Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--like being paid

[realtraveller]

I subscribe to Writer's Weekly as some others here do. There was an ad for stories to be submitted for a compilation of short stories to the publisher of the "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff And It's All Small Stuff Books". I got on the website and read about submissions. No mention was made of how much they would pay for the stories. So I sent a nice e-mail.

"Dear Sirs, Your website failed to mention the compensation structure for the stories you are seeking. Would this be something to be negotiated on acceptance?

Sincerely, Me

They wrote back.

"I think the plan is to not pay for the stories. Have a nice day."
The editors

Now how many millions of the Don't Sweat books have been sold? And how many of these short story books under the Don't Sweat label are likely to sell. And they can't pay the writers. Frankly, I surprised that Writer's Weekly which has been so vocal about non-paying publishers would run this ad.

If you want to check it out. The website is dontsweat.com

[hadassahchana[$]]

"I think the plan is to not pay for the stories. Have a nice day."

ROFL! Oh wow, I can't believe that! Well, they sound like very calm, self-actualized people, don't they?


Cindy

[realtraveller]

Since the ad for these stories appeared in Writer's Weekly, I contacted its publisher Angela Adair-Hoy. She contacted her contact with the "Don't Sweat" people, who told Angela that the stories would pay $50. With one employee saying one thing and another employee saying another, it sounds like the "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" organization, doesn't sweat any small stuff like making sure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing.

[pisces]

If they don't know what they are doing, then clearly anything's possible, so then you set your own rates, either based on market surveys or just what you think you want. I'm serious. That's how I would have came at them from the beginning.

I would have said, "Hello, I saw your Ad. I'm interested. Here's what I can offer you, and here's what my standard rate is."

If they turn you down, at that point, you can send them some of your best work with high ratings and/or recommendations as samples to show them why you think you are worth what you are asking to be paid.

Tell them exactly what you want and why you are good enough to command exactly what you are asking for. At that point, they might be willing to negotiate downward, or the worst they can say is no, and you're no worse off.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

Originally posted by pisces

so then you set your own rates, either based on market surveys or just what you think you want.

Does anyone have any experience doing this? Does it actually work?

My impression was that when publishers are dealing with large numbers of contributors, all of whom are submitting the same type of thing, then the publisher sets standard rates for everyone and those rates are non-negotiable.

I had thought that, expect for when you're writing complete books, the only time you can negotiate rates is when you're not just one person in a large pack of people all doing the same thing -- that is, if you're proposing an entirely new feature for a magazine or if you're bringing something unique to the table (some special expertise or the kind of name-recognition that would help sell magazines or anthologies) or if you're writing for ad agencies or businesses rather than mass-market publications.

Am I wrong on this? I mean, I don't know for sure -- that's just my impression -- but I would be interested in finding out.