I was wondering if and when it's a good idea for freelancers to get in early at a new publication, or whether it's better to wait to see if they stabilize (but then possibly waste time as the freelance-written sections get snatched up.) When in doubt, I turn to my more experienced guest-blogger, Ann Logue.

Hi Annie,
I might have talked to you about this a while back but I want to do a post on it...say a freelancer knows of a high profile new magazine coming to hit the shelves, like Cookie or something like that. When is it wise to try to get in early, and when is it wise to stay back and see how they do to make sure they don't turn out to be another Radar? Do you know anybody who has advice on this? Or is it pretty much a gamble? When you're trying to freelance for a startup anyway, do most freelancers wait for the first issue to come out to check it out or head in even earlier and try to contact the offices and see if they need anything?

Claire

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Hmmm, Claire,

I'd say it's both. It's a gamble; I was offered a column at a trade magazine that started up, then folded without ever running my pieces. I got a kill fee, though. Likewise, I started pitching Budget Living right away, but it took two years to get an assignment, and then the publication changed editors. I'm interested in Plenty, but I've not heard good things about working for them.

So I guess it's like this: if you have the time and want to take a risk, it is better to get in early. If the publishing company is big, you'll get at least a kill fee and probably your whole fee, even if the publication folds, making it a good bet. If the publisher is smaller, I would be careful.

Annie