Would you ask a plumber to work for free?

As an author I love giving talks to readers and groups. I'm very happy to be invited to give talks. I've met wonderful people and am often invited back to give even more talks. I've been told, many times, "You're the best speaker we've ever had!"

Not bad for a lass from a council house on a working class estate in an ex-pit village. 

Not bad for someone with zero confidence, crippling anxiety and no training in public speaking.  

My passion for my subject carries me and always shines through. 

However an author talk takes up a lot of valuable writing time.

Time to prepare, often with PowerPoint presentations. 

Time to travel there and back.

Time to set up, speak, chat afterwards, pack away and leave.

Time to decompress afterwards. 

Time to reflect and absorb feedback.

Time to follow up on contacts made.

Time to write to thank everyone involved.

Time to type up and prepare my invoice, adjust my self-employed business accounts and update my admin.

It's a lot of work, giving a talk, enjoyable as it is.

That's why I'm increasingly having to say no to invitations to give talks where I'm expected to give up my time, sometimes a few hours, sometimes a full day... for no payment in return.

Please consider this when inviting an author to speak to your group.

I wouldn't expect a plumber or a hairdresser, a chef or an accountant to work for free, would you? 

Why then do so many people expect writers to give up their writing time for no payment?

This month I was invited by - and I still have trouble processing this - the biggest writing organisation in the region where I live. I won't name it. Among other things, it champions working class writers. 

They asked me to speak via zoom to a group of writers in a session that would last a couple of hours. I said yes, happily, and outlined my modest fee. Their invitation to speak was swiftly revoked with a reply saying: "We thought you'd do this for free."

Don't get me wrong. I do give talks for free. I do much more for free than I ever do for payment. I speak to community groups, libraries, charities, heritage and history groups and visit bookshops. I talk at schools, universities and colleges to inspire students who want to write. 

My motto is: If you can, you should. 

So when I can, I do.

But when I can't, I have to charge. 

Recently, a magazine contacted me. Not only did they want a few hours of my time but they wanted to record the talk on zoom to be used as content to boost their social media channels. When I outlined my modest fee, their invitation was revoked. 

Please... If you'd like an author to speak to your group, pay them. 

If in doubt, or your budget is low, contact the author to negotiate. 

Allow authors to bring our books for sale at the event. Every little helps.  

Writing is a creative art that comes from my heart and my soul... and just like the plumber and the chef, the hairdresser and accountant, I need to make a living too. 

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Glenda Young

BlueSky: @Glenda Young

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com