When I first started writing, I decided whether or not to take on an assignment by asking two questions: is it work and does it pay? If the answer was yes to both, I took on the assignment.
I wrote about pretty much anything. I wrote about how designers create good-looking gadgets, I wrote about sex addiction, I wrote about Internet scams, I wrote about dealing with failure, and I wrote about wedding dresses in movies. I reviewed books, I reviewed cameras, I reviewed computers. If it was work, and it paid, I did it.
I don’t necessarily say that’s the best way to start a career, but for me, it worked. It paid the bills, it helped me write better, it helped me understand the editorial process, and it helped me figure out where my real interests would lie.
I’ve since grown in my career, and choose assignments based on a different method. I frequently receive questions of the “Should I take this assignment” variety, and while I can’t help you there personally, I can tell you what I do.
I have an assignment triangle, consisting of three pins.
Three questions that I ask about every assignment. If two out of those three are satisfied, I’ll take it.
1. Does it pay well (and on time)?
The obvious question, so I’ll get it out of the way first. “Well” is defined by each individual–your lifestyle, your current career chart, your circumstances, and your location. It does help to set a minimum number that, no matter what, you will not go below.
2. Is this a publication that looks good in my profile?
Will I want to flaunt it in my list of credits? Will I be able to get more high-paying work based on this credit? Do people in the industry know of this title? Is it respected and well-known? Has it won any awards?
3. Does this assignment add value to my work?
There are some things which make an assignment even more valuable, such as an opportunity to interview a favorite author or attend a high-profile event. Some assignments may be personally important to you, such as those for causes you believe in, or things that help you get media attention for you book. And of course, is this the kind of work you could do more of? Is this assignment something that will be rewarding to do for you, or are you doing it just for the money?
3/3 is the best option, of course. But if I’m able to answer yes to any two of the questions, I’m willing to compromise on the third. So I might take a low-paying assignment on child trafficking from a highly-regarded publication (as long as they meet my minimum rates, of course), or a high-paying assignment in a large magazine that’s boring as hell.
Your questions may differ. A friend of mine who is a graphic designer says that for him, one of the most important aspects of a job is whether or not the client is a pain in the ass.
For me, I’m not spending too much time with my clients, so I don’t much mind their modus operandi as long as I have creative control. It’s also important to note that sometimes snarky and high-on-attitude editors can be absolutely brilliant. Personally, I know I can get along with most people (I can be quite snarky myself), so the work has to be worth the hassle. I’ll work with any publisher if they pay me well, publish a darn good magazine, give me the final say in how the piece turns out, and are people I can respect professionally.