Gone are the days when being a “starving artist” is an option for writers. we have skills and talents that many companies are willing to pay for. I’m finding that individuals are not willing to for our services even when they understand the value of our services, so put them low on your target list.
Perfect example. I received this email from a buddy.
So, she wants me to write a profile article on her child based on a previous written success.
Clearly, this is a publicity piece that she wants shared on my site, as well as the sites of others.
Allow me to clarify. When I said I would promote this article, it would be MY article on MY social sites, which I was going to do anyway because it is MY work.
And this rate was really low for what she wanted done. She said that she had to check with her mate about the price even though she wanted to know about my charge. Needless to say, I have not heard back from her and I’m not mad about it.
The above conversation is typical from individuals and I would really like to ensure that you have fewer of such encounters this by providing the following list of resources to help you get paid for your skills, talents and hard work.
Resources to Get Paid to Write
Visit these Sites
- Make a Living Writing – Carol Tice
- About Freelance Writing – Anne Wayman
- Pen & Prosper – Jennifer Brown Banks
- International Freelancers Academy – Ed Gandia
Read these Books
- The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less – Peter Bowerman
- The Wealthy Freelancer – Pete Savage, Steve Slaunwhite, Ed Gandia
- Six-Figure Freelancing – Kelly James-Enger
- 2015 Writers Market – Robert Lee Brewer
Resources to Improve Your Skills & Confidence
Visit these Sites
Read these Books
- The Elements of Style – William Strunk Jr., E.B. White
- On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction – William Zinsser
Writing Magazines
Further Actions to Take
- Determine what you want to write and for who
- Establish a plan on how to achieve your goals
- Start a blog to help keep a writing schedule, to journal your progress or to use as a portfolio of your work
- Go forth in confidence
Hey Marcie,
I can relate . So many publications/people want you to write for free. I recently turned down a 10 min/weekly radio spot for celerity news that the hosts (husband & wife team) wanted me to commit to for free. Once I make a commitment, I’m providing my services that requires a fee, which these nice people were made aware of, and already knows…
Anyhew, turned down the gig, but opportunities keep coming and at some point I will weigh the pros and cons of writing for free:)
Blessings,
Clara
Clara, we’ve had this conversation several times and the free asks for our valuable skills and experiences continue to roll in. I’m sure the same people that are asking are getting paid for what they do.
sorry “know” 🙂
Did somebody mention my name? 🙂
Thanks so much for the inclusion of my site, Marcie. I look forward to connecting with your readers.
Yes, ma’am, you heard right. Keep doing great things.
I’ve had this up on the laptop since forever and actually read it and I figured it was time to comment. lol Good stuff, nicely written, good references. You’re right, people don’t know how to value the written word, and like most things one just has to ask them how much effort it would take them to do it instead. That’s how I had to see things when I tried to fix my own plumbing issue. lol
Thanks for checking it out, Mitch. I hope this helped as well as the resources I sent to you.
I was on a panel with Karen Ford, an esteemed journalist, author and blogger, and she said that writers are undervalued in many industries even though they provide the most invaluable service – creating something from nothing. And honestly, once writers start valuing themselves, their self-esteem and bottom lines will increase.