Respect Your Writing Talent a Rant

by Anne Wayman on September 8th, 2005

A post on my forum asked if the writer should offer a discount because she was being offered a gig that consistent of regular, predictable work. The answer from me and other posters was a resounding no.

But the question got me to remembering how insecure I felt about my writing at the beginning of my career. The thing that confused me is writing is, on the whole, easy for me. I dont mean I dont have to work at it, but I love writing and the words generally flow.

Because writing is easy for me, for a long time I didnt really value it. I had some notion that work is supposed to be hard and I felt slightly, or sometimes greatly, guilty getting paid well for something that was easy and fun.

What bunk! What was really going on is I not only wasnt valuing my writing ability, I wasnt valuing myself or my time. My self-worth was, well, not very good. Thats all changed. I know now that the fact writing is easy for me doesnt mean its easy for anyone else quite the contrary in fact. Most folks just cant write and they dont want to. Many of them are willing to pay me to do it for them, and pay me well. Which is how it should be.

I dont know if writers are especially susceptible to undervaluing themselves or if it just seems that way. If you fall into this category, get over it. Now! If you can write well, you deserve to be paid well and youll only be paid well if you ask for it. Be willing to turn down jobs that dont pay you what you deserve. Dont discount without a very good reason. The more writers who stand up and insist on being paid well, the easier it becomes for all good writers to be paid what they deserve.

Write well and often,

P.S. Get the ebook, 3 Keys to Making Your Writing Pay - FREE.

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