Comments on: Pro Bono or Bust http://dfmamea.com/blog/2007/03/31/pro-bono-or-bust/ A New Zealand screenwriter. A blank screen. And an internet connection. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:24:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: d f mamea http://dfmamea.com/blog/2007/03/31/pro-bono-or-bust/#comment-62 d f mamea Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:06:12 +0000 http://dfmamea.com/blog/2007/03/31/pro-bono-or-bust/#comment-62 thanks for your kind words, Helen. i agree that sometimes unpaid writing must be done in order to get some work down the track. i've done my share - or, as Mr Friedman nicely put it, <i>less than many but more than some</i> - but what galls me is the <b>expectation</b> that i will just do the writing and trust that 'we'll sort out some payment later'. (thus i have a manager who gets to say, "SHOW ME THE MONEY!") that's not to say i won't open up the laptop without the sniff of a contract - i've worked on projects gratis because they've turned me on, and been glad to. oh, and the blog where i get to 'witter'. thanks for your kind words, Helen.

i agree that sometimes unpaid writing must be done in order to get some work down the track. i’ve done my share - or, as Mr Friedman nicely put it, less than many but more than some - but what galls me is the expectation that i will just do the writing and trust that ‘we’ll sort out some payment later’. (thus i have a manager who gets to say, “SHOW ME THE MONEY!”)

that’s not to say i won’t open up the laptop without the sniff of a contract - i’ve worked on projects gratis because they’ve turned me on, and been glad to.

oh, and the blog where i get to ‘witter’.

]]> By: Helen Leggatt http://dfmamea.com/blog/2007/03/31/pro-bono-or-bust/#comment-61 Helen Leggatt Tue, 17 Apr 2007 05:11:49 +0000 http://dfmamea.com/blog/2007/03/31/pro-bono-or-bust/#comment-61 Hi, I've been enjoying your blog for a month or so now. Very interesting reading. This particular post, "Pro Bono or Bust", is relevant to me. As a "new" writer, there is no way I would hsve been able to be paid from the get-go. I have used the last year to pound the keyboard in as many forms as possible and have managed to secure an unpaid column in my local paper (which now has a sponsor and I get a paid a few dollars!), and am now onboard with an online business publication - and being paid. I realise that you are referring to professional writers, and I am a professional marketing consultant by trade, but sometimes you do need to do something for nothing, if only to get your name known! Looking forward to continued reading of your blog. Best Helen Leggatt A Brit in the Boonies Hi, I’ve been enjoying your blog for a month or so now. Very interesting reading. This particular post, “Pro Bono or Bust”, is relevant to me. As a “new” writer, there is no way I would hsve been able to be paid from the get-go. I have used the last year to pound the keyboard in as many forms as possible and have managed to secure an unpaid column in my local paper (which now has a sponsor and I get a paid a few dollars!), and am now onboard with an online business publication - and being paid.

I realise that you are referring to professional writers, and I am a professional marketing consultant by trade, but sometimes you do need to do something for nothing, if only to get your name known!

Looking forward to continued reading of your blog.

Best
Helen Leggatt
A Brit in the Boonies

]]>