Harlan Ellison on Being Asked to Work for Free

If you're a writer, you need to listen to Harlan Ellison. This brilliant author and speaker (I had the pleasure to hear him lecture, if you can call what he does "lecturing," in college) has one of the best understandings of value paid for value received in the business. Much of his

"They always want the writer to work for nothing. And the problem is, there are so many writers with no goddamn idea that they're supposed to be paid every time they do something. ... I sell my soul, but at the highest rates, the highest rates. I don't take a piss without getting paid for it." Much of his industry reputation for being difficult is a direct reaction to his refusing to smile while being screwed. (Many who have worked with him have said that he's far more mensch than maniac.)

The next time you feel yourself weakening when asked to give more rights, take on spec, and otherwise bend over for the convenience of some corporation with an immense income and highly paid executives, listen to this.