If You Are A New Writer to Toastmasters Magazine, Do NOT Expect Pay

Toastmasters magazine accepted a story I wrote, which will be published in October. They sent me the contract stating that they were going to send me three copies of the magazine. I didn’t think anything of it because I just thought that was notification, and the topic of pay was going to come closer to publication. It did not. Check out the following e-mail conversation I had with the editorial assistant that only served to increase my disappointment.

My message to the editorial assistant:

…Does Toastmasters pay for published works? The 2011 Writer’s Market noted that “Compensation for accepted articles depends on whether our submission guidelines are followed, the amount of research involved and the article’s general value to us.”

Please let me know.  Thank you.

This is the response sent to me:

Toastmaster magazine does not typically pay writer’s we have not worked with before. If we were to work with you again, our Editor would determine the amount of payment you would (or would not) receive. If you have any other articles that you would like to submit, please email them to submissions@toastmasters.org to be reviewed by the editorial team.

My final message to the assistant editor who did not reply:

I think that should be documented in the guidelines and communicated to Writer’s Market. I was expecting payment because of the information provided in the book and Toastmasters website.

The site only says:

“Compensation and acceptance of articles is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the originality and excellence of the work submitted. The closer you follow the Writer’s Guidelines, the greater the possibility you will be published. ”  Nothing mentioned about no payment for people we have not worked with.

And Writer’s Market does not mention no pay.  They are assuming that writers are paid.

 

This message was not written with malice intent. I just wanted to inform other writers that if they are new to this magazine, they are not receiving pay.  I don’t want them to be disappointed like I was, thinking they are going to get paid for their writing talents, even though there is nothing on the site or in other publications that says otherwise.

If you had a different experience with this publication, what’s your story?