqueline, when you have to give your own pay rates you never know if you're underselling yourself or pricing yourself out of a possible job.
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