I sold an article to a company that, according to their listing in Writer’s Market pays $800 to $1,200 for articles and columns. They are publishing my article and have not asked me to sign any contract nor have they discussed money. The magazine went to print last week and will be hitting the streets within a week or so. If I do not receive a check from them after it hits the street, I plan to have my attorney write a letter to them. In your experience, is that the best course of action?

Thank you for your time.

This publisher may have assumed you “donated” the article because you haven’t asked for money yet. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t owe you money!

You need to immediately write to the editor and tell them you are still waiting for your contract. That will tell them you absolutely ARE expecting payment.

Don’t assume they’re going to offer you what is listed in Writer’s Market. They can claim that information is old. In fact, is usually is old. Writers Digest Books starts collecting that information months before the actual book is published.