Does it seem as though there are more and more magazines coming on the scene that don\u2019t pay freelancers? And many of us are supporting this practice. Are you noticing that older magazines are using fewer submissions\u2014relying more on staff?<\/p>\n
As some of you know, I supported myself from what I earned writing articles for magazines for many years. I still sell an occasional article. But I choose not to write for mainstream magazines that sell advertising and subscriptions and do not pay their contributors. And most professional freelance writers follow suit.<\/p>\n
Yes, I give a lot of my articles away, but I do so in order to support newsletters and enewsletters which are circulated free to authors and writers. These articles also serve to promote my books and services through exposure.<\/p>\n
Some writers, though, just want to get published so they give their work away for the privilege. Others provide freebies as a way to get their foot in the door. Many new magazine publishers promise to start paying contributors once they get more established. That is doubtful. If they can get quality contributions free, why start paying for material? I haven\u2019t heard of a writer who, after working for free for a few years, was suddenly offered meaningful payment for their work. Have you?<\/p>\n
Why do people start up magazines? I think that most magazines develop from a hobby or a passion rather than business sense. Someone loves potbelly pigs, woodworking or fashion, so they launch a magazine featuring that topic. An entrepreneur might create a magazine to fill a niche in their community\u2014senior health resources, parenting tips or a local entertainment\/shopping guide, for example. Numbers of such magazines came into being just this year. And, I would say, that most were not set up to accommodate working freelance writers. Most were started without a budget for writers, yet some of them actually welcome and encourage submissions. They say, \u201cWe can\u2019t pay for submissions, yet. But hang in there with us and we may be able to do so at a later time.\u201d And what are they going to pay you \u201clater?\u201d A penny a word? <\/p>\n
Most magazines go out of business before they ever get to the point where they can pay freelance writers\u2014especially in this economy and especially with so many people relying on the internet for their entertainment. <\/p>\n
Despite this dismal report, there are still many magazines out there that do pay good money for good material. And I echo other professionals who say that if more freelance writers would reject non-paying markets, up their game and approach paying magazines with a professional persona and really good material, they would be doing themselves and all other freelancers a big favor.<\/p>\n
If you want to write for free, share it with your church bulletin editor, launch your own newsletter, start a blog, write letters to servicemen, write on important topics to your congressman, submit letters-to-the-editors, write letters to friends, keep a journal, write books and give them away\u2026 There are many ways to express yourself through your writing and even to be read. If you want to establish yourself as a freelance writer, do it with grace and gumption. Learn to write well. Learn how to enter into the competitive freelance writing field. <\/p>\n
If your writing needs work, join a writers\u2019 critique group and listen to what others tell you.<\/p>\n
If you need help establishing a freelance writing business, sign up for my online, on-demand article-writing course. The course runs for 6-weeks and it is $125. With the material offered in this course and my one-on-one guidance, you should at least double this amount with your first writing assignment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Does it seem as though there are more and more magazines coming on the scene that don\u2019t pay freelancers? And many of us are supporting this practice. Are you noticing that older magazines are using fewer submissions\u2014relying more on staff? As some of you know, I supported myself from what I earned writing articles for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n