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This is an excellent question, and deserves a more detailed answer than the one I gave. First: you need to distinguish between writing for yourself and writing for other people. Who benefits most from the work? I write lots of promo stuff for bloggers, and I don't ask to be paid. https://twitter.com/penny_author/status/1303301886905397248
The main reason for this is that if bloggers don't get paid (and they don't), then it's unreasonable for me to expect payment from them. Most authors like to support bloggers. Also, if it's for book promo, then it mostly benefits me.
However, if it's a paper or magazine wanting an article, I charge. Why? Because they're a business. They have a budget for writers, and they're using my name and my work to sell their product. However, if it's just a quick Q & A or an interview, I don't charge.
With charities, I don't tend to charge, but I don't take a lot of commissions. I can't afford to take on too much unpaid work, so I choose my charities carefully. I also know that some people can *never* afford to do pro bono work, and I wouldn't expect them to.
When I do promo events in bookshops and libraries, I don't charge, because a) I'm actively promoting my book, and b) because I want to support bookshops and libraries.
When doing festivals, I always charge a small fee (around £200), because festivals selling tickets rely on contributors for their existence, and it isn't fair to exclude them (after all, they would never think of refusing to pay for the caterers, the venue or the lighting).
For schools, I charge by the day, based on the salary a supply teacher would be getting. I think that's the minimum any author should be charging, unless they choose to work pro bono (I sometimes do, in the case of a school from an underprivileged area).
And when I do prono bono work, I send a voided invoice, so that they know the value of what they're being given for free. Otherwise, people tend to assume that my time and effort aren't worth anything.
But yes: all this takes time away from your writing. I think it's important for people entering the profession to understand that being a full-time writer involves a LOT of stuff that isn't actually writing at all, and that you need to be okay with that.
Unpaid stuff that most writers do:
Editing
Copy-editing
Touring
Signings
Promo events in bookshops and libraries
Charity work
Interviews, TV, radio
Online self-promotion
Social media
Website, newsletters
Blurbs
Conventions
This is why the things we DO ask to be paid for matter.
Editing
Copy-editing
Touring
Signings
Promo events in bookshops and libraries
Charity work
Interviews, TV, radio
Online self-promotion
Social media
Website, newsletters
Blurbs
Conventions
This is why the things we DO ask to be paid for matter.
