Struggling Authors

Hello

I am a newbie here, I was quite surprised and pleased that I have already got reminders to post something, as I have been a bit slow in posting.

I am not a journalist, but hoping that I can eventually make a living from writing magazine articles. I have had 3 articles published [unpaid] so far, a fourth and fifth are in the pipeline. I am trying to work out what the usual rate of pay is, but owing to vague editors, I think I'll have to decide for myself and tell them

Hope to meet some like minded people and obtain some useful information here

Hello Miranda, nice to meet you (as it were...). Sorry I only sent out your welcome email today, I've been a bit swamped recently!

Good luck with your freelance work. I definitely suggest looking at the NUJ website for advice and to join the union. I trained as a journalist and although I haven't actually DONE anything with my training if you need any advice I'll try and see what I can remember lol.

Thanks I didn't realise the NUJ was a union [duh!], don't you have to be trained and qualified to join it?

Nope . You have to provide evidence of work you've done, but if you're working in the industry then you're entitled to join

Edit: Should probably just add that you do have to pay to be a member so it depends how much you're going to be earning. I just checked how much you'd be paying and it's £15.75 so if you're only submitting one article a month for £20 then it's probably not worth it lol. If you're going to be getting more published though it's definitely worth joining just for the protection it offers you. Also, once you have an NUJ card if you see police at an accident whatever and flash you're card at them they're supposed to tell you what's going on lol.

Thanks, I shall look into the NUJ. Funny about the police having to tell you whats happening!

Hi Miranda, nice to meetcha.
Good luck with your planned career, aren't you lucky to have met Sammi then, eh? LOL.