Why I Write For Free

[naomi_jay]

I don't want to be ranty or anything (I'm exhausted, and therefore prone to emotional outbursts like "I do do the washing up! Just not always on the same day I say I will!"*) but something happened yesterday that really annoyed me, and I've been stewing over it ever since. Apparently an author who'd contributed a story to Static Movement altered his contract to give himself one copy of the anthology he was in. Now, Static Movement are very upfront about being a "for the love" market. No payment, no contributor's copy. You as a writer are perfectly entitled to think that's not fair and therefore not submit your work there. But if you do submit your work there, or any other such non-paying market, you are not entitled to alter your contract to reflect what's "standard" elsewhere.

I've seen in several places recently discussions over whether authors should ever work for free. I've seen the arguments for and against, and there are valid ones on both side. If writing is your living, of course you should seek payment for it. If you put in hours, weeks, maybe years of work to produce the best book you possibly can, of course you should seek payment for it. That's your right. But don't say things like "if you don't write for payment, you're devaluing the work of writers everywhere," because I think that's bullshit.

I think it's bullshit (sorry, Dad, but sometimes swearing is appropriate) for two reasons. Firstly, "payment" to me does not always equal "money." Secondly, my reasons for writing are nothing to do with anyone else. If I choose to write for free, that doesn't affect any other writer I know. And I do write for free, a lot - or at, least I don't always get monetary compensation for my writing.

I write a monthly horoscope column for a local magazine. In exchange I get a nice bottle of wine every now and then (two at Christmas!) and I get my name and website printed in that magazine every month. The mag also ran a competition to give away a copy of AFTERLIFE in 2009.

I write a monthly horoscope column for Queered Fiction too. In exchange, I've been able to call on my editor there to format my Kindle books for me - something I have no idea how to do and no inclination to learn. I'm not a techie person, and I'd much rather leave something that important to someone who can definitely turn out a wonderful finished product than try to muddle through on my own.

As is probably well-known, I contribute a lot of stories to Static Movement, and am editing a couple of anthologies there, for free. I do it because I love writing and sharing my work, because I enjoy editing and seeing other people's work, and because I like being part of an enthusiastic and growing writers' community. And, of course, as a result of working with/for Static Movement, I have stories out there in thirteen different print anthologies. I'm quite pleased with that.

I'm not saying everyone should write for free. It's an issue that's the same as whether you should go indie, seek an agent, or keep your writing for yourself. In other words, every writer is different and has different reasons for writing. A lot of people will probably think I'm wasting stories I could find paying homes for by sending them to non-paying markets. But you know what? I'll write a lot more stories, so that doesn't matter to me. One day I'll compile all these stories into one volume and put it up for sale.

What I am saying is that it's ridiculous to submit to a very obviously non-paying market, then stomp when you don't get paid. And it's downright unprofessional to just start altering your contracts.

*True story. Happened last night. Still haven't done the washing up.

Comments

[mardelwanda.livejournal.com]

I everyone though along those lines (never, ever write for free, etc) then there would never be donations of time or services such as pro bono lawyers, doctors, nurses (who once in a while donate their time for patients in need of surgery), never be any free tutors to needy students, etc.

Just because you write doesn't meant that you can never ever donate your product (the story). Do what you're comfortable with - of course you seem have found a good middle ground. :) write for free, receive a few favors and also publish some books. :)

[naeko.livejournal.com]

Whomever is arguing that no writer should ever give their writing away for free is an asshole and an imbecile. No matter what you do for a living, you most likely also do it for free in other ways. My aunt cuts hair for a living, but will give family free cuts because it's a skill she has. I'm sure there are accountants who give their services away for free (also likely to family, but you never know), just as I'm sure there are doctors who would be willing to rush to the aid of someone who suddenly collapses in front of them on the street. Does it devalue the work that other doctors do to not demand payment in exchange for helping someone on your day off? Not even a little.

Writers are not special snowflakes whose skills are better or different from any other profession in the grand scheme of things. Actors, radio personalities, people with their own Etsy stores, dog groomers, and even people working retail all do things for payment that they do for free in other circumstances. Hell, if you're a writer, you likely write for free all the time- in your blogs, twitter posts, facebook status updates, comments on forums, etc. It's not exactly the same thing as writing a story, but it's the same action (typing).

Plus, how moronic is it to say, "No, I will not put my craft out there for publicity just because you're not giving me cash money in return." That doesn't hurt anyone else, it hurts only you.

There is a line to be drawn, of course. When you're at the level of, like, Nora Roberts, no one should expect you to write a story about their baby for a birthday invitation. But, there's no reason even she should get uppity if some magazine asks her to write an article/short story/blurb for no payment. Doesn't mean she has to do it, but if she's got the time (I don't imagine she would, since she puts out 46,000 books a year), why wouldn't she, if she thought she'd enjoy it? Her doing a freebie doesn't make your books any less worth reading, doesn't take away from your publicity, and doesn't make any other author's work look more expensive. All it does is get her name out there a little more.

It's like your post about Verday- you've never read anything about her, but the fact that her name is out there (in the form of a blog entry she's likely not getting a cent for writing!) has benefitted her in that you're going to give her some money. So, while her blog may not spit out a penny for every person who has decided to read it, she's getting the benefit of notoriety.