Fellow magazine scribes:
I have been a freelance feature writer for The Intelligent Optimist (formerly Ode Magazine), which owes me $4177.88 in outstanding fees for my completion of assigned work on articles over the past year. Our original agreement of terms, in early 2011, was 30 days net. The amount due is from four invoices dating from May and August 2012. I have rebilled many times, with no results. Publisher Jurriaan Kamp admits these moneys are owed. In my most recent correspondence, from March 19, 2013, I offered to let publisher break the payments into 10 equal installments, starting April 1, 2013. I sent this twice via email but my offer of a payment plan (not my first) has been ignored as of this date.
Publisher wrote me that he was no longer commissioning new work, but in early December I saw notices that the magazine was looking for new writers in the “How to Pitch” section of MediaBistro.com:
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/intelligent-optimist-write-for_b76431
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/intelligent-optimist-editor_b90115
https://twitter.com/Mediabistro/status/275276392877420545
Hence I thought it best to warn any fellow writers who might be considering pitching the magazine, which is respected for its content and message of positive social change. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and am posting notices on writers’ forums such as this one, as well as investigating the possibility of filing a grievance with the National Writers Union. I will update this thread with any relevant developments. I am also open to any suggestions from colleagues. Thank you.
DIANA RICO
writer|editor|curator|producer
MoonScribe Studios
Creativity for an enlightened world.
bio www.dianarico.com
twitter twitter.com/DianaRicoWriter
linkedin linkedin.com/in/DianaRicoWriter
I have been a freelance feature writer for The Intelligent Optimist (formerly Ode Magazine), which owes me $4177.88 in outstanding fees for my completion of assigned work on articles over the past year. Our original agreement of terms, in early 2011, was 30 days net. The amount due is from four invoices dating from May and August 2012. I have rebilled many times, with no results. Publisher Jurriaan Kamp admits these moneys are owed. In my most recent correspondence, from March 19, 2013, I offered to let publisher break the payments into 10 equal installments, starting April 1, 2013. I sent this twice via email but my offer of a payment plan (not my first) has been ignored as of this date.
Publisher wrote me that he was no longer commissioning new work, but in early December I saw notices that the magazine was looking for new writers in the “How to Pitch” section of MediaBistro.com:
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/intelligent-optimist-write-for_b76431
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/intelligent-optimist-editor_b90115
https://twitter.com/Mediabistro/status/275276392877420545
Hence I thought it best to warn any fellow writers who might be considering pitching the magazine, which is respected for its content and message of positive social change. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and am posting notices on writers’ forums such as this one, as well as investigating the possibility of filing a grievance with the National Writers Union. I will update this thread with any relevant developments. I am also open to any suggestions from colleagues. Thank you.
DIANA RICO
writer|editor|curator|producer
MoonScribe Studios
Creativity for an enlightened world.
bio www.dianarico.com
twitter twitter.com/DianaRicoWriter
linkedin linkedin.com/in/DianaRicoWriter
