In 2016 I wrote five pieces for Vista Today. As many know, including my writing mentors, the editor at that time stiffed me. Also the person had all of these weird reasons for not paying like all of a sudden I was supposed to charge the people I was doing articles about which really made me scratch my head because a couple of the things I had done were obituaries so what did I do send the estate a bill or something? And of course also telling me I was a horrible writer and it took too long to edit me. (People who had edited me professionally actually laughed out loud at that when I asked them was I so bad.)
I chased what I was owed for a while and then I felt well screw them they can choke on the money. But still it sat with me a little bit because it was the principle of the issue.
Then a few days ago I got an email asking for nominations for something Vista was doing and I was feeling cranky. I replied back that I wouldn’t nominate Mickey Mouse essentially since they ghosted me on what I was owed a few years ago.
Guess what? They paid me. I received the check today just like they promised.
It was never, ever a dollar amount that would have broken me financially, it was the principal of the thing: I did the work, they have kept the articles on their website. And when you work for yourself and you’re a freelancer, it can be really difficult when people either stiff you or are slow pay. I am fortunate that this is the only time something like this happened to me.
So while I don’t agree necessarily with the way they do business all of the time, or the fact that they have some kind of involvement with Energy Transfer Company – it’s called “An Affiliated Partner”, I am saying thank you for making my issue right and paying me. (But I do think Energy Transfer anywhere on your website is not a good look.)
Thank you Ken Knickerbocker and Vista Today for paying me for those articles. I appreciate people who keep their word.
