Yeah. Fair pay for writers should be a labour issue, not a brass ring. Getting published in a pro mag means you matched the taste/vision/mandate of one of a small group of editors who have, to their credit, figured out a way to pay fairly, which is cool but not the be all and end all of literary art
Semi pro mags (and small press/independent presses) have often been the ones to take chances on me when pro magazines and big trads wouldn't. I never forget that.
Laughter Among the Trees, which was nomimated for awards was rejected by pro rate magazines. Countess went to Independent press. +
When I was starting out, I thought of pro sales as a way to prove to myself and the field that I was worthy, but as I went along and racked up more of them, I began to appreciate more that a pro sale meant I could buy my family a week's worth of groceries with a story, along with reaching readers
Feb 3, 2026 18:25My most interesting stories (at least according to me) have been published across the pay spectrum and where they ended up had more to do with editor taste and fit than anything, imho
