Photo courtesy Sean MacEntee
An assistant editor for a well-known national in-flight magazine emailed a while back asking if I’d be interested in writing a business column.
Not long ago, I would have said yes almost immediately, despite the fact that the fee they were offering was much lower than my usual rate. I countered with a higher number and they came up slightly. Even then, it was less than my going rate for reported pieces. That’s not taking into account potential PITA factors such as what working with that particular editor would have been like, whether the columns would have been edited by committee – usually not a good thing – or how long it would take the publisher to pay.
In the end, I said thanks, but no thanks.
Turning down that particular opportunity was the right thing to do. Here’s why:
1. My career is in a different place than it was a few years ago when I was a SAHM returning to work after taking time off to raise my family. I was still re-establishing myself. Now I don’t have to take low-paying assignments to prove myself, even with name publications.
2. By accepting low-paying work, I would have make myself less available for work that paid closer to or more than my normal rate.
3. I’m ready to dream bigger. Times are changing. Technically, the recession is over. But with the so-called jobless recovery, a lingering European debt crisis that’s scaring businesses everywhere, continuing changes in the newspaper and magazine business, and a presidential election that looks like it could go either way, it’s more important than ever to be the master of my own destiny. For me, that means focusing on more of my own projects, and not taking on work just because it’s offered.
What about you: how are you dreaming bigger?
Yes, yes, yes and amen to that! (Actually, amen to all of your points, but that one can really be costly in the long run, I’ve found.)
Wonderful post, Michelle.
Thank you Sarah. One thing I should have noted – it’s really easy to say yes to a low-paying project when you have less than a full plate, out of fear that nothing else will materialize. The fear factor is huge. And real, especially if you have bills to pay, etc. But if you say yes, you could blocking yourself from making that higher paid work happen, either by aggressively marketing yourself to higher-paying publications, or starting a book or blog project that could end up being a money maker.
Michelle R.
Great post. I struggle with finding my “value” especially since I love to write. It’s hard to feel like I can turn things down, but I am in the beginning of my career as a freelance writer.
You give me hope that there will be a day I can say No and feel good about it.
Plus, you’ve already inspired me to dream bigger.
I struggle a bit with payment as I am still establishing myself, but I really feel I’m moving on to something more of late, something bigger. It’s a combination of focused writing, a new domain name, and a sense of improvement in my Japanese that’s got me all fired up and energized. That in turn fuels moving forward to the next thing…whatever that exactly may be.
Good for you! I lived in Sweden for the better part of a year a long time ago. I studied Swedish before I went, and did a bit of freelancing while I was there. I still remember how great it felt to conduct my first interview in Swedish.
Michelle