Should Writers Work for Free?

Should writers work for free? This straightforward question feels like it should have a straightforward answer. But does it?

Today's question seems like it should have a very obvious answer, but it's not as simple as asking, "Should writers be paid for work?" The answer to that question is, "Yes, they should." Because writing is a product created by the service of a writer, and it's natural for people in any profession to expect to be paid for the sale of products and/or services rendered.

(Building Your Freelance Writing Career.)

So, for many, it stands to reason that if someone asks, "Should writers work for free," that the answer should be, "No, they should not." But it's not as simple as that. Let's look at why.

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Before I dive into this answer, let me first say that writers should always expect to get paid for work they've been contracted to do for payment. Writers should never work for free if they have a contract that says they should be paid. And it's usually a good idea for writers to get a contract before doing work.

(How should writers negotiate better terms?)

Also, I do feel writers should get paid for their services—the more the better, in fact. But I also understand the market forces behind supply and demand, as well as various stages of writing careers. Many poets and short story writers have published work for free, and it's not uncommon for beginning nonfiction writers as well.

I say many writers have published their work for free, but I think that's a little misleading. There are times when writers are paid for their work in ways that are not measured in dollars and cents.

For instance, I've published dozens of poems without monetary payment, but I feel I was paid in other ways. I received publication credits, contributor copies, and access to a new audience. And those forms of "payment" led to a book deal, paid speaking opportunities, and increased expectations for future work.

And really, in the beginning, the validation of someone who was not related to me was payment enough, if I'm really being honest.

Should writers work for free? No, they shouldn't. But it's okay for writers to determine what "payment" is acceptable for them to do their work. I love to hear stories of writers who received money with every piece of writing they ever did. That's the dream, right?

But I don't discount any writers who have written pieces for publication credits so they can build their portfolio and negotiating power for future clients. If their "payment" is a stepping stone to reach a grander goal, then good for them.

However, I implore writers to take a step back every so often and ask the question, "Should I expect more?" If you have a few publication credits but no checks, then it's time to push to that next level of expectation. And it's only natural that you'll want the payments on those checks to increase over time, whether that means negotiating better rates with your original companies or finding new companies that can accommodate your new expectations.

This is how it should work.

Remember the other question from the beginning of this post, "Should writers be paid for their work?" And remember the answer, "Yes, they should."