If your article required a lot of traveling, phone calls, lunches or other expenses, ask publication to reimburse it. There will usually be a limit to how much a publication will pay, but it should cover your total expenditure on writing article. Send in bills, appropriately marked, and you’ll be paid. If this clause isn’t mentioned in your contract, be sure to bring it up.

Finally, you want copies of magazines. As many as you can get, actually. Most publications will give you two-three copies of magazine or publication in which your work appears. If possible, ask for more. This is especially important for international writers who can’t buy copies of magazine themselves.

Get it Right -------------- If you’re like most writers, you’re a pro at writing emails with demands no editor dare refuse, but when it comes to negotiation in person or over phone, you give in a little too soon. You know you could have got more, but you caved in before you could gather yourself to say, “I was expecting more.”

Negotiating is a whole other job in itself. (That’s why we have agents right?). But as a freelancer, an agent would do you more harm than good, so you’ll have to take up this profession as well. (You’re already a writer, marketer, promotion expert, website developer and accountant... what’s one more job?)

When an editor sends over a contract in which you can see need for negotiation, don’t hesitate to pick up phone and talk to her. It’s easier than you think. Editors expect writers to negotiate. Professionals do it all time. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise to her when a writer asks for a bigger paycheck. She’s probably even prepared for it. And this is sole reason why she’ll give in more easily than you thought. Stand your ground, and be confident. If you believe you deserve to be paid more for your words, she will too.

So, let’s imagine you’ve got an acceptance letter (or phone call) from editor. Yippee! Do victory dance, run around and tell everyone you know and then come back to planet Earth for a reality check.

Before talking to editor, you should have a fair idea of what you’re expecting from publication. Don’t keep your demands too high. At same time, don’t keep your expectations too low either. The publication’s guidelines should give a rough idea of upper and lower limits and depending on your article length and research, you should be able to determine a rough amount.

A few pointers on actual process of negotiating:

* Don’t be first to state figure. Sometimes you just have to, but try to get editor to propose amount and you can work your way up from there. * Use phrases such as “I was expecting more” and “That sounds a little low” or even “I was thinking more in range of ...” * Don’t argue with editor. After all, you do want assignment. Reach a figure that you’re both comfortable with. * If editor doesn’t budge on money front, ask for a better rights agreement or a bigger byline. Payment on acceptance is always a big plus. * Finally, never be unprofessional. If you don’t like terms of agreement and decide not to write for publication after all, be polite. Demeaning editor or publication will get you nowhere but in black list.

Get it in Writing ------------------- Nothing is final (or legal) until you get it on paper. If your old contract didn’t state terms correctly, ask for a new one. Check and recheck terms and only then sign contract.

Writers are often deprived of their hard-earned money simply because they were too nervous to ask. Looking back, I see many times when I knew I could have asked for more, but didn’t. And there are many other writers who don’t either, because they don’t want to risk a relationship with an editor before it’s even begun. Whether you’re a novice, or a seasoned pro, truth is – you won’t get something unless you ask for it. So next time, give it a try and you might end up making more than you thought.

* This article previously appeared on www.WritersCrossing.com

Publishing!

If you are not trying to reach mass publishing marketplace, but want mostly to have a printed collection of your poetry to offer to a more limited audience, consider having a small collection of your poetry printed in Chapbook form. Chapbooks are great to sell after poetry readings because you can usually price them very reasonably, and great as gifts, introductions to you as a poet in other literary circumstances, and just overall rewarding to your literary pursuits.

If you want to publish a book of poetry you should try to have a collection of 70 or more. For a book to find its way onto bookstore shelf it will need to be perfect bound, have a thick enough spine that all of its title, author and publisher infomation is visible on it, and back must have ISBN information and pricing. My first book of poetry, You Beckon, is 88 pages and meets all of that criteria.www.barnesandnobel.com

There is a wonderful free publication entitled Publishing Basics: A Guide for Small Press and Independent Self-Publisher by Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr. It is available from RJ Communications and can be requested online from http://www.BooksJustBooks.com. It will take you step-by-step through everything you'll need to know to get your book from your head to shelf!

It can be done! I did it following information outlined above. I chose to publish a book rather than a chapbook. My book, You Beckon, has received numerous honors including Best Poetry Book for 2003 from Mahogany Book Club (Albany, New York)and spent over six months (in 2004) as most requested result under Poetry Inspirational on Amazon.com. It has not been easy and truthfully, it has not been exceptionally profitable, but it has been personally rewarding. You can do it too. Start now!

I hope this has been helpful and encouraging!

Peggy Eldridge-Love Author http://www.peggyeldridgelove.com