I’ve always liked magazines.
One of my first memories of childhood is of being allowed to accompany my Dad to the local newsagents to buy my copy of Twinkle.
As I got older I graduated to Bunty and Mandy, then to Jackie, then Smash Hits and on to the fashion, interiors and crafts magazines of more recent times.
For most of my life there has, to me, been no higher pinnacle of achievement than to appear in, or better still on the cover of, a magazine.
So you can perhaps imagine how exciting and flattering it is to be contacted by magazines seeking to write about you, or use your photographs or other content, as has happened to me recently.
However, contrary to expectations, it has not all been glamour, fame and flattery.
I know that times are hard in the real world of magazine publishing. And that blogs and free online content have robbed print magazines of a large slice of their market.
But frankly, the way they seem to treat people, I’m not surprised.
Most magazines don’t seem to want to pay to obtain their content. And it’s not just little bitty bloggers like me – Holly Becker of Decor8 has written candidly about this.
Even when they do offer payment, they don’t seem to be very quick at settling invoices.
Or they big you up, but then it turns out they don’t need you after all. Which would be fine if they actually told you this, when you’ve spent time taking and editing pictures to send to them. Is a short, polite email too much to ask?
And making it into print isn’t necessarily the big break you think it will be. Especially when your details don’t get printed correctly.
Some magazines can’t even get your name right when they make contact asking you to provide them with photos for their publication. For free, of course.
So far, I have to say, I have had more fun reading magazines than contributing to them.
But such is life. Things often don’t turn out quite as you expect, or hope. Especially when you build them up in your mind.
I will stop moaning now and put the kettle on.
Time to put my feet up – and flick through a magazine, perhaps? ♥
That’s so helpful – thank you. I’m just starting out really into this big wide world of magazines etc and it’s so refreshing to hear someone valuing their work like you do. The Decor8 article is fab too. It’s an issue with being a creative person in general too. I am learning to limit the “free” work I do now to the things that I really can do and want to do. At the end of the day, I’m discovering it’s my responsibility to say no because people will always ask and assume. Love this that someone posted in the comments over on Decor8. I think I might hand it above my work desk. http://blog.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/wp-content/should-i-work-for-free.jpg
Thanks for the blog – I’m loving my daily dose of Modflowers. xx
I think you’re right about sticking that flow chart up above the work desk! And thank you for the lovely, positive comment Naomi. Glad you like the blog. x
My rule is, never work for nothing for a profit-making business. That includes pretty much all commercial magazines. If they can’t pay you–in other words, if they are expecting you to subsidise them in return for some vague promise of “exposure”—they deserve to go out of business asap, and good riddance to them. 😀