Go Ahead and Negotiate

I've seen on a couple of writers' boards recently news of freelancers being successful in negotiating with magazines. In one case, it was a writer pushing a major publication to significantly change contractual terms - and being told that most writers didn't bother to even ask. In the other case, someone pushed to get an assignment up from 50 cents to 65 cents a word.

No matter where you are in your career and no matter whta the circumstances, you can always negotiate and improve a business deal. There is almost never a downside to at least asking for what you want, and often you'll get at least a significant portion. That happened with me last week when a book publisher gave in on a number of terms that were bothering me. You won't know unless you try - and the more people try, the more pressure the publishers are under to change the way they do business.

It's popular to think that writers are a dime a dozen, and often publishers seem to think that way. But the smart ones know that they need ideas, and stories, and writers who can bring all of it together. Don't ask other writers what you can and cannot negotiate - find out by pushing in a pleasant and business-like manner. The companies that are unprofessional enough to walk away if you even dare ask for changes are the ones you don't want to do business with. The others will give in at least some, and possibly more than you realize.