Re: GWL: Pay for garden colums

**"* <d*@comcast.net>**

Judy,

My editor was a dream to work with. Her boss, the publisher, stiffed me,

her, and the photographer out of big bucks, that slime-ball, not even paying

expenses for the photographer, let alone per-column pay. We all had

accolades.

d

----- Original Message -----

From: "Judy Lowe" <hardbackwryter@yahoo.com>

To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 7:07 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] GWL: Pay for garden colums

I sure hope that those of you who haven't had a raise for your columns in a

long time have asked for one! It's true that newspapers are cutting back

and there's not much money there. But you should -- about once a year --

make a case for a slight raise. Tell them how many calls and letters who

receive monthly. Quote the praise. Mention the awards. Tell how you also

speak to their audience through local groups -- which publicizes them

without any cost on their part. And tell them how long you've been working

for the same pay.

It won't always work -- maybe not most of the time these days, but it does

some and when you do it regularly, they begin to value you more. I know

I've always gone to bat for better pay for regular contributors. (The

problem I found was that it was usually the marginal writers who wanted

more money; you don't have that problem with a regular columnist.

It pays to know and stay connected with your editor and his/her staff,

too. They can really be allies. And when you have a subject that calls for

longer coverage, see if they'll let you break out of the garden column

ghetto and write a feature on the subject. (That's assuming you've studied

their features and know what they want in one.)

Nowadays more than ever, freelance writers have to market themselves to

their current markets.

Judy

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