Advice on a business question

V

Victor

Senior Member
Location
midwest USA
I published 2 freelance articles for a popular national magazine
. The editor said she would pay me next year some time.
Meanwhile she said she would send me a free subscription.
But two months later she still hasn't done it and when I wrote her twice
she apologized and said she would start it, but I still have no word.
. I told her I will send in my next article when she
does this.
Is Something peculiar going on here? She values my articles
but does not follow through. I question whether I will get a check.
Am I too skeptical, and should I send her the articles anyway. I really
enjoy writing them and like the magazine.

thanks.
 

If you enjoy writing, seeing your name in print, etc... then stick with it.

If you are doing it mainly for compensation then I would cut my losses and move on.

Good luck!
 
I'm with Aunt Bea. If the pleasure you derive is greater than the time and effort spent in the doing, continue contributing but expect no compensation. If your writing has universal appeal, maybe contribute to other publications as well.
 

No written contract, no articles! I've written for tree companies, before. ALWAYS have a written contract, when compensation is involved.
 
I agree w/treeguy64. If there was an agreement to pay you, then send that editor a polite, firm reminder letter via certified return request. I would not do any further business with them - she's a flake.
 
I agree with the others Victor, but only you can decide if seeing your work in print is enough reward that you are prepared to be treated so shabbily, ‘The editor said she would pay me next year some time’, seems very vague and unprofessional to me

If your work is good enough to be published by a popular national magazine there may be better options open to you, good luck

 
I thought you would say that.
She says she is sorry to have slighted me
but she has not followed through on some things
like sending me a link to the site and I have to remind her
to post the article. She did send me a few issues.
I was suspicious when she told me she had no money in September
to pay me and hired me without seeing any of my work.
Do editors do that? She is new at her job, does that matter?
I have already written another article (very time consuming) but not sent it.
Maybe she treats the other writers the same way?
 
Victor,

Your comments make me feel like this is the setup for some type of scam or vanity publication.

I wouldn't be surprised if she offers to let you invest in her magazine or perhaps ask you to loan the magazine some money to ensure that your articles are included in the next issue. Maybe she will ask you to give her your bank account number so she can deposit your money directly into your account.

It also could be that she is just a lousy business person.

I would move on immediately.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Victor said:
I thought you would say that.
She says she is sorry to have slighted me
but she has not followed through on some things
like sending me a link to the site and I have to remind her
to post the article. She did send me a few issues.
I was suspicious when she told me she had no money in September
to pay me and hired me without seeing any of my work.
Do editors do that? She is new at her job, does that matter?
I have already written another article (very time consuming) but not sent it.
Maybe she treats the other writers the same way?
Click to expand...
 
Victor said:
I thought you would say that.
She says she is sorry to have slighted me
but she has not followed through on some things
like sending me a link to the site and I have to remind her
to post the article. She did send me a few issues.
I was suspicious when she told me she had no money in September
to pay me and hired me without seeing any of my work.
Do editors do that? She is new at her job, does that matter?
I have already written another article (very time consuming) but not sent it.
Maybe she treats the other writers the same way?
Click to expand...

No, editors don't do that. Popular national magazine? Really?

You should insist on being paid and move on.
 
Sounds very unprofessional and very dubious. Or worse. I agree with all the other people advising you to have nothing further to do with her.
 
I would have moved on before now.

All the advice from others above is sensible
and valid.

You are not dealing with a professional here
and the magazine cannot be very good if she
can't afford to keep her word, get a contract
or get out, there are thousands of magazines
who would like some different articles.

Mike.
 

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