Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer

this is a great comercial did he do this for free or did he get paid?

I do love hearing Harlan Ellison rant. The man speaks without a filter. More to the point the man speaks without adding bullshit. Do works of kindness for free, get paid to work. Harlan is rubbing salt in my wounds today, because I just gave away some work for free this past weekend to be nice and got burned. I'm not a writer, but the words still ring true.

As a comic-book writer who's been stiffed many Many MANY times in his career by publishers and fans, I applaud and echo Mr. Ellison.

Bloody fantastic! Applies to so many industries too...

BRILLIANT!!!

WORD!!!!

I do agree with you ...Except is there are 2 diff things :
1. Exceptionaly ask for a favor, they show humanity by helping you out .
I would too, I 've done it before, and I'll to do it again!
2. But those peeps we are talking about don't ask it as a favour! That's the way they make money . By getting peeps to work or extra for free, to make more $. And systematically, not as an exception . Specialy in "artistic" jobs ( design, illustration, music, acting etc )
I see it every day at work.

Love him or hate him, Harlan has always been a voice of sanity in an insane world.
Oh, and iwantmyisland -- yes, freebies never lead to paying work, just more freebies. Voice of experience here.
Never give away what you can get paid.

Harlan is absolutely right and YES, this DOES really happen. Does Harlan inspire you? THEN BUY HIS BOOKS.
Hell, buy MY books, too! And my clients' books! I'm a literary agent and a writer and I can tell you for sure that no one but an idiot ever wrote for free.

Well, maybe I am. but the point is, his interviews HAVE inspired me.

And maybe his books should be free too.