Pay the Writer

In another blog life, in another blog time, on another blog planet with more desks and employees surrounding me, I posted this clip. I promptly forgot it ever existed. Yesterday, floating in my new blog universe with one desk and just lil’ ol’ me here talking to myself, I stumbled on it again. It brought a new smile to my face.
So, whammo, push the button, here is the Harlan Ellison refresher.

“Pay the writer” holds a special kind of resonance with me, now that I’m hittin’ the freelance bricks and those bricks are occasionally hitting me back. (Haven’t lost a tooth yet, so finger’s crossed.) Getting paid a fair rate – it’s all I think about. So far, I’m kinda being a bit of a stickler about my rate, and I’m not giving any real wriggle room.

“But other copywriters are asking $40 an hour less than you.”

Undercut by the amateurs. I hear ya, Harlan! You know what? I charge my rate because I rock. You get what you pay for, and I know what I’m worth (she says, with fast dwindling bank balance, but hope in her heart, fire in her belly, and a couple of peeps who are actually paying the rate as the wind at her back.)

But I also will vary that rate on a case by case basis – you make your case, I’ll work out the basis.

We’ll see how my sticktoitiveness goes in the coming weeks. Paying my rent, my bills, and eating – that’s the money bucket to be filled. My goal this year is the book. My previous life can go stand in the corner facing the wall until I’m ready for it to speak again.

Off to my Sunday EWG (Extreme Writers Group) meeting with Nik and Carla. I’ll do a novel update tonight and explain the EWG.

via The Copywriter Underground

February 24, 2008 | Filed Under Noodle Novel, Writing