Working for free … where to draw the line?

By laurajanewrites

Well, I’m writing a lot more nowadays, from blogs to my latest victory – an article for The Guardian (yay!). But to get into print I am also being forced to do something that I was initially determined to resist – working for free. It leaves a slightly sour taste in your mouth, to work hard on something and receive nothing but a pat on the back in return. But I have had to accept, without a bulging track record of successes to justify a fee, my negotiating power is a little on the feeble side. My priority has to be building my portolio. To get a foot in the door, at the moment that means having to reluctantly offer a few freebies. It can’t be this way for long though. I want writing to be my career not a hobby. A professional business venture rather than an amateur interest. And to make that legitimate, I’m going to bite the bullet at some point and insist on a fee for my time or turn the work away. I’m starting to feel that point will need to come very soon.

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