Interesting email today
They want me to write a 2000 word article for free
They want me to come to London at my own expense
They want me to sign over the copyright to them
Their offer 'Great exposure for a young writer"

My response
"Is everyone on this project working for free ?
Someone is up early,

"No, you don't understand how the media works. Young writers like yourself should not expect to get paid when they are starting out. In fact it's quite selfish of you to mention this when you get a great offer like ours. Suggest you rethink your karma"
I replied,

"I am not a 'young writer starting out', I am an established historian with numerous books and articles to my name something you would have known if you had done even the most basic of research but even if I was not I still

DESERVE TO BE PAID YOU CHEAP BASTARD"
He's back,

"Chill dude, it's just not realistic to expect to be paid, where have you been for the last ten years ? Besides the exposure we offer is far more valuable that money - you should really think about that"
I replied,

"Of course, what was I thinking? In fact when the good people from EDF ask me to pay my electricity bill I will instead offer their CEO "exposure" in a forthcoming book. I am sure that will be fine. In conclusion

"PAY PEOPLE YOU GIT?
He's not giving up,

"You just don't understand how the world works dude, you need to get up to date and appreciate the value of what we have offered. The old money for writing business model no longer exists, we can offer massive social media exposure for you. See the value"
I wrote back,

"I see now. I have spoken to your boss and explained the value of 'exposure' rather than payment and he agrees from now on a proportion of your monthly payment should also be via exposure. I understand this will be via likes of your social media posts- good luck"
O Jesus he was enough of a twat to think that was true,

"Dude, that is not cool !!!!!!! I have bills to pay every month, you think I can buy food with facebook likes ???? Do you really? Thanks for screwing up my job, I have to tell my girlfriend now"

Irony lost on him
I felt I had to respond,

"You just don't understand how the world works dude, you need to get up to date and appreciate the value of what you are now getting. Peace out"
I followed up,

"I just went to your facebook page and gave you a large number of likes. Hope that will be enough for you to buy some lunch today, if not come back to me and I will like some more"
He's really annoyed now,

"Likes ??? Likes ??? How do I buy food with likes, tell me how does that work ?? You think my cafe here takes likes for sandwiches - do you, do you ?

I have a meeting with my boss in an hour to get this sorted, do not call him again dude, bad, bad"
It was only fair I wrote back,

"Clearly you are going to the wrong sort of cafe, you need to find one that values exposure as much as you and I value it. Have you considered a Wimpy bar?"
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