Should you be paid for your writing?
Published: Fri, 02/27/15
Happy Friday, WriteByNighters! I hope you're in the mood for some healthy debate because have we got a doozy for you. Last week WBN co-founder David Duhr went to a panel at Kickstarter HQ
titled “How to Pay Your Writers,” in which editors/publishers from BOMB, Guernica and Unidentified Funny Objects discussed when and how much they pay their writers, how they raise funds, and whether or not they get paid themselves. You can read his piece about the discussion at Publishing Perspectives. Of particular note was a comment made by Lisa Lucas, publisher at Guernica, who talked about angry contributors who complain to her about writing for free: “Writers actually need to check it a little because so many of these editors are making nothing. At what point is editing not art? The identification [of quality work], the nurturing—you would never tell a midwife that she should work for free because you’re the person giving birth.” The implication was that most, if not all, of Guernica’s editorial staff works for free, and that the magazine’s contributors fail to appreciate this fact. “We’re all exploited here,” Lucas said. Read the rest of David's thought-provoking post over on WBN's blog, then leave a comment to share your stories of writing for free. Have you written or edited for free? If so, do you consider yourself exploited? Join in the conversation to let us know! Have a writing-filled weekend, Justine
Justine Tal Goldberg Owner, WriteByNight P.S. If you know someone who might benefit from today's message, please feel free to forward this email along. Go on, help a writer out.
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