ount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's

If you want to be a writer, or any other creative professional, perhaps the last thing you want to think about is money. Unfortunately, unless you have another income to fall back on (which would probably be a smart idea, at least for the first year), you will need to consider your payment. It is not as simple as doing the job and seeing a salary in your bank account at the end of each week. You need to know where the money is coming from and when - and make sure that you are getting enough to survive.

In my writing career, I have had editors - after indicating interest in my story ideas - change their minds once they saw the actual story. They consoled me that it wasn't my fault, but so what? I did all that work, without being paid! Recently, an editor assigned me to write 2500 words for a newspaper feature, then edited it down to 2000 words. Fine, except now she wants to pay for only those 2000 words, not for the full 2500 I had written.

Many writers might just grin and bear it, but compare that to another tradesman - your electrician, for example. What if he does $2500 worth of rewiring, as agreed, but then you decide that you didn't need all of it? Does that mean that he only gets paid for the essentials? No way! (At least, it shouldn't.) He should be paid for the work assigned and done. If you decide you didn't need all that rewiring... well, too bad! You still should pay him.

Also, if he is contracted to rewire a house, and you decide that you don't want to use that house after all, does that mean that you don't need to pay him? No, you have to pay him! He put in the hours and the labour, and should be rewarded for it!

As a writer, you should be treated the same way.

Then again, there are some ways in which a writer's job differs from that of an electrician, plumber or any other tradesman. For starters, a writer's publisher - rather than the writer himself - usually decides on his payment. Most writers can't simply charge the same fee to everyone, whether a global magazine read by millions (which should expect the highest standard of writing - and pay higher fees) or a free website run by a local small business (which probably couldn't afford to pay so much - and as a result, shouldn't approach Michael Crichton to write for them). Sometimes payment is negotiable, but you should always find out the pay rate before you talk to an editor.

Most publishers will send you a contract. If they don't, make sure that you have their assignment details in writing. (Email is great for this, even if it doesn't include a signature.) As Sam Goldwyn allegedly said: "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."

If they offer to pay you a certain amount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's

t my fault, but so what? I did all that work, without being paid! Recently, an editor assigned me to write 2500 words for a newspaper feature, then edited it down to 2000 words. Fine, except now she wants to pay for only those 2000 words, not for the full 2500 I had written.

Many writers might just grin and bear it, but compare that to another tradesman - your electrician, for example. What if he does $2500 worth of rewiring, as agreed, but then you decide that you didn't need all of it? Does that mean that he only gets paid for the essentials? No way! (At least, it shouldn't.) He should be paid for the work assigned and done. If you decide you didn't need all that rewiring... well, too bad! You still should pay him.

Also, if he is contracted to rewire a house, and you decide that you don't want to use that house after all, does that mean that you don't need to pay him? No, you have to pay him! He put in the hours and the labour, and should be rewarded for it!

As a writer, you should be treated the same way.

Then again, there are some ways in which a writer's job differs from that of an electrician, plumber or any other tradesman. For starters, a writer's publisher - rather than the writer himself - usually decides on his payment. Most writers can't simply charge the same fee to everyone, whether a global magazine read by millions (which should expect the highest standard of writing - and pay higher fees) or a free website run by a local small business (which probably couldn't afford to pay so much - and as a result, shouldn't approach Michael Crichton to write for them). Sometimes payment is negotiable, but you should always find out the pay rate before you talk to an editor.

Most publishers will send you a contract. If they don't, make sure that you have their assignment details in writing. (Email is great for this, even if it doesn't include a signature.) As Sam Goldwyn allegedly said: "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."

If they offer to pay you a certain amount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's

ing... well, too bad! You still should pay him.

Also, if he is contracted to rewire a house, and you decide that you don't want to use that house after all, does that mean that you don't need to pay him? No, you have to pay him! He put in the hours and the labour, and should be rewarded for it!

As a writer, you should be treated the same way.

Then again, there are some ways in which a writer's job differs from that of an electrician, plumber or any other tradesman. For starters, a writer's publisher - rather than the writer himself - usually decides on his payment. Most writers can't simply charge the same fee to everyone, whether a global magazine read by millions (which should expect the highest standard of writing - and pay higher fees) or a free website run by a local small business (which probably couldn't afford to pay so much - and as a result, shouldn't approach Michael Crichton to write for them). Sometimes payment is negotiable, but you should always find out the pay rate before you talk to an editor.

Most publishers will send you a contract. If they don't, make sure that you have their assignment details in writing. (Email is great for this, even if it doesn't include a signature.) As Sam Goldwyn allegedly said: "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."

If they offer to pay you a certain amount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's

illions (which should expect the highest standard of writing - and pay higher fees) or a free website run by a local small business (which probably couldn't afford to pay so much - and as a result, shouldn't approach Michael Crichton to write for them). Sometimes payment is negotiable, but you should always find out the pay rate before you talk to an editor.

Most publishers will send you a contract. If they don't, make sure that you have their assignment details in writing. (Email is great for this, even if it doesn't include a signature.) As Sam Goldwyn allegedly said: "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."

If they offer to pay you a certain amount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's

ount for a certain number of words, and you send them exactly what they asked for, they should pay you what they offered. I'm not saying that this is the treatment I expect to receive; I'm saying that it's the treatment I SHOULD receive! Sadly, even when you are a struggling freelance writer and they are part of a multi-million dollar publishing company, some editors try to underpay their writers. It's not exactly a daily event, but it has happened to me enough times that I am always on my guard. I keep all the email correspondence, and send them a polite message if they try to change to a smaller amount.

Writing is a craft, an art, and something that I enjoy - but it's also my source of income. Like any tradesman, I want to be sure I have enough to make ends meet - and to do that, I should be paid what I'm worth.