Re: Question from a lurker

**Ellen Zachos e*@acmeplant.com**

Melanie,

Here's my opinion.  I'm someone who has made the transition into garden
writing in the last 4-5 years, so I still consider myself fairly new at
it.  That being said, I have never done anything (writing or
photography) for free and I doubt if I would, unless it were to benefit
a charity that I cared about.

I've certainly worked for very little money, especially when I was
starting out, but I think it's important to be paid SOMETHING for your
work, to establish yourself as a professional from the get-go.  Both you
and the people who ask you to work for them need to understand that this
is not a hobby, but a serious profession.

Getting your name out there is important, and I'm still prepared to
sacrifice a little income for prestige, but that's not going to pay the
rent.  And really, tell me why you should work hard for no money at all?

Ellen Zachos

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