Freelance Roulette

I am new to freelance writing for income, it’s just been three years.  I like to freelance because it gives me an opportunity to research and write about the “real world” things that matter to me like; farm to fork issues, organic gardening and other green topics.

I talked with a friend who is a retired Journalism professor and he advised me to send out a ton of queries and develop a portfolio of “clips” that I could use to build credibility and some authority in my area of interest. He told me that initially don’t expect to be paid but with each publication I had reference material for the next query.

After a year I decided it was time to get paid for my research, time and writing.  I targeted regional publications because I thought it more likely to get published versus a national publication at this stage of my freelance career.  I received a phone call from the owner of a regional publication after sending a query about a friend who raises heritage Belted Galloway cattle.  The article and five pictures were accepted and published in the February 2011 issue.  I received a copy of the publication but no check.

I sent several e-mails but never received a check.  Later that year I received an e-mail asking for submissions to the same publication.  I sent an inquiry.  Again, my inquiry was accepted.  I responded that I would submit an article only if paid for the first article.  The owner assured me that I would receive payment for both articles.  My second article was published in Jan-Feb 2012 issue.  Guess what?  No payment.

In mid-December 2012 I received another e-mail asking for submissions.  Again, I responded I would be happy to submit if I received payment for my previous TWO articles.  Then I was asked to submit an invoice.  No problem, invoice submitted.  I waited.  A month went by – no check.  Two months went by- no check.  Finally on March 6th I received an e-mail that a check would be sent soon plus copies of the publication my articles appeared in.  I waited. 



The check arrived on March 11th and I cashed it the next day – you can’t be too careful.  My experience is getting paid for freelance work is a roulette wheel.