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Topic: Pitched magazine, got the website
| Author | Message |
| ISR | Posted – 6/25/2007 5:12:33 PM | show profile I pitched a story idea to a magazine and was contacted by an editor there who wanted the piece for their website instead, paying way less than the $1/word the magazine offers. I'm interested in placing this story, and also in writing for the magazine. Will it help me to take this first piece for little cash and publish it on their website? I'd like future work for the magazine, not the website... |
| candylilacs | Posted – 6/25/2007 8:21:53 PM | show profile I don't know, sometimes pubs use their online presence as a separate entity. I did the same thing, pitched the mag and got the Web site (which paid about half.) I mean a lot of people pitch some online places on purpose, like the Wall Street Journal and a few other trades because supposedly they are more open to freelancers. As long as they pay decently, why not? Just check you rights, though, they usually want to keep the story up indefinitely which might hurt future sales. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| JimmyG | Posted – 6/26/2007 11:56:05 AM | show profile They'll probably also want the rights to syndicate the story to other web sites, which seems to be the Internet business model of the month these days. On the other hand, it is a foot in the door, and might prove to be a steadier client in the long run. |
| oc_drea | Posted – 6/26/2007 12:09:46 PM | show profile We've begun using pitches from new writers on our website as sort of a test run, then determine if we'd like to use them for print. We don't do this for all new writers, but some. |
| girlEmedia | Posted – 6/26/2007 12:39:53 PM | show profile the good news is that your article would be WAY shorter. If you've already done your research, this could make up for the lower pay. Ae they offering to pay you per word? |
| ISR | Posted – 6/26/2007 1:03:46 PM | show profile $200 for 700 words, and I just asked for more, but they said they do pay more for writers they've worked with before (and usually pay $150 for a 600-w piece online, but they like my idea), and that they'd increase the fee as they work with me. I think I might do it because I really want this story published...? |
| girlEmedia | Posted – 6/26/2007 2:51:39 PM | show profile At least they are willing to pay more once you've proven yourself. Good Luck! |
| ISR | Posted – 6/26/2007 10:21:46 PM | show profile Thanks everyone. I decided to turn it down. I don't want to set a precedent that it's okay to EVER pay me less than I typically earn per word, and don't want them to think I'm okay with writing for the website, which will always pay less, either. La vie. |
| JimmyG | Posted – 6/27/2007 11:50:46 AM | show profile I dunno, but if this is something you can do in a relatively short period of time, say a day or less, $200 can be a profitable assignment. Think in terms of what your time is worth and how much you will budget for the assignment, and not worry about "cheapening" yourslf by taking a lower per-word rate (a half day of your time x 10 in a working week x 52 weeks = an annualized rate of $104,000). You might do less work on the topic than you might if you were writing a 1,500-word version for a national magazine (not everythign yu do has to be Pulitzer-quality), and there's nothing stopping you from recycling your efforts into other assignments elsewhere. |
