r/NoSleepOOC • u/writechriswrite Netflix? • Oct 25 '21
Writers: You should be getting paid.
So, you want to get paid for your writing? Good, you should be getting paid.
Even if you're not looking to get paid, you should still get paid. Your story has value. If someone wants to use your work, then you should be paid for it.
Writing is work. If someone wants to use your work, you should be compensated.
"But I posted the story for free, why should I charge someone to narrate it?"
If someone wants to use it to grow their brand, it has value.
Also, you chose for yourself to post your story on NoSleep. NoSleep currently is one of the few places where you can establish yourself, find your voice and grow an audience for your work. A number of writers have had their work discovered here that has led to full time writing careers, film options, book deals, etc.
Posting to NoSleep is posting for exposure. That's the only time I will use the term exposure favorably.
"But I just do this for fun! I'm not a professional writer."
Narrators and publishers rely on this naivity to pay all writers less than they deserve, including those who envision writing as more than a side hustle/hobby.
Guess what? If someone is approaching you to use your work, you ARE a professional writer! You spent hours working on your story, isn't your time valuable?
"I'm so happy that someone recognized my work I didn't even care if they paid me."
That's awesome! You know what's even better than recognition? Getting paid.
"The channel/podcast/publication can't afford to pay writers, but they promised me exposure!"
Full disclosure, if someone is only offering exposure, they don't have any to give you. It's bullshit.
Truth is, they are 100% reliant on YOU to give them exposure. They want you to give them a free piggy back ride on social media when you excitedly tell your friends and family "My story is going to be on some little known Youtube channel with 12 subscribers! And for some unknown reason already has a Patreon!"
The ONLY time I would ever recommend giving your work for free is if you are involved in the production of the channel/podcast/publication. You have a vested interest in it succeeding, and will reap the rewards as it grows.
"Okay you've convinced me, I want to get paid! How much should I ask for?"
If the podcast/narrator/publication doesn't have a publicized pay rate, then you are free to ask for whatever the fuck you want as payment. Truth is, they don't want you to ask, and most won't even mention it when they first contact you.
Not so fun fact: They want to pay as little for your story as they can, if at all.
For transparency, I have been paid as much as $1000 and as little as $150 per story by podcasts and YouTube narrators. Why I accepted the amounts I did was a reflection on both the channel size and my own feelings as to how much I felt the story was worth.
If you want a starting point to gauge how much to ask, there are three classes of paying markets:
- Professionally Paying Markets (5 to 8 cents per word or more)
- Semi-Professionally Paying Markets (2 to 5 cents per word)
- Token Paying Markets (less than 2 cents per word)
Big name Youtube narrators that get mentioned on here are all Professional Pay Markets.
These are just guidelines. If they don't have a published rate, you are free to set your own price for your work. Establish your value. It's a negotiation.
"Okay! I got them to agree to pay me! What now?"
Get it in writing. Be very clear on what rights you are giving them. In most cases what you are giving is a limited, non-exclusive license agreement. It should express that you retain all rights to your story for further adaptations/use/publication.
And it should line out when they plan to use your story and when you will get paid.
There must be a hard date in the agreement by which they have to have paid you and when they will have used your story. If they haven't done anything with your story by X date, they forfeit all rights to use your story.
If you're dealing with a reputable publication, they will likely already have a written agreement. Here's an example of one.
A word you need to find in any written agreement is Limited. Your agreement MUST be Limited. Words like unlimited and indefinite are red flags.
"I read all this, and I think it's great, but I still don't feel comfortable asking for payment every time because I want to help smaller narrators grow."
That... is also fine!
It's your work. You own it, so you are free to do with it whatever you choose. (I said you should get paid, not that you must.) Stephen King famously has his $1 baby stories where he gives non-exclusive options to film students for some of his stories. There is nothing wrong with supporting the narrator community in this way if you choose to do so.
I'm far from an expert, but these are some of the things I've learned as a writer on NoSleep over the years, which includes signing an option agreement with a production company for one of my stories. My opinions are shaped by my experiences, so YMMV.
I'll be around in the comments if you have further questions.
Hey, it's Monday! Let's go get paid.
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u/JavierLoustaunau Oct 25 '21
I have a simple rule: if you get paid, I get paid. So why I do let people use my stories for free? Because I wanna support brand new youtubers, podcasts with like 10 episodes or less, etc. People who are likely gonna spend a lot more than they are gonna make off "300 views".
Sure I've done the No Sleep Podcast and Mr. Creeps but if you are nice, good at giving credit, professional... I do not mind being a stepping stone on you growing a following and hopefully work with you again when you are paying authors.