Money, money, money! For the love of money! Not only is this the theme song from Donald Trumps’ reality show The Apprentice, but it’s a hot topic in homes across the globe. Unfortunately, it’s why some marriages break up. But, that’s a topic covered on another blog. This is a travel writing website where you, the travel writer, can discover the ins and outs of travel writing along with your true earning potential.
Most travel writers have an “income cap.” They unknowingly limit themselves as to how much they can earn. It’s almost as if they are sleepwalking through their life. If you ask them to imagine selling travel article for $100, they probably would be comfortable with that. Ask them to sell an article for $500, and they will probably give you “the deer in the headlights look!” They are too afraid to “roll the dice,” and ask for what they want.
The following is from Sue Fagalde Lick’s Freelancing for Newspapers blog: “Can you get $1 a word from a newspaper?” The answer: “Not often, but it can happen. Meanwhile, I did some research in Writers Market online to see what papers are paying. Among the ones who are willing to disclose their rates, the pay varies tremendously. For community weeklies, rates seems to range from $25 to $75 per article. But you can get 25 cents a word at Community College Week and $50 to $500 at Metro, an alternative weekly published in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California. The San Francisco Chronicle, which takes freelance opinion and travel pieces, pays up to $500.”
Freelance Writing Gigs list many opportunities for writers. In fact, some organizations will state that they are looking for serious writers who have no problem providing their rates. I know this to be true. I applied for a blogging opportunity, and I had to submit my rates. The organization was willing to pay for good writing but found that many writers will not ask for what they want. This sends a message to an organization that you 1) do not believe in your writing and 2) are not a good writer.
If you are unsure as to what to ask for, sign up for the FREE newsletter at WritersMarket.com. It is an excellent source for information. In fact, take a look at How Much Should I Charge? which is from WritersMarket.com. It’s a great resource for discovering your true earning potential.
In conclusion, whether you are writing for a newspaper or magazine, ask for what you want. You may be surprised at the answer you receive! Believe in your writing and others will believe in you.
Rebecca
