Posted by: Old Timers on June 18, 2004 at 22:41:18

Magazines are bought for the info in articles and NOT the advertisements. To write takes experianced writers who are willing to work at writing, to travel to events, and get paid for their costs with a profit. This means without a detailed break down of $$$, if a writer goes to an 8 hr event the professional cost is about $1000 not including room, board, travel and writing cost plus profit. The total value should be a minimun of $2400 just to make a living. However, I don't see any such compensation offered by the magazines. In addition the article has value to the game promoter who some times doesn't even buy the writers food at the event...duh. The real writers with writing education and experieance are moving on to other writing forums and we the consumers are geting only $250 to $500 paid for articles when we deserve more for what we and the advertisers pay. We get what the publishers are willing to pay for articles. I suspect the publichers really don't care if they sell any magazines from the value of the articles because they have probably allready made all the $$$ they want from selling the advertisements. We need more and better articles by real writers, so "ride on" Ken and good luck !!! Now don't any of you out there who have been published a few times or who don't have 20 years of writing work experiance get bent out of shape by my term "real writers". But I bet if you got paid better it would give you a chance to survive as a writer so some day you could say you also had over 20 years of writing experiance or a "real writer".....just rambling....Chuck ( It's late, the beer got warm and my proof reader has gone to bed....so you get for what you have paid !!!) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> : It has occurred to me, that all too often, the writers get the short end of the stick. Look at any slick magazine, and it exudes money. Hell, just look at the rate cards, and see what they charge advertizers. : And after you see that, you can lean back, and wonder why the writers get what amounts to less than minimum wage. : This, to me, is unacceptable, but it won't change, because we allow the publishers to shaft us. What we need, is to unite into a single body - a paintball writers' association - and speak to the editors and publishers with one voice. : What we write, is our intellectual property, and most of us are selling it for a pittance. Well, I have news for some of these publishers: Writing is work. Good writing is hard work, and should be compensated accordingly. : Let's talk about this, both here, and face to face at the IAO. A lot of you will be there, and it will be a good place to bounce ideas off each other. : Ken "Hollywood" Gilder

Follow Ups: Re: No one would buy a magazine of just add's !!! "MAYHEMSPORTS.NET" walker , michigan 20:57:06 07/01/04 (0) Post a Followup Show your name as: DefaultRealnameBothNickname E-Mail address (eg: joeschmoe@aol.com): Show your e-mail address? DefaultYesNo Your Password: Don't have a password? CLICK HERE - Forgot your password? CLICK HERE Subject: Subject:Message: : Magazines are bought for the info in articles and NOT the advertisements. To write takes experianced writers who are willing to work at writing, to travel to events, and get paid for their costs with a profit. : This means without a detailed break down of $$$, if a writer goes to an 8 hr event the professional cost is about $1000 not including room, board, travel and writing cost plus profit. : The total value should be a minimun of $2400 just to make a living. However, I don't see any such compensation offered by the magazines. In addition the article has value to the game promoter who some times doesn't even buy the writers food at the event...duh. : The real writers with writing education and experieance are moving on to other writing forums and we the consumers are geting only $250 to $500 paid for articles when we deserve more for what we and the advertisers pay. We get what the publishers are willing to pay for articles. : I suspect the publichers really don't care if they sell any magazines from the value of the articles because they have probably allready made all the $$$ they want from selling the advertisements. : We need more and better articles by real writers, so "ride on" Ken and good luck !!! : Now don't any of you out there who have been published a few times or who don't have 20 years of writing work experiance get bent out of shape by my term "real writers". But I bet if you got paid better it would give you a chance to survive as a writer so some day you could say you also had over 20 years of writing experiance or a "real writer".....just rambling....Chuck ( It's late, the beer got warm and my proof reader has gone to bed....so you get for what you have paid !!!) : : >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> : : It has occurred to me, that all too often, the writers get the short end of the stick. Look at any slick magazine, and it exudes money. Hell, just look at the rate cards, and see what they charge advertizers. : : And after you see that, you can lean back, and wonder why the writers get what amounts to less than minimum wage. : : This, to me, is unacceptable, but it won't change, because we allow the publishers to shaft us. What we need, is to unite into a single body - a paintball writers' association - and speak to the editors and publishers with one voice. : : What we write, is our intellectual property, and most of us are selling it for a pittance. Well, I have news for some of these publishers: Writing is work. Good writing is hard work, and should be compensated accordingly. : : Let's talk about this, both here, and face to face at the IAO. A lot of you will be there, and it will be a good place to bounce ideas off each other. : : Ken "Hollywood" Gilder [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ WARPIG Rec Talk ]