Get Paid More for Writing

by Abby M.
(Coquitlam, BC)

I've been writing travel articles for newspapers and small magazines, and I'd like to get paid more for writing these articles. I don't want to lose the contacts I have, so I haven't tried to negotiate, but would it be okay to do that? Can I ask to be paid more for my writing, or do I have to wait for them to offer?

ANSWER:

The editors I've worked with have all had some flexibility in their budget, and paid more for writing as I gained more experience.

So by all means ask, but politely and with the understanding that the budget may not allow the increase.

I might ask something like, "Is $250 the ceiling for this article, or is there room in the budget to increase that a little? It will take me the better part of a week to research and write it."