Lori over at Words on a Page has proclaimed today her first annual awareness day so that writers will demand what they are worth. Look, even if you think "I'm just starting out" or "I don't have the experience to demand $XX/hour," by undervaluing yourself and your talents, you are undervaluing writers everywhere. So don't do it.
Instead of wasting time on some half-baked article for $10/apiece, you could be working on a novel, writing a kick-ass query to break into a bigger publication, or spending time with your family. Isn't your time worth more than that?
Friday, May 16, 2008
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10 comments:
Gotta say Susan, I disagree. I am working as a blogger right now for a national magazine, and while the pay is not so great, the experience is invaluable! No, I don't want to do it forever, but in the long run I feel it's worth it.
Ian, I think you have to balance adequate pay with work that you're passionate about. Blogging rates tend to be a bit lower than print work, but I suspect that you're still making out better than the poor newbie writers who agree to crank out 800 word SEO articles for $5 or $10 apiece.
I have a certain threshold that I tell myself is my minimum, but I'm willing to work with an editor if it's a project I'm excited about and the pay is a little lower than usual. At some point, though, you don't want to be writing or blogging for pennies forever.
I completely agree, Susan. When I started out less than a year ago, I made a vow to myself that I would maintain my worth--and the worth of the writing profession--by not accepting lower than I was worth. My rates reflect the guaranteed quality of my work, and I enjoy what I do. Not to say that I'm a miser and refuse to go below a standard, I just pick and choose the work.
I voluntarily contribute to nonprofit organizations that mean something to me, so in that way I've "put in my time," but as far as the rest goes, it's my business, my life and I chose freelancing because the sky's the limit!
For the noobs, there is a A LOT of work out there, so don't get discouraged by the upward climb. If freelance writing were easy, everyone would be doing it.
Susan, you're right I am not cranking out 800 word SEO articles for $5 or $10 apiece.
That would be an unbelievable rip off.
I tend to go a bit lower for a publication or site that will give me great exposure. Last year, I was just starting out. But now that have a few clips under my belt, I know I must be worth something. Unfortunately, the markets I like to write for are very competitive and underpaid. If the pay is too low and it won't be a high visibility gig, I'd rather spend the time on my personal writing or blogging.
Sounds great and all, but how much of anything produced anymore (writing, art, wigdets, etc) has a real value anymore? The same people that want the higher wages are clammoring for lower cost of the goods and services they use.
What it seems like you're asking for is collusion, and attempting to force the market. Good luck, I'm all for it. I'd love to get paid what I'm worth for a computer build, but I doubt I ever truly will.
@Norcross: there are writing opportunities at all different levels. The goal is to not be stuck at the bottom for too long.
I think that good writing will always be valuable, even in a more tech-driven economy. Computers can't fake personality, but a writer can evoke the full range of emotions and personas.
I agree about the $10 articles, but, also agree with others who say there are some good reasons to write for free or very little. Experience, exposure, opportunity. Reality is, though, one must pay the bills. I have to put my best "awake" time into good-paying jobs and make sure the other jobs don't take over.
Thanks for the link love, Susan!
I worked as a blogger for a minimal amount of money, but the work was also minimal. I stopped when the company arbitrarily canceled all contracts and made the new, lower paying contract an "opt-in" requirement when we signed on to our online accounts. The workload had gone down a bit, but the radical drop in already low wages made it a time sink.
I thought the same thing when I was doing some freelance writing for a web site to prepare it for luanch. It wasn't worth the money, so I stopped doing it. But now I find myself blogging for free just to get word of my writing skills and my own web site out there. So I'm not so sure if I made the right decision.
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