A hard decision

Today, I came to a crossroads. It was the first time in my freelance career that I have determined that a particular client, who has been incredibly fun to work for, is no longer a viable option for me to continue working with. While the exposure has been great, as I progress in my career I simply cannot afford to work for clients who pay a wage which is below what I consider to be my minimum standards.

It was a difficult decision. I have literally spent the last week determining whether or not it was worth it to continue writing for this particular client, because I do enjoy the work, and they have been very good to me over the past few months. However, it comes down to simple numbers, and as a businessman first and foremost, I simply cannot continue at the present rate of compensation.

This morning was spent drafting a letter of thanks to the editor of the publication, as well as a request for a higher rate of pay. If the publication is unable or unwilling to compensate me accordingly, I simply let them know that I would respectfully be moving on, and that I hold their publication in the highest regards.

It's difficult making such decisions. You obviously want to keep your professional relationships at the highest standards possible. Burning bridges is not something you want to go around doing with regularity. And if you do your job correctly ( which any writer worth his salt will), then your request/resignation will read well enough that the client understands that it's nothing personal, it's just simply business. In this case, I really don't want to burn the bridge, but I simply can't continue working for exposure combined with a ridiculously low wage.

It's not simply about meeting your financial needs. It's about climbing the ladder of your chosen profession. Everyone starts out at the bottom and works their way up. Monetary compensation is simply the first step in moving up the rungs. I started out as a grunt pushing a broom when I was a teenager working for my dad's company for 8 dollars an hour. By the time I was 22 years old I was making 25 dollars an hour. By the time I was 24 I was making 35 dollars an hour, and I started my own company. By 2007 I was making 400-500 USD a day. It's just the rules of advancement. They hold true no matter what the career is. As you gain more experience, you earn more money.

So, while it was a hard decision to write a letter to an editor and put an ultimatum on the table, at the same time it's for the better. My career is advancing, and I am not simply writing for the exposure. My resume has expanded exponentially over the last year, and I am to the point now where I am no longer considered a fresh-faced newbie, and the rates adjust accordingly. It's nothing personal against past publications, it's just that the wages need to be acceptable according to national averages based upon the level of experience. It's business.