Writing Costs you Something

17 Comments 28 September 2011

As a book mentor at The Writing Spa (http://www.thewritingspa.com) and a published author, I receive requests (like this made up one) weekly, sometimes daily. I’m sure that some of you, in your profession, also receive similar correspondence.

Dear Mary,

I have an amazing, outstanding story. And I know that once it’s in book form, it will sell millions. Would you please consider writing the book for free? I will let you share in the royalties when it hits the big time.

Sincerely,

Lori with the Story

I used to spend a lot of effort replying to these folks with long tutorials about the publishing process, but now I simply don’t have time. So I have a form response that ends with my write-for-hire rate (It’s high). Oddly, no one has emailed back!

My point: There’s no such thing as something for nothing in this business. Writers can’t afford to write other people’s books for free. We simply don’t have time. We have families to support, bills to pay—just like you. We need to make an income at what we do. Plus, it’s up to future writers to learn enough about the publishing industry that they wouldn’t write an email like this in the first place.

The truth: Writing costs you something. You’ll either spend time or money to realize your dream.

If you’re not willing to walk through the years-long process of becoming a stellar writer, then you won’t be traditionally published.

If you’d like to be published in this manner but you don’t want to improve your skills, then you’ll need to hire someone who has the ability to write professionally.

I don’t mean to sound curmudgeonly. I spend a lot of time mentoring writers (in various ways, various forms, sometimes for free, sometimes for hire). I love giving back. What is truly exciting is when I meet a writer who gets it, who understands the journey will be long, who is interested in learning, who takes criticism, who starts small, who makes a supreme effort to understand the publishing industry. These are the folks I enjoy mentoring. They understand the precious nature of putting words on a page.

Which is why I respond briskly (yet kindly) to folks who ask for something precious for free.

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Melinda McCray

I used to be very close to a hairdresser. She used to do my hair for free no matter what needed to be done. I started paying her for supplies. She shouldn’t work for free because she is great at what she does. I think people just expect others to do for them these days. Hard work is not something people respect anymore. Today I have some great friends I have met in ministry. They would take my youngest daughter four days a week at their preschool for free. However, they are great at what they do. I don’t want to take advantage of their generosity, nor their gifts, so she goes twice a week for now. I think we have to finally get to a place where we appreciate ourselves enough to say we are worth what we do, and recognize others are as well.
http://community.acstechnologies.com/ Eleanor Pierce

Amen! I’ve been asked to do a lot of free writing for people, but when writers work for free, they de-value the entire profession. And the whole “I’ll share profits when it makes money” thing is always good for a laugh – especially when they’re planning to self-publish …
http://twitter.com/mrshaggie810 Kelley Hagemeister

Honestly…it’s always something, no matter what industry you’re in! lol! I’m just a hobby writer right now, but would love to eventually be a published author…but I am a seamstress and I can’t believe how many friends and family expect me to sew and mend things for them for nothing…”It will be really easy.” Um, sometimes it is…and I do help people out for free quite often….but I find it condescending for someone to expect me to do you. Thank you for your honesty in this post.
Mjsplint3

I have to share with you that I have been enjoying my first attempt at writing a book. I have been frustrated on many occasions, but am continuing to learn patience. I have thought on different days, “why am I doing this; noone is interested in anything I have to say.” Yet, I continue to strengthen my faith in the Lord, feeling confident that it is he who put this on my heart in the first place.
Growth is good, and as I continue on in my attempts to write a book, I will build both my patience and my confidence. I wouldn’t want to rob myself of these rich blessings from the Lord.
Thank you so much for what you share daily with us. You are such a blessing.

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

Keep at it! Be faithful!

http://beckfarfromhome.blogspot.com/ Beck Gambill

It’s so easy to want someone else to do the hard work for us. I was talking to my second grader tonight about being responsible and doing his best, I have to turn the same instruction on myself all too often!

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

Very true!

Celeste Vaughan

Oh…and I ordered your book on writing a non-fiction proposal today…and I’m ready to get it started. I’ve had an idea for a book for a year now, and I’ve received proposal requests from two agents from the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I’m excited to get it done, I just want to make sure I get it done right and not blow my first impression =o)

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

I pray it blesses you!

Celeste Vaughan

A M E N…same goes for photography. I’ve been doing photography as a small business for 10 years, but so far I’m a definite not-profit organization. I think I’ll repost this on my photography website! I haven’t been a writer long enough yet for someone to ask me to do it for free, but I’m such a sucker I know it’s in my future!

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

Yes, I think it’s a problem all around!

http://followingjesussucks.org Shon Ridenour

Thanks, this was actually encouraging. I’m at the beginning of my writing journey – and I’m prepared for the long haul. At least I think I am!

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

Thanks Shon, I’m glad it encouraged you. You can do it!

http://www.ricardobueno.com Ricardo Bueno

Re: “You’ll either spend time or money to realize your dream.”

All too true. In my case, I get a lot of “can we do coffee? I have an idea I want to run by you…” “Can you look at my website and give me some feedback?” “Can you help me design this, I’ll refer tons of people to you” or “can I have a free version of your product? I’ll talk about it to everyone and you’ll get 200 referrals from the agents in my office.”

All sounds nice, but at the end of the day, I’m running a business here. I’m happy to help, to the extent that I can. And I love it when somebody gets it and it clicks for them. On the other hand, I’ve also experienced giving my time away for free to someone who ends up not appreciating it.

These days, it’s about respecting myself enough to put a value on my time and my work. I’m happy to give away free content (provide value), but I can’t adhere to all requests for this and that.

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

I so hear you. Yes, value your time and others will too.

John Waverly

Good for you. As a professional “computer guy” I know this feeling. I get requests all the time to look at this or fix that. I used to try to do as much as I could, but it took so much time and wasn’t much fun.

Then I came up with a dollar figure for my services. The work cut way down, but a few people felt it was worth it and paid. Funny, I’m still good friends with every one of my “paying customers” and we are both happy.

The cool thing is that when I do decide to do pro bono work, it is appreciated by the recipient and I also feel like I’ve done a good service instead of grudgingly fulfilling a “duty”.