Trade publications = $$$

gettingby

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
2,748
Reaction score
170
Why (or maybe how) do trade publications pay so much? I wrote an essay that would be perfect for a trade publication, and, yes, they do take personal essays. I was kind of worried that this wouldn't really be a literary credit, but when I looked at how much they pay I was quite pleasantly surprised. The publication pays 75 cents a word for up to 3,000 words. I have to cut my piece down a little because right now it is 4,000 words or email the editor to see if they would consider a longer piece. But they pay a lot more than I would have thought.

I have done some pieces for other trade publications, and the pay has always been good, I thought. I just didn't know it could be this good. I'm trying not to get too excited, but I have read a few issues and think what I have is along the lines of what they look for.

At the same time, it's not a literary credit. I wouldn't mention it when submitting fiction or even essays to literary markets. So I am a little torn on what to do. How do you guys feel about trade publications?
 

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
I think the obvious answer as to why some publisher pay more is that ... they make more profit and so can afford to--to encourage the best authors to submit to them--to sell more books, to... etc.
 

cornflake

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
16,171
Reaction score
3,734
Why (or maybe how) do trade publications pay so much? I wrote an essay that would be perfect for a trade publication, and, yes, they do take personal essays. I was kind of worried that this wouldn't really be a literary credit, but when I looked at how much they pay I was quite pleasantly surprised. The publication pays 75 cents a word for up to 3,000 words. I have to cut my piece down a little because right now it is 4,000 words or email the editor to see if they would consider a longer piece. But they pay a lot more than I would have thought.

I have done some pieces for other trade publications, and the pay has always been good, I thought. I just didn't know it could be this good. I'm trying not to get too excited, but I have read a few issues and think what I have is along the lines of what they look for.

At the same time, it's not a literary credit. I wouldn't mention it when submitting fiction or even essays to literary markets. So I am a little torn on what to do. How do you guys feel about trade publications?

That's not bad pay, but it's not great for a mass-market mag. They pay decently because they make money, and because they need to, to get people to write for them.
 

gettingby

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
2,748
Reaction score
170
That's not bad pay, but it's not great for a mass-market mag. They pay decently because they make money, and because they need to, to get people to write for them.

I think that kind of pay is great for anywhere. It's even high for what I've seen at a lot of places. Though, I think you're right about having to pay that much to attract good writers. They got my attention. :)
 

gettingby

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
2,748
Reaction score
170
They sell a lot of issues. Probably because they have high quality writers, which costs money :)

I don't think of trade publications as selling a lot of issues. They are all pretty specialized and have what I believe to be niche audiences.
 

cornflake

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
16,171
Reaction score
3,734
I think that kind of pay is great for anywhere. It's even high for what I've seen at a lot of places. Though, I think you're right about having to pay that much to attract good writers. They got my attention. :)

Basic standard is a buck a word - a number of bigger-name mags pay from somewhat to significantly more than that. A few big-name things, like the NYT, pay less (last I heard. $.50), and can only because the clip is desirable.
 

Fruitbat

.
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 15, 2010
Messages
11,833
Reaction score
1,310
If anyone misunderstood, I think gettingby is not referring to "trade publishers" as in "not self publishers," but "trade magazines," as in "magazines for a specific trade." For example, magazines for those in the restaurant industry, for employees of General Motors, gemologists, etc.

Yes, some of them pay great rates. People will pay for specific and harder to find information that relates to their business. Whereas more generalized reading can be more easily substituted with a ton of other stuff out there...
 
Last edited:

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
Very specialist magazines are often trying to lure a small pool of writers with genuine professional-level expertise in that area--that can up the pay rate.
 

gettingby

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
2,748
Reaction score
170
If anyone misunderstood, I think gettingby is not referring to "trade publishers" as in "not self publishers," but "trade magazines," as in "magazines for a specific trade." For example, magazines for those in the restaurant industry, for employees of General Motors, gemologists, etc.

Yes, some of them pay great rates. People will pay for specific and harder to find information that relates to their business. Whereas more generalized reading can be more easily substituted with a ton of other stuff out there...

Exactly. Trade magazines. Sorry if I wasn't clear and confused anyone. Thanks for pointing this out.
 

Jamesaritchie

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
27,863
Reaction score
2,311
That's not bad pay, but it's not great for a mass-market mag. They pay decently because they make money, and because they need to, to get people to write for them.

You must know a bunch of mass market mags I haven't found. I know a very few that pay more, but seventy-five cents per word is very good pay.
 

Jamesaritchie

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
27,863
Reaction score
2,311
I don't think of trade publications as selling a lot of issues. They are all pretty specialized and have what I believe to be niche audiences.

Many trade magazines are small, but a fair number of trade magazines are nationals all the way. Their "niche" is huge, often as large as any other consumer mag. They sell a LOT of issues, and make a lot of money.
 

Jamesaritchie

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
27,863
Reaction score
2,311
At the same time, it's not a literary credit. I wouldn't mention it when submitting fiction or even essays to literary markets. So I am a little torn on what to do. How do you guys feel about trade publications?

Seriously? Who cares if it's a literary credit? It's a good magazine, and a good sale, for good money. This is what writing is all about.

As for why they pay so much, some trade magazines are tiny, and some are huge, easily large enough to be considered mass market. They pay the going rate for a magazine of their size.
 

gettingby

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
2,748
Reaction score
170
Seriously? Who cares if it's a literary credit? It's a good magazine, and a good sale, for good money. This is what writing is all about.

As for why they pay so much, some trade magazines are tiny, and some are huge, easily large enough to be considered mass market. They pay the going rate for a magazine of their size.

You're right. I am going to send my piece in and see what happens. It's just that I have been trying so hard to get something in a literary journal. They would only pay a fraction of what this magazine pays if at all and probably have a much smaller readership. Also, I don't think I could ever write a piece more suited for this publication.