Travel Writers Getting Paid

I haven't written for a few days because I was away. But now I'm back, I'm grappling again with the issue of payment.

Non-paying publishers are always a headache, even more so now than they used to be. Personally, I always listen sympathetically to one excuse for non payment. Oversights do happen, invoices do get mislaid or delayed. In addition, many editors have pressure put on them from above to delay payment. That's life.

But what if you get fed several excuses in succession? What if you are still waiting for payment after several months? Then, you can charge interest and what is more, the Small Claims Court has a record for concentrating minds.

Needless to say it should only be used as a last resort, and whatever you do, don't use it (or ANY legal remedy) in anger. If you do whack in a claim, you can be sure the editor will never use you again.

But then - do you want them to?

As I said, it's a headache.