Comments on: Writers Worth: Favors, Barters, and Your Writing Worth

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 17:04:37 +0000

Nancy, our stories make them want our jobs even more. 🙂

By: Nancy Oliver

Nancy Oliver — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:28:34 +0000

All the LinkedIn requests: Thank you, and I am responding. If you are reading this later, I am always available.

Ashley and Devon:
I have found that being a freelance editor/writer provides me with no end of amusing anecdotes when I get together with friends who work the ol' 9-to-5 thing. So... even though dealing with this type of "potential" (ha!) client can be torturous and ridiculous, it also serves a purpose. I always have a story!

Thanks, Lori, for this opportunity.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 31 May 2016 14:28:21 +0000

Devon said: "Sometimes you need to burn the bridge or they follow you across."

Great quote -- who needs the low-ballers in their lives? If they're worth keeping as clients, they'll show you their respect at the outset.

By: Ashley Festa

Ashley Festa — Fri, 27 May 2016 20:46:33 +0000

What a hilarious story, and how sad that it's true! I love your house-painting illustration about what an equitable barter would look like. While her book was "accepted" for self-publishing, she might soon be surprised at how measly those profits turn out to be. If it were me, I'd probably be "compelled" to "reach out" to her later on and see what your 10% would have been if only you had been willing to barter! 😉

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Fri, 27 May 2016 16:29:21 +0000

Good for you! Great way to handle that situation.

When I lived in Seattle in the mid-80s, we were all broke artists, so we bartered goods and services that had fairly equal value. Where I live now, it's very similar == someone offers something worth $10 or $15 and expects a 100K novel without punctuation edited. Um, no.

I have said to people, "That's insulting" or "You're kidding, right?" I do not regret burning those bridges. Sometimes you need to burn the bridge or they follow you across.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:22:18 +0000

I love how you handled that situation, Nancy. The house painting analogy is great - I just had the trim painted last year and had sticker shock at the estimates, but like you said, the prep work is everything. In my case the workers spent a full day scraping and sanding before opening the paint (it was the kind with the primer in it). And after the painting was done, they spent a few hours touching up and scraping paint from the windows. Once I saw everything they did, I understood why it cost more than I'd expected. The problem with editing is, unless the client uses the Track Changes they seem to forget how bad the original copy was.

So you're on LinkedIn, Nancy? I'll look for you there!

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:13:10 +0000

Susan, great seeing you again! Would love to catch up and see what's new in your world.

I too have become wary of bartering. My first barter with a web designer went beautifully because we did trade like-for-like. However, it's been more than a little dicey since then. Not everyone values your skills or even understands what they're worth, as Nancy points out.

Cathy, I loved that part, too. Because it's so hard to get a self-published book accepted...NOT.

Sharon, we think alike. Silence and nature -- the best reset button.

Keri, I hadn't thought to use a contract with a barter! Great idea.

Nancy, huh? LOL I don't get that, either.

By: NancyOliver

NancyOliver — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:02:25 +0000

Gosh! I appreciate all these kind comments! As a dear (but clueless) friend of mine says: "Barter is as barter does." Er, what?

-NancyO

By: KeriLynn Engel

KeriLynn Engel — Fri, 27 May 2016 12:53:51 +0000

Funny post :D Too bad some people don't understand the value of a writer/editor's services.

I've done bartering a few times, but you have to be really careful about spelling everything out & making sure both parties get fair compensation. I always use a contract, even with bartering.

I did some barter work to build up my portfolio in a new service I wanted to offer. Both times for stuff I would have paid for anyway! And both sides were very happy with the deal :D

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Fri, 27 May 2016 12:40:34 +0000

So good to meet you, Nancy. Great story – funny how those barter offers never come out in your favor. I'm a walking fan, too, but like Cathy, I usually go for silence and nature to help clear my thoughts.