SiteLike George Kaufman said ….
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell has posted a sad exchange that occurred when she applied for a writing job related to the social issues she’s passionate about. When she asked about compensation, this “editor” (and I use that term loosely here) deemed her unfit for his company due to her passion for money. He reminds her, “You can’t take it with you.”
It’s amusing that for all his distaste of Ms. Fivecoat-Campbell’s money-grubbing attitude, Mr. Byer is the one who brought up income streams, banner advertising, and e-mail marketing. No sirree, he’s not thinking of money. P.S. If you still haven’t made your charity contributions for 2006, may I suggest bypassing Mr. Byer’s enterprise and donating some of the money you earn from bona fide writing assignments over at the ASJA’s Writers Emergency Assistance Fund? From their website: “Its mission is to help established freelance writers across the country who, because of advanced age, illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work.” [db]
5 Responses to “Like George Kaufman said ….”
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
David Geer
Said this on February 8th, 2007 at 12:10pm:I had an editor for a large organization tell me he felt my asking about the money was like telling him to just leave it on the night stand when the assignment was done.
In my opinion, responses like these that intimate that it is not appropriate to ask about the money are always about securing writers who are easily used and weeding out those who expect to be paid well. I don’t recommend ever accepting work from such people.
LindaFormichelli
Said this on February 8th, 2007 at 12:21pm:Oh my goodness, David, I almost squirted Earl Grey out of my nose about that nightstand comment!
I agree with your editor. If you demand money for your work, you may as well stand on the corner, peek into cars, and say, “Hey, want an article, big boy?”
Julia Temlyn
Said this on February 8th, 2007 at 1:37pm:Linda– your written-scenario above is hilarious!
That editor just doesn’t “get it.” It’s not about “taking it with you,”; it’s about getting paid for your time.
DianaBurrell
Said this on February 8th, 2007 at 1:38pm:It still begs the question, “How much money are you going to leave on the nightstand, Johnny Boy?”
Brian Westover
Said this on February 8th, 2007 at 3:11pm:Not to stretch the example too far, but if he feels bad paying for it, maybe he shouldn’t shouldn’t use a pro. (Shifting away from the implied prostitution ickyness…)
Part of professionalism is payment. If you want professional quality, be willing to pay for it. I’ve got a couple of questions I’d love to ask these sorts of editors:
- Oh, so you don’t get paid for what you do?
- Your publication relies on amateurs, eh? Well then, I don’t suppose I need to worry about things like deadlines, fact checking, spelling, grammar, or any other aspect of a professional publication.