tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post4481040452862366110..comments2024-02-28T10:14:03.770-06:00Comments on Spike Speaks: Open Letter to Austin Woman’s Deborah Hamilton-Lynne RE: Fucking PAY ME Already, Would Ya?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-77897492868368601162012-06-25T13:25:33.129-05:002012-06-25T13:25:33.129-05:00Hey Sam,
Thanks for clarifying. Hey Smarter Cruisi...Hey Sam,<br />Thanks for clarifying. Hey Smarter Cruising-- Go Fuck Yourself. Or at least read the bloody post. I have repeatedly noted that it was my error not to get a contract. I did get it in writing that I would be paid on June 15th AFTER I submitted an invoice. Deborah did not honor the terms of that written agreement. So yeah, thanks for the Freelance 101 lesson. Here's a lesson for you-- magazines should automatically kick out contracts to writers. I did not query Deborah, I never even heard of her before. She came asking ME to write for HER. Since she established contact, and since she's allegedly a fucking assigning editor, surely she could've sent a contract. At the very least she could have responded in a timely fashion to my emails. TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.Spike Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05738447149993267203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-30404524499052864612012-06-25T13:10:29.352-05:002012-06-25T13:10:29.352-05:00Hey spike, I don't know who this food and wine...Hey spike, I don't know who this food and wine character is (account established June 2012) but its not me. Beware, there may be trolls about. -sammyThe Unbalanced Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03629866938776103477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-32090852377145156112012-06-25T12:49:40.486-05:002012-06-25T12:49:40.486-05:00Next time, get a contract. That's lesson numbe...Next time, get a contract. That's lesson number one for any freelancer.Smarter Cruising with Clark Nortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01377515719710503720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-13409240736753055632012-06-25T11:41:23.711-05:002012-06-25T11:41:23.711-05:00Unbalanced Gourmet-- Not sure if that is one of th...Unbalanced Gourmet-- Not sure if that is one of their advertisers. I had not seen the publication before writing for it, and I only glanced at the issue in which my work appeared. From the looks of it, this magazine, which allegedly aims itself at empowering women, is trying to sell lots of plastic surgery, weight loss, etc-- the sorts of things created to keep women feeling insecure and spending tons of money to fight that insecurity. Too bad.<br /><br />Food and Wine-- Speaking of venting, here's one for ya: you know what I really fucking hate? I hate it when people who want to criticize do so anonymously. Why don't you grow a pair and use your name? If your writing skills are equal to your reading skills, well please stop calling yourself a writer. As I outlined in not one but TWO posts, Deborah did NOT pay me on time. The check should have been IN my mailbox on June 16th. It was not there on the 16th. It was not there on the 17th. It was not there on the 18th. It was not there on the 19th. It was not there on the 20th. It was supposed to be ISSUED on the 15th. The date on the check was the 19th, which was a full day AFTER the office manager said it was MAILED. Lies, lies, lies, yeah... Deborah paid herself on time according to the office manager. She should have paid her writers first. If she can't manage her business, writers shouldn't have to suffer-- she should take the high road and pay those who were due. Lucky you for having been paid on time by AW. Sounds like you are in a super rare category, so rare that I have to suspect that maybe you're Deborah writing this post? Because I have gotten TONS of mail from people who assure me they have been totally screwed by this woman. I guess she feels it's okay to make the "little people" wait, while she doesn't make herself wait. Totally despicable, unethical, unprofessional and the list goes on. If the remark about therapy was supposed to be a potshot, it was ill-conceived and poorly executed. I've had tons of therapy which is exactly why I am able to stand up to the assholes.Spike Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05738447149993267203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-4680760597461082912012-06-25T09:34:43.983-05:002012-06-25T09:34:43.983-05:00You seem very, very angry and perhaps need another...You seem very, very angry and perhaps need another outlet to vent? Sometimes writing about it can be enough but you seem to be on another level. I have some great therapists I can recommend. In the meantime, I've never had a problem with getting paid from this publication. I'm not sure why you are upset as it seems from your post that the check was indeed in the mail. You hadn't even checked yet? So you wrote this before you even went to your PO Box? Talk about professionalism.......foodandwinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078739896464115982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-71056806209288427882012-06-24T13:28:50.367-05:002012-06-24T13:28:50.367-05:00Does "Urban Living Realty" advertise wit...Does "Urban Living Realty" advertise with Austin Woman?The Unbalanced Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03629866938776103477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-31466037160701904962012-06-22T12:08:49.210-05:002012-06-22T12:08:49.210-05:00Don't tug on Superman's cape. Don't sp...Don't tug on Superman's cape. Don't spit against the wind. And don't jerk around a dame named "Spike"!Shiksabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983164616379446423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-46697059330632046732012-06-22T10:49:14.890-05:002012-06-22T10:49:14.890-05:00Austin Woman Magazine is a sham. While the content...Austin Woman Magazine is a sham. While the content is aimed at empowering woman the 'big shots' at the helm have created a mean girl high school atmosphere and delight in belittling their minions, oops I mean employees.<br />Stick it to 'em Spike!Melly Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068123310947410518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-62384899701667241422012-06-22T09:30:31.437-05:002012-06-22T09:30:31.437-05:00You should offer for a fee to write letters to peo...You should offer for a fee to write letters to people who have others off. It would be great to have you compose letters for others who have been ripped off or pissed on by their bosses.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15030468074004289919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-86276051667342782862012-06-22T08:30:55.803-05:002012-06-22T08:30:55.803-05:00Amen, and preach it, sister! Am in that same leaky...Amen, and preach it, sister! Am in that same leaky, freelance journalism boat as I type this.<br />Now -- how does one start a new career? <br />Thank you for making me laugh about something that normally makes me cry.<br />Your fan,<br />Candice Dyer in GeorgiaShiksabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983164616379446423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-90998907803049308332012-06-22T06:10:13.201-05:002012-06-22T06:10:13.201-05:00Hey, this has been my life.
http://www.youtub...Hey, this has been my life. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fEtom wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03060039395854025339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-70197446827139376702012-06-22T00:09:48.897-05:002012-06-22T00:09:48.897-05:00I wish folks would use their real names here. As I...I wish folks would use their real names here. As I clearly explained, I took the assignment because the subject appealed to me. I was not presented with terms in advance, nor was I sent a contract which should be SOP. Silly me it didn't occur to me that terms would be so shitty. When I submitted an invoice with perfectly reasonable terms, D balked. She then said she would try to expedite at my request. I don't believe she did. Having no recourse, I waited it out. Check was due June 15th. The date came and went. Nothing. She did not directly respond to my request but referred me to Sadie. Sadie noted that yes, checks should have been cut on 15th but that AW was short on funds. I asked if they were so short that no one got paid. She said she and Deb had been paid. I suggested they should pay writers first and THEY should wait. Then Sadie blamed it on payroll taxes. I am so fucking sick of bullshit excuses and lies. I was also told check was put in mail on Monday. In fact, when it did arrive check was dated Tuesday and postmarked Tuesday. No more lies. No more taking advantage of writers. I'm over it. Good for you for having a good experience but based on my reader mail you are a rare exception. I have heard from countless others who have been played by AW. It's unethical and unprofessional. My hunch is you are getting paid a tiny fraction of your worth. We must speak up against this unfairness. We must stop letting these liars and cheapskates take advantage. It is despicable.Spike Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05738447149993267203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-62960373421177889472012-06-21T23:32:31.960-05:002012-06-21T23:32:31.960-05:00My personal experience with AW has been fine. I ha...My personal experience with AW has been fine. I have written for them regularly for several years, and Deborah has always been professional with me and paid me on time. Just my two cents in there. But also, I'm not really sure why you would have accepted the job in the first place? They are up front about when they pay - the month of publication, not when you write it - and about how much they pay. If someone doesn't want to work for that rate or those terms, then don't accept the work. It seems like AW did honor exactly what they said they would do, so I'm not sure why you would take the job at the terms given and then be upset. I get if you don't want to work on those terms, but don't take the work. I've had publishers REALLY not pay me in the past....Shelley Sealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08507688830923905901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-15106410471853346162012-06-21T17:02:48.326-05:002012-06-21T17:02:48.326-05:00As someone who had to take an editor to court for ...As someone who had to take an editor to court for payment, I LOVED this! I am looking forward to reading the second installment, in which you get paid.Carole Terwilliger Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213159579496045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-52006200294799198412012-06-21T16:15:32.218-05:002012-06-21T16:15:32.218-05:00Spike, good on ya. You'll appreciate this: &qu...Spike, good on ya. You'll appreciate this: "Fuck You. Pay Me." a talk led by Mike Monteiro at San Francisco's Creative Mornings. http://www.dvafoto.com/2011/04/fuck-you-pay-me-a-discussion-of-adventures-in-contracts-negotiation-and-payment/Urban Denizen #512https://www.blogger.com/profile/10969032859014710909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-82241628531361520862012-06-21T15:41:20.190-05:002012-06-21T15:41:20.190-05:00This is brilliant in just so many ways. And the sa...This is brilliant in just so many ways. And the same thing has happened to me.<br /><br />I pretty much quit freelance writing after my experience, too.Anjalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03942336985162828835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-11173814446848952892012-06-21T15:41:02.845-05:002012-06-21T15:41:02.845-05:00Deborah -- Pay up, you dead beat! However, I can&#...Deborah -- Pay up, you dead beat! However, I can't help but enjoy the fact that this is such a wondersul comeuppance to all those idiots who said things would improve once women were in charge. I (a male) was editor of a magazine for ten years that won three Pulitzer Prizes, and we always pàid on time. (We did other things wrong, but we paid on time.) I took to heart Fran Leibowitz´comment that the function of editors should be to tell you it's the best thing you ever wrote, and send checks. She or another famous female writer (Nora Ephron? Joan Didion?) reveled in the story of the (male) editor who messengered her check to her so fast that it was delivered to her door before she arrived home from handing in the article!) That, of course, was in another era.David Boldthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04959337666287183045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-46470579214921994912012-06-21T13:50:06.427-05:002012-06-21T13:50:06.427-05:00Several of my students and former students have wo...Several of my students and former students have worked for AW and your experience seems to be universal. I thought it was just my college students who were being abused for free labor.Beth Eakmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13886468544281691293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-60403167176891100892012-06-21T13:36:37.241-05:002012-06-21T13:36:37.241-05:00For just a moment, I thought about an open letter ...For just a moment, I thought about an open letter to all the capitalists I worked for over a 20+ year period in the Cable Television biz - many of whom are retired bazillionaires, while I struggle to keep a few bucks away from a big fat 0 in the old checking account each month... but, I feel just reading her honest, from the heart letter has made the feeling ebb. Thanks Spike for makin' my day!!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11182124143893766166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-11572049771735594322012-06-21T12:13:04.300-05:002012-06-21T12:13:04.300-05:00You get 'em Spike!
I am sick to my heart of ...You get 'em Spike! <br /><br />I am sick to my heart of all the recent rip-offs being recounted by artists I know. It's like some kind of anti-artist plague. These people have no idea how soul crushing they can be to us creative types. And no matter how much everyone else loves your work, it doesn't ensure you're getting paid. <br /><br />Hang in there! You are an amazing writer.Annamaul93https://www.blogger.com/profile/12603908454611862585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-5506482847201438132012-06-21T12:01:50.565-05:002012-06-21T12:01:50.565-05:00Absolutely love the tone, content and righteousnes...Absolutely love the tone, content and righteousness. I sincerely hope you have humiliated her into writing a check, but editors/publishers/owners have an incredibly high threshold for shame. <br /><br />Terrific as a portfolio piece. Keep up the good work!<br /><br />Hixohixohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979639979736860508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-26401717755613018082012-06-21T11:39:58.201-05:002012-06-21T11:39:58.201-05:00Thank you!Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07370464084454698578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451669011973191211.post-32761957250557770392012-06-21T11:28:31.032-05:002012-06-21T11:28:31.032-05:00Wow, I guess I should be grateful that no one from...Wow, I guess I should be grateful that no one from this oh-so-professional mag has ever even replied to my query emails!Laura Roberts @ Buttontapper Presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716439129745683442noreply@blogger.com