The Vow: I Will Not Be a Slave Writer

Mahoganie’s (partial schedule for December 2013)

December has worn me out. It has been mixed with work, friends, family, dancing, good food, libations and more that included a scare in which I almost lost my Iphone and in a panic state I took a terrible tumble!!!!! In the end I was reunited with my phone.  Just this weekend I closed out the year at the Fillmore losing my mind as Estelle and Common rocked the mic and turned it out!! I’ve enjoyed every bit of December (even the fall because I surely laughed at myself for that one), but I’m tired. I’m officially on chill mode until 2014 comes in. I hope it comes in with a “BANG;” meaning the same energy that came over me in 2013 that allowed me to get things done, I need for it to continue and help vibrate or elevate me higher to another realm as an entrepreneur, a mom and really an overall being.

When I started this blog it was to document my journey as a writer; a creative writer and as a journalist. I’ll admit, I have work to do to help push out my creative work more. This is something I’m looking into as a new year approaches. With well over ten years of experience (and finally bestowed my BA in Journalism at 30), my journalism career has seen a great boom.  Financially things can be better, especially when it comes to contemplating projects I REALLY want to do, but it doesn’t pay.  I think NOW I’m realizing what my work is worth and I’m working on reprogramming my thought process when it comes to stuff like this. I’ve witness and participated in one too many discussions on this matter with other writers and a journalists. Of course it’s great to take on a nice project for free especially if the budding writer/journalist needs the exposure. It’s even great to do it if what you are working on is something dear to your heart and monetary “reward” for it doesn’t matter and the payout turns out to be something more valuable than money.  However, there is a line to draw especially if you have been in this business long enough and if this freelance/entrepreneurial lifestyle is your livelihood.

It wasn’t until I dove deep as a  freelancer that I realized how writers can be disrespected by being seen a lesser priority  when it comes to payment and how much of a priority when a “client” needs something done and they know you are good at it. In other words, you are only a priority when it’s convenient for them and once you turn in the work (before or without pay) they are on to the next until they need you again. I thought it was just me until I started hearing the grumbles of other freelance writers/journalists around me.

In case you missed it;

For those that do expect payment at the end of a project but experience unreasonable delays, CNN Money’s Anne Fisher has a good article on “How to Get Paid and Not Played.” 

In October, The New York Times ran the op-ed piece “Slaves of the Internet, Unite.” I love Tim Kreider’s analogies here:

“People who would consider it a bizarre breach of conduct to expect anyone to give them a haircut or a can of soda at no cost will ask you, with a straight face and a clear conscience, whether you wouldn’t be willing to write an essay or draw an illustration for them for nothing. They often start by telling you how much they admire your work, although not enough, evidently, to pay one cent for it. “Unfortunately we don’t have the budget to offer compensation to our contributors…” is how the pertinent line usually starts. But just as often, they simply omit any mention of payment.

A familiar figure in one’s 20s is the club owner or event promoter who explains to your band that they won’t be paying you in money, man, because you’re getting paid in the far more valuable currency of exposure. This same figure reappears over the years, like the devil, in different guises — with shorter hair, a better suit — as the editor of a Web site or magazine, dismissing the issue of payment as an irrelevant quibble and impressing upon you how many hits they get per day, how manyeyeballs, what great exposure it’ll offer. “Artist Dies of Exposure” goes the rueful joke.”

Kreider goes on to explain that part of the problem is the state of the economy that has left a good crop of publications struggling to stay afloat and unfortunately the writers take the black eye of being paid little to none. He also cites the way information is being covered and published; the Internet. “Just as the atom bomb was the weapon that was supposed to render war obsolete, the Internet seems like capitalism’s ultimate feat of self-destructive genius, an economic doomsday device rendering it impossible for anyone to ever make a profit off anything again,” states Kreider

The Atlantic even chimed in with their answer to Kreider.

With that in mind, I managed to let some words from a friend sink into my brain. For a while it seemed that I was too dependent on one publication to come through and eventually pay me for my work. I was thankful for the opportunities and  frustrated at the same time because I could barely scrape up pennies for my child’s next field trip with her class. In so many words my friend (also an entrepreneur) advised me to not put all my hopeful eggs in that one basket. I should flex my entrepreneurial skills further and see how I can generate funds in other areas; starting with Jade Browne Ink (which I’m still fine tuning) and another small project I’m working on for my creative writing side.

Mahoganie working the Carolina Kitchen Holiday Party & Toy Drive 2013. Mahoganie got to meet up with entertainment journalist Jawn Murray and reality TV star Omarosa

Then, right on cue, I received a tip about an opportunity in working for a public relations firm. I scored it! The real beauty and blessing in this opportunity I still get to work from home and it’s flexible. It’s part time and while much of it is grunt work (research), I love doing what I do for them! While I already had the basics of PR in my back pocket in case I needed to whip out a press release or a bio, working for this boutique company has opened my eyes more to the world of PR. I’m learning hands on as I go. What I like about this company is the fact the the clients are from the hospitality industry with many of them chefs or restaurateurs with high quality establishments here in D.C.

Honestly in working for this company, I’m rethinking my journalism route a bit or more so wondering how can I enhance my freelance lifestyle to ensure I don’t sink my finances. Then a small part of me wants to start looking for a “9 to 5” again. I’ve long ago resigned to the fact that I’m not really a 9 to 5 person unless the job is one that I truly love. However, there have been a couple of positions I managed to see and then I have an all out battle in my head on revamping my resume… AUUUUUGAIN…and then the notion tires me out.  Clearly I’m still coming to my own as an entrepreneur. I’m still hustling my stories around as a freelance journalist, but I’m facing 34 (with another month and change to go) and eventually I want to come to a place where I can coast. Where financially things will be ok for myself and my daughter. It’s the same place that will allow me and my daughter to live comfortably and travel like I really want us to.

Mahoganie stepping into 2014 with a little glam.

For 2014 I’m working on being a smart and business minded entrepreneur. I’m working on becoming less of a slave writer and becoming more of a priority or in a position where a publication or client will NEED me and don’t mind paying for my work. I’m open and ready for more growth as a person! I spent SEVERAL years in a transitional slump. I’m breaking through! It feels good to finally say this! I’m breaking through!!!!!!!!!

But wait…something I must do before 2014…. mail these dang holiday cards!!!!!

Tagged: creative writing, freelance, growth, journalism, life, new year, New York Times, Public Relations, The Atlantic, Tim Kreider, writing

Posted in: regular