Respect Writers

Since I left the press, I went into freelance writing as a natural course. Work has been ad-hoc and not sustainable, luckily I have a full time job, else I would have starved.
I find that here, I don't know about elsewhere publication scene in the world, does not pay writers due respect and fees.

They think that if they have a budget, they rather pay for good photographs (as a picture conveys a thousand words) and design for their logos, layout etc.... but they refused to pay a good price for a translator or copywriter. Sucks.

I wish to enlighten all that, a world is not communicating sense if there are no writers. And a writer's value lies in his/her ability to research, takes time to understand the context/ purpose and targeted audience of the writing, man-hours put in to craft, conceptualise and structure the story. It takes skills, time, experience and creativity.

Are we not worth than the lens-men and designers? I think not. So if others can charge exorbitant rates, writers can demand good rates too, and not try to quote lower, lower, and ...the margin is diluted.

My fashion designer friend also experiences the same misfortune,her colleague asked her to design her wedding gown (probably for free), and she accepted out of formality. She regretted it now and wants to pull out. So, when you ask someone for free write-up or design or free service, think twice, you are usurping his/her waking hours and creativity to do "work" for you, and why should she?

I am going to stand firm on my pricing from now on-- even the most meagre-paying editorial work! I will only write stories that can help me in contact-building or profiling, since I have a choice to commit my hours to it or not, based on what value I see in the price. And I ever thought of bundling all my freelance writer friends-- which I have about 6 to 7 at the moment, and lobby for our rights.

RESPECT our craft, our originality, ideas, creativity; hence our value, and our price.

Only when we are respected, can the world be a better and more communicable place.

So respect writers, and respect my value.

AMEN*

-- 颠沛流离的城市中，让我为你谱写一段历史、一个记忆、一份情怀。就算失去所有，我还有文字陪伴我。Let me write for you and all I ask for is Respect for my craft.