The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource

How do I ask for payment without seeming tacky? Ask Anne, the Pro Writer

by Anne Wayman on July 28th, 2008

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Hi Anne,
I sold an article to a trade magazine. They published it a couple of months ago, but I haven’t been paid yet. How do I ask for payment without seeming tacky?
cs

Hi cs,
What’s tacky about asking for what you’re owed? I’m still not at all sure why many writers seem to be embarrassed about asking for money owed them.

I’m assuming the trade magazine’s terms were pay on publication. If anything, it’s the magazine that’s being tacky by not paying you promptly. The magazine contracted with you to write an article for $xxx - they owe you plain and simple.

Here are my two favorite approaches for asking for pay owed me -

First, I invoice - in this case I probably would have sent an invoice along with the article. Since you probably didn’t do that, start with my second approach and simply call the editor. If you can’t get to the editor in person, ask whoever answers the phone for accounting.

When you get someone on the phone, be nice. Say something like “It’s been 2 months since (name of your article) was published in your (issue date.) I haven’t been paid yet and wonder what I need to do to collect.” Then just shut up and listen. You may be told to send an invoice or be transferred to someone else. If there’s silence, stay quiet until the other party says something. If you get disconnected, don’t assume they hung up, just call back.

That usually does the trick. Be sure your invoice includes both the date you sent it and the details about the article - title and date it appeared (use their title). And double check you’ve made it super clear how to send the money to you… your PayPal address or your mailing address, etc.

If that doesn’t work, re-invoice adding a late fee of 5 or 10% followed with another phone call.

Good luck,

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that’s me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, you’ll find some Q&A’s here:

http://www.thegoldenpencil.com/category/ask-anne-the-pro-writer/

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