This is a common discussion between writers…should we pay to submit our work or not?

I know it costs money to run a publication whether it’s online or in print. I know many publications don’t pay their staff. The money writers pay helps to defray the cost of using online submission services like Submittable.

On the other hand, most publications don’t pay writers when their work is accepted and published. If I were to pay for my work to be considered for publication, then I might feel that even a token payment or a year subscription should be offered if that work were accepted.

Of course, paying or not paying, being paid or not being paid, they fall across a pretty wide spectrum as all publications have different modes of operation. I think writers will or will not submit based on their own ideas of what is appropriate.

I have paid on occasion. It’s not something I normally do.

The reason why I am writing about this today is because I am wondering if I should submit to a few writing contests with deadlines at the end of the month. Most writing contests require payment. I think writing contests are a little different from regular submissions.

This made me think back to a thread I read on a publications page on Facebook and how vehemently one person defended their right not to pay to submit to anything, not even contests. They basically told the editor of a publication and the host of the writing contest that writers shouldn’t have to pay to submit their work. Other writers commented saying that this was normal and that is how the prize money was raised. Like it’s a big lottery or jackpot.

This whole conversation made me consider my own position. Should I pay or not?

To be honest, I really don’t know. I think for contests, yes, but for submissions…maybe?