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Reprint Rewards By Erin Huffstetler
After nearly three years as a freelance writer, I finally netted my first BIG sale-- $15 for a reprint!
Now, I realize that probably doesn't sound very impressive-- didn't really sound very impressive to me either, but I was happy to snatch up the offer.
After all, it was a sale, and eventually that sale would result in a paycheck. Plus, this was a market that I had been trying to crack for some time, so I couldn't help but feel victorious-- even if it was just $15-victorious.
That being said, I quickly added the sale to my payment records, and went on to tackle other markets. (No sense waiting on a check in this business.)
Several months and a few sales later, my check finally arrived. Doing what any check-starved writer would do, I hurriedly tore into the envelope, eager to hold my check in hand.
And so, I soon saw that something was wrong, very, very wrong. My envelope didn't contain a $15 check at all, but a check for . . . $60,000!
That's right, I said $60,000. No typo here.
If those numbers look impressive in the context of this story, just imagine how impressive they looked on a check-- an authentic, signed, and fully-cashable check. . . .a check that had my name on it. And for a reprint of all things! A reprint!
I had to get back to work right away! Right away!
* * * *
Now, if this tale has the sound of one of those too-good-to-be true infomercials, it's only because I haven't yet told the rest of the story-- the part where my fairy tale unravels.
You see, even as I fantasized about how to spend the money, I knew there had to be a mistake. A H-U-G-E mistake.
I mean, have you ever heard of a publication with such a generous pay rate?
And so, curse my honesty, I knew I had to contact the editor to find out what had happened.
* * * *
Let's just say editors aren't always slow to respond to their e-mail. In fact, I've now learned that under the right circumstances an editor will respond with record-setting speed (read: immediately after you hit the send button.)
And her response?
It seems the editor was as surprised as I was; and after applauding my honesty (didn't make me feel any better), she vowed to get to the bottom of the situation.
And get to the bottom of it she did. Within an hour I received another e-mail from this editor, explaining that apparently someone in accounting had mistakenly used the invoice number as the payment amount. (Bet someone got in a little trouble over that one.)
Then, after again thanking me for my honesty (or was it stupidity), she requested that I kindly tear up the check.
* * * *
So, did I tear up that $60,000 check? You bet, but I'm still hoping to be the recipient of their one-millionth check.
Erin Huffstetler is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, kids' crafts, and all things thrift.
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