I agreed to do a 2-part article that was quite a bit more involved than work I've done for this magazine before. The first part was published last month. My deadline for the 2-part is day after tomorrow.

When my editor offered the assignment to me, she sold it several ways. First she said no one else wanted to do it because it was so in-depth. Second, she said they didn't have a lot of people they could trust to do a good job with it. (This was calculated flattery, I realize.) And third, she told me that it would be for "serious money," that I'd get a flat rate of $500 per article rather than the per-word rate I'd been receiving.

I didn't actually agree to it at first because I had a lot of other committments. I told her I'd get back to her. But several days later she called me and we had a conversation that made it clear she thought I had accepted the job. I need the money, so I just rolled with it.

So, I get the paycheck for the first article today, and they paid me per word, not the $500 she mentioned.

I called her and told her, and she said, "Five hundred per article? No, we agreed on $500 for the both. You got more than you should have."

My response, "You meant $250 per article? That's way less than I usually get."

"I know," she said.

So, we obviously had a misunderstanding. I don't think she was or is intentionally trying to mislead me. I also realize I should have gotten it in writing. (But since I never actually agreed to do the work in the first place, I didn't think about it.)

So how do I approach this? Obviously I can hold the second article hostage since it's not due for another two days, but that's not really me. Do I have to suck it up bear the brunt of the misunderstanding, even though it was kind of mutual?

We're talking about a loss of $175. If it were $20, I wouldn't quibble over it.

Holding the second part hostage is a bad idea, I think, if you want to keep writing for her. But the whole thing stinks. It sounds like she railroaded you into it (without you objecting) and is now (trying) walking all over you.

You mentioned you got less for this article than your did for your others - is the per word rate for this article a lot more? (she said it was "serious money", so it implies that it is, right?)

Even if it was a genuine misunderstanding, there's no reason why you should bear the brunt. Ask her to meet you halfway, at the very least.

And get everything in writing next time :-D

I got about the same amount for this one that I have for the others, flopsy. But what SHE was saying is that she offered me quite a bit less than I'd been getting (which apparently was "serious money") and I agreed.

Which brings the obvious question: WHY THE FUCK WOULD I AGREE TO DO TWICE THE WORK -- WHICH NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO DO -- FOR LESS MONEY THAN I'D BEEN GETTING?

Doesn't that in itself prove that the misunderstanding wasn't really my fault?

And yes, I'll get it in writing next time.

I'm sorry, muppster, but it sounds like you're just going to have to suck it up and take the per-word rate this time, as a lesson to yourself. I mean, I don't know anything about the business, but I do know that Judge Judy says to always get it in writing.

You should still try and reason with her, but I wouldn't want to get fired over it.

I don't know how much leverage you have, but maybe sending a note along the lines of: "When we discussed this article, you specifically mentioned that a major reason I should accept this assignment was that I would be paid substantially for it. Given my initial objections, I don't understand why you think I would have accepted the article at the rate you're saying I agreed to. I'm not sure where the misunderstanding arose, but I would hate for it to affect our future working relationship. How can we come to a compromise so that I can be fairly compensated for the remaining work?"

Given what you've said, I'm not even sure that it's a misunderstanding on your part. But bridges and all that, so I'd go with what occhiblu said.

As a writer, sticking up for yourself to a managing editor is never bad strategy. To them, it's a battle, to you, a war.

Hey! I used to be a managing editor... and even our "difficult" writers loved me. That position is like any other; some people suck at it, some people excel at the expense of others... and some really care about what they do and work all the angles to do their very best by the writers (I also used to be a writer), artists, and photographers while still meeting their budgets.

Anyway, I'm thinking about your question, pupps, and will answer later (my tomorrow morning) since tonight I've had the WINE.

"Hey! I used to be a managing editor..."

taz, you seem a person to whom a writer raising a fair point on an assignment you'd given them would get a fair hearing, and a reasoned response, and maybe a chance of money throught promised them. You're capable of ceding battles to win wars, and that, in my experience, isn't all that common, as common sense in periodical publishing.

So, append "present company excepted" as appropriate to my original commment, mudpuppie.

Do you want to write for this editor again? If so, suck it up and take what she offers. If not, I would email her right now. Express your dissatisfaction, point out again that she promised "serious money," and make no mention of the second article due in two days. (She'll think of it, and worry, but you haven't threatened anything.)

An in-between course is to include a note about your dissatisfaction when you send the second article. You have no leverage at that point, but it might appeal to the better angels of her nature.

That's kind of where I am now, LarryC. I called her when I got the check, which is when I found out what she thought she'd told me. I didn't threaten anything. But you're right, I'm hoping they're wondering if I'm going to come through.

I don't have any advice, but I'll just say: grrrrr!

sorry mudpuppie. in the end, we are all so powerless.. :( *hugs* to you anwyay.