The Wonderful World of Work for Hire*

by Stephanie Bearce

I love doing work for hire. It increases my writing portfolio, helps me explore new topics, and keeps a paycheck coming to my mailbox. But I’ve heard many authors scoff at doing work for hire.

“If it’s not my idea, I don’t want to write it.”

"There are too many rules.”

“The deadlines are too short.”

“It feels like being back in school.”

 Let’s take the last excuse first. Being back in school is a GOOD thing! I’ve learned so many things from my WFH editors. They taught me how to stay within word count, write to a certain readability score, and meet a short deadline. I learned how to negotiate with an editor, proof galleys, and follow the publisher’s guidelines. These are all skills that are taught in writing classes and workshops. Guess what? I got paid to learn those lessons!

And as far as being assigned a topic – I think of it as a learning adventure. I’ve discovered how hybrid cars work and how solar panels are constructed. I know about tsunamis, guinea pigs, and container gardens. The big bonus is that researching a new topic often gives me ideas for my own projects.

WFH is starting to sound better and better, isn’t it? If you are up for a writing adventure take a look at these websites. Trust me – you’ll be glad you joined the WFH team. I know I am.

Evelyn Christensen has a great site with links to WFH publishers.
Harold Underdown gives the low down on book packagers.
Editorial Freelancers Association has excellent resources.
Molly Blaisdell provides a solid list of publishers and packagers. 
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*Work for Hire – when a publisher hires an author to write a book on a specific subject for a predetermined audience.