tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post3261574001234068828..comments2024-03-15T21:09:11.319+02:00Comments on Thoughts from Botswana by Lauri Kubuitsile: Why do they treat writers like this?Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-22251318806782409452009-10-29T21:51:45.055+02:002009-10-29T21:51:45.055+02:00Honestly? I think it comes from the very common ...Honestly? I think it comes from the very common perception that anyone can write. How hard can it be? And since anyone can do it, I don't have to worry too much about paying you.<br /><br /> I really like Vanessa's idea about offering to take the supermarket's food in exchange for exposure.<br /><br />ElspethElspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-57512788019048866122009-10-29T13:42:46.452+02:002009-10-29T13:42:46.452+02:00Ha! love it! Hello supermarket - I will take this ...Ha! love it! Hello supermarket - I will take this trolley-load of food and stuff away without paying. You wont mind... will you? It will be excellent exposure when I tell the family and friends where the stuff came from.Vanessa Gebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833187671441310234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-55979894497696411402009-10-29T13:30:33.139+02:002009-10-29T13:30:33.139+02:00That's awful Vanessa! That exposure spiel is c...That's awful Vanessa! That exposure spiel is common when they want you to write for free too. I wonder if I can use it on my car mechanic? If you fix my car I'll tell all my friends- it will be exposure. I have a feeling it won't fly.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-52953721242021060572009-10-29T11:28:17.192+02:002009-10-29T11:28:17.192+02:00I dont think we ac tively 'let' people tre...I dont think we ac tively 'let' people treat us poorly - it is perhaps more of an 'apprenticeship' where if we are serious, we have to keep plugging at it for very little or nothing.<br />Then there is a crunch moment. Mine came late last year, when I ran writing workshops for a decent prearranged fee, for a long-established outfit called The South. The workshops were well-publicised on their smart website, and well attended by members of the public who had paid in advance. <br /><br />They did not honour my fee. And when I complained, a director said ' you have not had nothing -we gave you exposure through our website' (!!!)<br /><br />They have since closed.<br /><br />But that was the moment I thought this was taking the piss. It was run by writers, for writers, this organisation- and it was writers actually fleecing writers!!!!Vanessa Gebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833187671441310234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-43667175269063475302009-10-29T10:26:03.103+02:002009-10-29T10:26:03.103+02:00Bonita- UGH! It really is awful. I had a guy owing...Bonita- UGH! It really is awful. I had a guy owing me money for 4 months. I called him and he had the audacity to hang up on ME- and I was still being nice! That certianly put me in a serious funk for a few days which pissed me off even more. I owned a business for 10 years, I left because I hated chasing money and yet here I am back chasing money.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-17765919839530696432009-10-29T10:03:44.549+02:002009-10-29T10:03:44.549+02:00Heck, even people in the industry devalue the writ...Heck, even people in the industry devalue the writer's work. Once I worked for a house that was significantly late in paying (usually it's a 45-60 day delay between <i>approval</i> and payment). I got worried. Then I got pissed. I called at 10 am, said I would be dropping by their office at 12:30 and if they had a check for me, I would give them a 10% discount. I did. They did. I was one of the few writers that they paid. Within a few weeks they stole away under cover of darkness.bonitanoreply@blogger.com