Respect Yourself: Newbies and Getting Paid

John Scalzi discusses getting paid like a professional and why you should care. Cat Valente elaborates on her own philosophy about publishing short stories and what getting paid for them means to her income as a writer.

Scalzi suggests that we put value on our work as writers. I agree.

Yup, I am a newbie writer who isn't published widely. I feel your pain. What I don't feel is so desperate for exposure that I'm willing to send my work out for just exposure. Why? There's my reputation to consider in the long term.

I consider, like Ms. Valente, markets that are semi-pro markets and up. I will also consider markets that might not be semi-pro if there is a reason of reputation or prestige among professionals in the field to consider. What I am trying to do as an author is build a career.

I understand from some editors that a writer can become slotted if they're not careful. If the writer is constantly getting published in a certain type of market, there might be a negative stigma attached to that writer.

Does this mean that professional markets are snobby and inaccessible? Nope. A pianist has to practice a lot to get to Carnegie Hall. A writer may not break into a more professional market until the writer develops the requisite skills. It's worth the time to work on the skills, even if it means more time spent in the rejection wilderness.

The comment Scalzi makes that seems the most important for beginning writers is this:

“We can’t all make what the pros make” — Why not? All it takes is the decision not to take less than that for your work, and patience until you get to that point. This is why I advise writers to keep their day jobs. If you can’t or won’t wait, pick a lower amount you’re happy with, below which you do not go. Allow me to suggest that amount be a positive integer when it comes to pennies per word.

This strikes me as the difference between approaching writing as a supplicant desperate for any recognition versus approaching writing as a professional with standards. I plan to set my standards high, and work until I get there. I'm thinking beyond the now, because I want to be a career novelist. An investment in my career is worth more than the immediate gratification of seeing my name somewhere, anywhere else.

I believe that this also applies to being agented. Be a professional. Consider yourself a valuable commodity.

Saving myself for marriage,

Cath

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.