Aliya S. King

So yesterday, I responded to a dear reader who is being stiffed by a magazine for 500.00. I gave some advice.

Thing is, I wanted to give Broke In Brooklyn two examples. But I ran out of time.

I really want BIB to know about another situation that happened to me. Years after the episode with the fashion magazine. It’s a situation that still makes my blood run cold today.

A few years ago, I was approached to ghostwrite/collaborate on my very first celebrity memoir. What happened is a cautionary tale that must be shared…

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From my InBox:

Dear Aliya:

This is for that section on your blog when you give advice. I am so mad. It’s been a year. And a magazine that I wrote a story for still has not paid me. I have called, emailed and sent snail mail. At first, they just kept saying one more month. And now, no one is even returning my calls or emails.

This was my first story for this magazine. And it’s a national publication. I know that all magazines are going through it right now. But I’m pissed. It’s not like I don’t need the money.

And how come they can’t even reach out and give me the real deal on what’s going on? That is so disrespectful to me.

Now what do I do? They owe me 500.00. Which is nothing to them. But it’s something to me.

My friends have told me that if I try too hard to get the money back, I won’t be able to write for the magazine ever again. I’m just starting out.  I don’t want to lose this connection. But it’s been a year and they have not assigned me anything else anyway.

Have you ever been in this situation? What did you do?

Signed,

Broke in Brooklyn

My (extended) response to Broke…
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