Our local newspaper has recently started a free magazine and in a lucky twist of fate I ended up writing a parenting column for the first issue. Then they asked me to have a regular column, so I'm on my third issue now.
I have no experience of journalism whatsoever and I agreed that I'd not be paid for the first issue as it was just starting out and is funded by the advertising in it, in fact my husband advertises his business there. I was worried it would be one of those mags full of ads that come through the letterbox and head straight to the recycling bin, but actually I was really impressed by it and loads of people have told me they read my columns.
As yet though I've not been paid for it, and when I jokingly suggested that they should at least give my husband a discount on his advert I hit a blank!
Is this normal? How long should I write for them before expecting to be paid? I'm very glad of the experience as I would like to write to earn an income so it all adds to my c.v. but I can't live off experience! 