Saturday 19 October 2013

Better late than never...

Apologies, blog readers - missed Thursday's post due to a brief stay in hospital with my son. Fortunately he's OK...and you still get to read this, even if it's a couple of days late!


There's been a lot of press recently about authors who expect to be paid for attendance at events and festivals.

Many authors who make their living from their writing charge for their appearances, whether it's at a school, a writing festival or writing conference. And quite rightly so, I think, because words are their bread and butter. These folk pay their bills with the books they sell and every event attended is more time where they can't get those words on the page to sell in the future. It's treating writing as a business.

Which I find puts me, personally, into a bit of a quandary...

To date, I have had five short stories published. (And a competition winning limerick. I won £50 for that!) I have made no money at all from the five stories; they were all written because I was keen to use my talent to raise money for charities. My words for free - my choice.

In the words of Mr Squidge, 'This writing lark's an expensive hobby.'

I'd like to think I could make money from writing books and stories. It won't be mega bucks - at least I'm realistic on that score. But one day, it would be nice to be in credit re writing rather than always in debit.

So - why am I wittering about payment for authors then? Well, it's because I'm beginning to get recognition as an author. Not in a massive way - not even really outside of my circle of friends - but a couple of those friends who work in schools have suggested that I go in and talk to the kids about writing. (Especially as literacy levels in this country continue to fall.)

My problem is that I don't feel my work to date justifies charging anyone to have me talk about it - heck, I do it for free all the time to anyone that'll listen! That's why I blog! But neither do I want to undermine the fabulous authors who give talks and make visits as part of their career - and charge for it. (I've experienced a few talks and believe me - those authors earn every penny of their fee.)

The only thing I feel comfortable doing, at least until I have a product of my own to sell and *fingers crossed* make money from, is charging only if I am going to be expected to run a workshop. Reading a story to a class comes free - but preparing a classroom session will cost.

It's an uncomfortable choice and I expect that asking for payment will probably reduce the number of opportunities I'm offered, but I think I owe it to my fellow authors not to give away for free what they are paid to do.

Just don't come back to me and say that exposure of any kind helps to raise my profile of a committed author and I should be glad to do it for free...

Because I can't eat publicity.

11 comments:

  1. Good points here! It is hard to find a balance between putting food on the table and sharing your work. I think you have a pretty good handle on it right now!

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    1. Thanks, Megan - mind you, I'll probably feel terrible when I broach the subject!

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  2. You're absolutely right. You can't eat publicity. And I think it should be pointed out that time is money and it doesn't really matter what line of work you're in and I think that you should absolutely be paid to show up and read. That's your time and your work. I'm sure your writing will take off and you'll have more than a few coins in your pocket when all is said and done. ;)
    Visiting again from the UBC on FB but I remember the last time I was here, you had pics of your hubs working on the house. Any updates?

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    1. Hiya Mimi - good to see you back! On the house front, we've managed one room and half a hall...still half a hall and a room to go, plus new draughtstrip in the door frames! All work called to a halt over half term though...

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  3. You have the right idea about some being for free, but workshops should be paid. I have attended workshops, even though the authors were selling books as well, they were paid. Some events aren't paid, like many Cons. I suspect that the authors that do those are both supporting the Cons, engaging their fans and building new ones. Just not paying entry fee is a nice perk.

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    1. Laura - that's my hope in the future...that I'll actually have a book to sell as well. Going to see a local publisher, hopefully this next week, so the reality is getting more real, if you know what I mean?!

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  4. Hi Katherine, Reminds me of that saying, "People DIE from exposure." The fact that your stories thus far were done for charity doesn't mean they have no value - if you feel your experience level doesn't justify charging for speaking, people will be thrilled to agree with you. I agree with Mimi: Time is money.

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    1. Hmm - didn't mean to imply that what I had done already didn't have value...just that a portfolio (if you like) of five short stories just doesn't compare to a list of 40/50/90 books published by some authors. I have experience in dealing with children and in delivering training sessions, so experience isn't really the issue here - it's more how I feel about the weight of published works I don't yet have...
      And you know what? I bet after all this angst, those requests won't be firmed up! :)

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    2. Katherine, I got that from your statement that you don't feel your work to date justifies charging to talk about it. Do you read Anne Lamott? She's very successful and still has all the same worries and angst that us newbies do, which makes me feel better : ) Since you donated your stories, do you still own the rights? Have you considered compiling them for an ebook?

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    3. Anne Lamott - is that the lady who wrote 'one bird at a time'? If so, yes, I've read her - I find it very reassuring that writers always feel this way! Makes me feel I'm in good company!

      I do still own the rights, but probably wouldn't do a compilation as that defeats the charity aspect...I am republishing one story in the near future, as part of a short story collection for children...Granny Rainbow and the Black Shadow is the intro to six other stories about the same character; they are due to be self-pubbed on paper and as ebook (providing we can e-format the illustrations!) before the year end, assuming the local publisher I have contacts with agrees to take it on...

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  5. Thanks for visiting and sorry to read about your stay in the hospital

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