❄Mikki Kendall ❄Verified account

"I'll take an article today and pay you next year" isn't a business model that lends itself to quality content though.

And literally I can say this because I don't plan to keep doing articles. But I know a lot of writers who can't burn that bridge.

I'm aggressive & email often & I am still owed money from half a dozen pubs from Salon to Ebony that add up to about $2000 across the years

And I'm doing pretty well to be honest. I'm averaging one or two unpaid pieces a year. Some folks have one or two a month.

Ebony didn't pay me for two pieces. Salon for one. Essence still owes me for a piece from years ago though I got paid last time. It adds up

And people wonder why some writers start appearing in only certain pubs. I can tell you. Those pubs pay. On time no less.

And it isn't just a non fiction thing. I've had to get firm with a fiction publisher. I'm lucky though, I can & do write in a lot of places.

I'll make up the shortfall & I have something much bigger in the works. But...don't be shocked if I become a once a year article writer.

Because I am tired of writing content, going through edits, getting the "Oh this had such great traffic" email & then the runaround for pay.

I do usually get paid. But only a handful of places pay in that 30 to 90 day window. Some can be 6 months. Or years. Or never

And literally it is not just an Ebony problem. This is a business model for some pubs. I hear these stories often. We warn each other

There's even a Tumblr telling you which places pay. And many have been called out repeatedly for not paying. It's a mess.

Some have "If you don't invoice within X days then you lose your payment" clauses. Then they lose your invoices. Over & over again.

Others play "The check is in the mail" as long as they can. And count on your getting a lawyer being too expensive to justify filing a case.

My personal fave is the version where places just never pay or respond. Then a new editor is left to clean up the payment mess

And yes I know people will say "But you always advise pitching" You'll notice that I only suggest certain places. My personal list is short

It is also why I never knock people who use Patreon or Paypal links & finally gave in & put them up for myself. Tip jars pay better

My platform is built, I'm moving in a different direction now. But I soapboxed & named names for those who are still building.

I'll never stop suggesting freelancing for people who need to get their name out there. But it's a road to books. Not to financial stability