Should writers get paid?

Kuma 2021-08-21 13:08:10 UTC #12

Yes. (I would just leave that but there is a minimum character requirement.)

EncryptedWriting 2021-08-21 13:47:48 UTC #13

I think that it's a difficult situation. If the artist wants to pay the writer then they should certainly do so. I find it very uncommon regarding that circumstance, but it is ultimately up to them.

After lots of reflection, I see that everyone should be paid for their work writing or drawing. When it comes to collaboration it gets tricky because people then ask, well is one more important than the other? Should one be paid?

I guess that's why collaborations exist, as they live as equals, not separations. However, some people realize that they need others and are willing willing pay which is their own choice. Overall, it's sticky.

I guess it comes down to this, all artists (writers and drawing as artists) work hard on their crafts and should be paid. When it comes to collaborations, a deal is formed where they become a team, working together.

Do writers deserve to be paid? Yes. It comes down to situation and ultimately the individuals involved.

I also want to apologize to any I offended. After looking at all the feedback, I realize my error in my comments and I've looked at it from a different point of view. If you are able to, please accept my apology with time.

Kelheor 2021-08-21 14:35:06 UTC #14

If I am hiring a writer to write me a story that will suit my needs, of course I should be paying them. If I am hiring a writer that will suit my needs and I am asking a ton of world building, characters chemistry and other important stuff from them, of course I should be paying them.

Now I am not in a paid collaboration, but without my writer I won't be a creator of all these awesome comics, I won't be able to win a comic contest with this awesome story, not to mention I won't even start drawing comics at all because I was never confident that I can write a cohesive story by myself. It's time and skill and research that is put into writing work. To say that writers shouldn't get paid is as infuriating as saying that artists shouldn't be paid, because "eh, you like doing it anyway, like it's not hard for you or anything".

SleepingPoppy 2021-08-21 16:23:53 UTC #15

Most collaborations are about one person trying to execute a particular vision, and seeking outside talent to help realize that vision, in which case outside talent should be paid.

I think we also need to recognize that the reality of the situation is there are simply more writers who desire the contribution of artists to their storytelling than the reverse, which puts a lot of the "pay creative people for their work" pressure on these writers. ((Though reminder that many of these types of collaboration are actually from people with an idea, and no real writing experience, but they present themselves as writers)) This does not mean artists are entitled to free writing, just that the odds of a writer being willing to contribute their writing for free are probably higher. Which gets us into the myriad of issues with free collaboration.

So it's a sticky wicket. I hope most, if not all, of us realize artists and writers are of equal creative value. Whoever is offering a service should be paid.

jensrichard77 2021-08-21 16:27:07 UTC #16

Learning from mistakes and acknowledge mistakes is what keeps us vice.

Apology accepted.

Zugaikotsu 2021-08-21 16:57:31 UTC #17

I second this wholeheartedly grabs hiis own two hands axe +15 against scumbags

Zugaikotsu 2021-08-21 17:02:33 UTC #18

RIP Mordecai

thedude3445 2021-08-22 09:05:17 UTC #19

I want authors to get paid because I want to get paid

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-08-23 03:39:34 UTC #20

Read through that thread & didn't notice anyone actually say writers should not be paid. Saw a lot of opinions to the contrary with some nuances based on whose ideas were being written, etc.

DasIstWunderblyat 2021-08-23 03:46:16 UTC #21

That's because the commenter deleted their statement and have made a new one here clarifying things, if you can read.

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-08-23 04:01:35 UTC #22

Sorry, you linked to a thread that doesn't contain the alleged "writers shouldn't be paid" statement but I can't find it & I wanted to see it. Who was it that deleted their statement?

And thanks so much for the snark.

EncryptedWriting 2021-08-23 04:03:25 UTC #23

That would be me

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-08-23 04:05:01 UTC #24

Thank you! So, what was it that you actually said, because I can't see it and I have a half-suspicion this thread is about a misunderstanding of it.

EncryptedWriting 2021-08-23 04:06:08 UTC #25

I'll pm you as I wish to not take up space here. What I said was wrong and there might be a slight misunderstanding but I did say some things that I do regret and see error in my ways.

crimson_mystery_cake 2021-08-23 04:16:35 UTC #26

Yes, writers should be paid. Writing and creating is work after all. However it depends on who is paying a writer.

The writer completely owns their own intellectual property and anyone wishing to use that property should pay the writer in order for that use. However if the writer is asking for someone else’s labor or talent to help bring their vision to life then the writer should be paying the person whose labor is being used. So if a writer wants an artist, since the writer is asking for the artist’s talent and labor the writer needs to pay the artist, not the other way around.

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-08-23 04:29:43 UTC #27

After getting some info on what had been said, it appears there never was an unconditional statement that actually said, "writers shouldn't be paid", after all. It was more like what you just explained.

crimson_mystery_cake 2021-08-23 04:30:05 UTC #28

Ah thanks makes sense!

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-08-23 04:32:11 UTC #30

Yep. To me, it didn't seem possible anyone in the creative communities would actually hold such an unnuanced opinon about writers. I figured there had to be more shades of gray there, somewhere.

spiderbrahdfo13 2021-09-16 17:38:47 UTC #31

Most people don't value writers and because of this not many people really want to pay them to write. You can see it here, the way people on this forum react to collaboration post with a artist seeking a writer without any mention of pay is completely different than how someone would react to a post by a writer looking for an artist without mentioning pay.

though, you don't have to be a great writer to get popular you usually just have a to draw decently and have some kind of romance or fantasy plot.

migxmeg 2021-09-16 18:50:52 UTC #32

please don't with this - it's a slap to all the hard work those popular creators put in as well as the work a person has to put in to "just draw decently." Annnd isn't true or constructive.

One thing that strikes me about unpaid collaboration posts that I've seen here (and personally I don't have a problem with unpaid collaborations as long as it's really a collaboration - I'm in one, it's great and I know the value of my writer is immense - though I think they're very fragile unless there's some outside factors) is that it's definitely easier for artists to pitch. All we have to do is post samples of our work and writers can see our skills and style and decide if we seem like a good fit. I glance through most of the collab posts from writers and have seen very few that look like interesting pitches. These creative projects take so much effort from both sides - if I was looking for a new writer, I'd want to be damn sure that I'm excited about their vision and if they can't get their vision across and make it sound compelling in a post, I'm not going to trust that they write well or can get their story across either.

Like we could be looking at potential for hours and hours and hours over months or even years of effort and all that's in the post is that you (not you, spiderbrah, but some of these posts) have a story idea that's gonna be big so dm you for details. Like hell no, I'm not wasting my time - I could be off practicing hands or noses.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the reactions to posts that are in-depth, well written, reasonable (as in, actually sounds like collaboration, not just "execute my vision") and contain links to work (novel, script, samples) that artists can look at and determine fit have been significantly more favorable. And so are reactions to projects that are short, because they don't require such a strong commitment.