Does Spending Money Matter to a Writer?

 

There is a great deal more to writing than putting words together in a way that makes editors want to publishe your creative offerings. One that matters a great deal to writers is money. Money coming in and money going out. 

Should you submit to no-pay publications? Like a coin, there are two sides to this question. Some writers never submit work to a non-paying publication. They are adamant about feeling that they should be paid for their work, not give it away. If you are on this side, you do limit the markets for your stories, essays, and poems. The opposite side of the coin is to submit to markets that do not pay. If you do, you are not going to be able to exist on your writing income. But, you are also widening your market possibilities, and being published is worth a great deal when you send a cover letter to another publication. You can list the places where you were published, but you need not say that you didn't get paid. 

Should you pay a reading fee when you submit your work? This is another question that has opposite sides. Many writers feel they should not ever have to pay someone to read their work. Sure, it might only be $3 or $4, but over a year's time, it adds up. I recently watched a presentation by a woman who has published many times in literary journals. She stated that she never submits to a publication that charges a reading fee. She suggested that you pay attention to the percentage of submissions the publication actually accepts. When it is 5% or less, you're pretty much throwing your money away. There are also writers who are so eager to be published that they will readily pay a reading fee. 

What about paying fees to enter a contest? A large number of contests charge a fee to submit. They range from a very small amount to large ones. Some writers wonder why in the world they should pay someone to enter their contest. Others have no qualms about doing so. One thing to consider is that a good deal of contest prize money is acquiredn through the contest entry fees. The bigger the fee, the bigger the prizes. That is usually the case. There are, of course, many contests that charge no entry fee, but they usually only award very small amounts for prizes. Are you willing to pay $25 to compete against thousands of other writers? If you don't enter, you can't win. Right? But perhaps it is wise to put a limit on the amount you spend on contest entry fees.

What about paying a Vanity Publisher? A Vanity Publisher will publish your book, but you will pay all the costs involved. There are different packages that an author can choose from. It's obvious that authors would like to have a publishing house pick up their submitted manuscript, publish it, and pay the author. When traditional publishing doesn't work out, or an author is not able to go the self-publishing route (which also can take the author's money), then the next option is Vanity Publishing.  You might have the satisfaction of having a book published, but you won't be rolling in bushels of money. Instead, you'll be putting out quite a bit and would need to have a great marketing plan to get that money back in sales. Oh wait, that Vanity Publisher has a marketing package they will be happy to sell you. 

How much should you spend annually on reading fees and entry fees? That is entirely up to the writer. If you're willing to pay reading fees and contest entry fees, be sure to keep a running tab on what you've paid. Total it each year, then compare it to the money earned from publications. Was it worth paying those fees? Or did you end up in the red? The answer will be different for each indivdual. 

Yes, there's a lot more involved in this writing world than the actual business of writing. Every writer will have to give thought to the questions posed here today. Once again, it's up to you.