Part of every day, I scan newsletters, reference sites, suggestions, and requests to post markets, contests, grants, and freelance gigs in FundsforWriters. One would think that the title FUNDS FOR WRITERS would ring a bell to most, but amazingly, some do not grasp the concept that we ONLY consider opportunities that pay.

In my humble opinion, or not-so-humble opinion for that matter, publications that ask that you submit and not expect payment, are engaging in thievery.

They can call it a generous donation. They can promise you notoriety. They can profess to be fledgling, independent, nonprofit, or all-volunteer, but to ask you to spend hours penning a piece and send it to them for free . . . and them make even one dime on the results . . . is theft.

One journal had this posted on their submissions guidelines:

“(SAID PUBLICATION) is independent and non-profit-making, thus we do not make monetary payment to contributors.” And they went on to say, “If you are so kind to make a donation to (SAID PUBLICATION), please mention it in your submission that you have done so. We will then give you a more speedy (usually within a week) and personal reply.”

Can you spot “reading fee” between the lines? They promise not to favor those who give and those you do not, but are we really sure about that?

Yet another journal stated, “While monetary payment is not available at this time, if your work is accepted for publication, you will receive a complimentary copy of the issue, as well as a discount on the purchase of additional copies.” Also, pertaining to rights, “We do ask that you not publish any accepted pieces before they appear in (OUR PUBLICATION), and that if your work is published elsewhere in the future, you kindly credit (OUR PUBLICATION) as its initial publication.”

In other words, they take your work, use it as they wish, charge you for copies of your own work, and tell you how to publish it elsewhere. That’s rather bold and daring. And no, I do not see that as very altruistic in nature on their part. They are making money on your donated work.

To start a business, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, publications are required to be run like a business, and one has to have a business plan. One has to manage finances. One has to operate in the black or eventually go belly-up or crash and burn, depending on how dramatically they choose to fail.

The money management should not start by not paying the suppliers of a product. Your words are the supply to their publication, their product. If they choose not to have advertising, if they choose not to borrow money, if they choose not to find investors, if they choose not to manage their product so it sells in the black, then you can just as easily choose to avoid submissions to those types of entities.

Not all journals, blogs, or magazines refuse to pay, but these nonpaying entities function on the premise that you do not think your words are worth compensation. Do not downplay your words or your worth. You are the absolute best cheerleader you have in your court. If you do not think highly of your effort, nobody else will either.