My First Freelance Job Nightmare!

And why it took me THIS long to talk about it...

This all dates back to February. To make a long story short so I can get to the main part, while reading The Writer magazine using Apple News, I came upon an article written by the EIC about novel writing and camaraderie via email. For reasons I can’t remember at the time, I decided to send an email, not expecting for one moment it would be answered! Less than 12 hours later and I had a response from the EIC of The Writer magazine. Pretty cool! (I thought…)

Fast forward to back and forth emails where we discuss our writing journey and for some reason I mention a phrase I had recently heard, “curio fiction” and how I was planning on writing a series of short stories (still very much in the works by the way) that would go into a collection. I was then asked if I would be willing to write something and be paid for it! My very first freelance assignment that I honestly wasn’t expecting at all to have.

I want to interject that I was ready to go ahead and just write the thing without payment or a contract signed, to which my wife wisely suggested I not do. In any event, I signed a contract.

Now, if you follow this sort of stuff you may already know about the legal drama happening around Madavor and BeBop. Two names I don’t expect you to know and that I am just now getting acquainted with myself. I will try to lay it all out there as I know it.

Madavor owns The Writer magazine. They have owned it for quite some time. The contract I signed to be a freelancer for the article I wrote on their July 2023 issue was with Madavor. It was at the end of February when BeBop purchased Madavor and all the companies it owns. Now, there is where things get a bit “he said, she said” with the details.

Some reports are stating that the acquisition of Madavor by BeBop meant they were also taking ownership of freelance payouts. That makes sense to me. You buy a company, therefore, you should assume ownership of paying off any debts as part of that purchase.

We are not 5 months out from this sale and it’s been uncovered that, according to BeBop CEO, Madavor was engaged in illegal practices when they hired way more freelancers than they had the funds to pay and did not disclose just how much until the sale was done. Therefore, because the number of unpaid freelancers is in the hundreds (according to BeBop) and the payout is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, BeBop will no longer be attempting to payout funds to the rest of us. This includes me as I have not been paid for my article.

I delayed writing this because at the time I was overjoyed at the opportunity to be a freelance writer and to see my work in print! In fact, the weekend of July 4th I managed to find 3 copies of The Writer magazine and purchase all of them to frame, etc. I was thrilled and wanted to share the news. And I did. But I also wanted to at least wait till I was paid so I could give a true contract to payment account of what it’s like to be a freelancer for the first time. Then this happened.

I am sure, and other freelancers who do this for a living will confirm, this is not how it typically goes. What happened to me is just not the norm.

Suffice it to say, the CEO of BeBop has sent a letter to all freelancers who have not yet received payment and “out of the kindness of their heart” started a Google Sheet for us to add our contact info and hope one of us goes ahead and starts a class action lawsuit to sue either Madavor OR the company who owned The Writer before Madavor! No apology. Nothing.

And from what I understand, the attempts that BeBop made to pay some of the freelancers was paltry at best and almost nonexistent.

To say it’s a mess is an understatement.

I have resigned myself to the reality that I will not receive payment for the article that was published in the July issue of The Writer magazine. Here is the cover for anyone who may want to see it. My article is also featured on the cover. “Curio Fiction: What the hell is it?”

Below, for the record, is the timeline of events as I remember them. Some I had to go back through my emails and notes to verify.

THE TIMELINE

March 2nd - Emailed editor just to chat about our writing journey.

March 6th - Editor gives me an assignment to write something for the magazine.

March 21st - Deadline of April 15th given.

April 5th - Delivered my draft assignment.

April 12th - He liked what I sent and discussion of contract was in the works.

April 20th - Contract signed and sent for July issue publication!

May 28th - July issue available digitally.

July 4th weekend - 3 copies of the issue purchased at Barnes & Noble

July 21st - News of a possible class action suit for freelancer backpay emailed to me by EIC of The Writer

WHAT’S NEXT?

I will not let this setback deter me, for a start. It is really disappointing that it happened. My first published work and the only thing I have to show for it is the actual issue in my hands. I will eventually get over the sting of this moment and learn to be excited about what happened. Right now it’s still very visceral in my mind. It’s not 100 % resolved satisfactorily and I don’t know when it will ever be.

WHAT I LEARNED?

I learned that contracts are important. Make sure you don’t do the work until you’ve signed the contract. In truth, my wife didn’t want me to submit the work until I received partial payment. As this was my first time and I just wanted to see my work in print, I wanted to just sign the thing and write it and move on…

I know now that standing up for my work and the money I am promised is important to not only ask about but insist on having, sometimes upfront if necessary.

I also learned that stepping out of my comfort zone is the only way I am going to make things happen for myself. Sure, this was not the best outcome but if I never emailed the EIC of The Writer on a whim none of this would’ve happened. I will be sure to take more of these risks in the future.

HOW IT LOOKS DIGITALLY!