Writing stories of life: Re-evaluating your writing income: How Writers Need To Be Like Plumbers...and Harlan Ellison

Friday, August 19, 2011

Re-evaluating your writing income: How Writers Need To Be Like Plumbers...and Harlan Ellison

I've re-evaluated things while on vacation in Florida.

Only my family goes to the ocean during Shark Week, but I digress.....

I spent an entire 13 hour drive thinking about my writing business. As any freelancer knows, it's feast or famine financially. One month, you've got several checks coming in, the next, nothing. And there's always the clients who promise payment, and it doesn't show up for months and months; or worse, the clients who ask you if you'll do just this one project for them, but they can't pay you--just offer you "exposure." (I always say no. Can I write "exposure" on my kid's orthodontist bill?) I'm always amazed, as I stand there when the plumber, appliance repairman, or heating/cooling guy shows up, fixes our stuff, and has me pay him right there for his labor--or at least sign a binding contract that I will pay---why some professional writers don't insist on the same set-up.

In my little self-imposed exile on the car trip, between breaking up fights by 13, 11 and 8 year olds, I decided it's time to re-evaluate my biz, my time, my experience and my income. In other words, it's my business sabbatical for these few weeks before the kids go back to school. I'm still evaluating, because I don't think this type of thing is figured out overnight, but...I'm going to have to dump a couple low-paying jobs, so I can focus more on what I want to do: magazine writing for custom and mainstream publications. Those publications not only pay fairly, but usually pay on acceptance; and they usually value professional journalists...and have professional editors eye-balling your material. In fact, dare I say professional editors make your stuff better.

As I clarify my business and my time, while shedding some low-payers, I started googling this practice. And the key advice out there? Re-evaluate. Every year. Turns out, I'm doing the right thing.

Check out this story: http://freelancefolder.com/17-sure-signs-that-your-freelancing-rates-really-are-too-low/

I urge you as a professional to do the same thing: look at your business, and truly study the numbers. Ask yourself:
-Is this project worth my time, education and experience, or am I working 60 hours a week with nothing or little to show for it?

And, I beg you, again, professional freelance journalists do NOT take projects on for free, because maybe the "exposure" will help their career. It will devalue you and your product and service.

Maybe it's time I trot out the ole Harlan Ellison clip, "Pay the Writer." He's animated, intense, passionate and fierce about the subject, and it charges me up every time. Take a peek--and fair warning, if there's little ears around, cover them. He uses strong language.