Support for Indie Authors discussion

The German ISBN agency just informed me that putting "sometimes we're paid in pretzels" on my company website is NOT a wise choice while they are checking out whether I'm a legit publishing house.

Ooops.

Have you been paid with something other than money before? If yes, what was it, and was it worth it?

Let me know below!

I've been paid in cheeseburgers before. It was for the use of my vehicle so a neighbor could move. And it was well worth it.

Usually when helping friends move, I get paid in pizza and Mike's Hard Lemonade.

Sounds lke the German ISBN agency needs to be paid with a sense of humor. ;)

I've traded crafts for books. And the beer and pizza for moving help like Joe.

My favorite is unquestionably being paid for a little comedy writing in housework. Can't beat it!

Riley wrote: "I've been paid in cheeseburgers before. It was for the use of my vehicle so a neighbor could move. And it was well worth it."

I'll gladly pay you Wednesday for a hamburger today.

I taught French to a friend of mine who was going to live in Europe, I didn't ask her for money, although she was going to travel a long ride she was actually short of money and was sparing every euro she had (at that time it was not euro, but it took a hero to live in another country and leaving without some amount of money) , And she didn't want to take lessons for free so she decided to trade my work with something I liked to take every morning: a bag of cereal. That's right! A funny account and I've got so many more stories to tell... Just check my books out! Most of my tales were taken from real life accounts. I still love cereals for breakfast, and now I'd rather take (or trade) them with my Series instead. Seriously!

For the first story I ever had published I was paid with a year's subscription to the magazine. That was quite common at the time (early 1980s). In this case they wanted me to submit one of my early stories for a critique by their experts. One day maybe I'll post the story on my website. Unfortunately, I can't post their criticism because it was copyrighted.

I can see how the barter system might frustrate governments trying to tax everything.

Ken wrote: "For the first story I ever had published I was paid with a year's subscription to the magazine. That was quite common at the time (early 1980s). In this case they wanted me to submit one of my earl..."

I received several free copies of the publication my first written work appeared in.

Christina wrote: "Sounds lke the German ISBN agency needs to be paid with a sense of humor. ;)"

Haha, apparently they didn't hold it against me, they just assigned me a contingent of 100 Numbers at publisher's rates (which is like 4% of the full rate).

Yay!

Also, I have paid people in books before, and in book vouchers.

Oh, and I got "paid" in a sense with fruit and vegetables. The local history museum asked me to look after their museum garden, and I could keep anything I grow in it. Since it includes a large vegetable garden, that was neat.

Charles wrote: "I received several free copies of the publication my first written work appeared in..."

I don't recall ever selling a story to a magazine that didn't send free copies of the issue my work appeared in--along with payment. But giving out freebies has always been a way to get noticed.

This is hilarious. I am afraid I do not have any funny stories of my own, but my dad posted a rideshare ad on Craigslist when he was driving up the west coast USA. He included the amount of gas money that everyone was expected to pay. A few people expressed interest including a couple, so my dad was satisfied that he had filled all of the seats in the car to help with expense. The couple showed up that day with a dog and told my dad that they did not have any money, but would he take a puppy instead? A puppy. On a road trip. My dad does NOT like pets. He said no, haha.

In my experience, writing/publishing has cash flow going in the opposite direction.

And no one yet has agreed to accept pretzels in lieu of cash.

I have paid for other services with my writing. Had a handy man fix my sink and I wrote out his resume. A guy fixed my car for several poems for the girl he liked.

I get paid with reviews every time I give someone a book for free to get a review.

I have traded editing services for artwork services (I am not the best artist.) and have traded babysitting for beta reading. (I watched her two month old while she read and make suggestions on my book.)

I actually get paid more in trade than in actual $$. Too bad my landlord won't take fixing up the property off the rent :(

That's awesome, Heidi. Maybe I should stop making resumes for everyone and their brother for free, haha.

I do a little dog walking on the side. I help one lady with her rubbish as an extra because she is frail. I take out her garbage each day and put out her bins and bring them in once a week. She pays me for the dog walking with real money but pays me in chocolates for the bins :)

Marie wrote: "That's awesome, Heidi. Maybe I should stop making resumes for everyone and their brother for free, haha."

For real, you know that there are coaching programs out there that charge hundreds of $$ to teach you how to "maximize" your resume? Doing layout is one thing, but helping them sell themselves? Yeah, get paid! Even if it is only in getting a wall fixed and replacing some rotten facia ;)

Joe wrote: "Usually when helping friends move, I get paid in pizza and Mike's Hard Lemonade."

Pizza and beer are the official currency when enlisting friends to help you move.

I got paid in amyl acetate once.

As an artist, I have been offered "exposure" more than once.

Sort of an aside, I have a German friend who wants to publish but thinks she may have to get permission from the government to use a nom de plume rather than her own name. I thought this was odd, because it's something I took for granted! (Maybe they worry about tax fraud...?)

As for payment... I did a rather complicated, (perfectly legal), favour for a friend, and they paid me with... a worn and dirty leather jacket. They had promised me money, but then said they couldn't get it from their husband. I was upset because it had cost me time and money to help them out, I had little of both and it had been inconvenient to assist but I wanted to be a good friend. That was an eye opener!

I've been paid in booze before... And for editing I've just been paid with an all-day resort pass. They know my penchant for drink and decadence...

i once got paid with a date by a girl i liked for helping with her essay. was proud of myself for it, and quite freaked for not knowing a thing on the topic at hand lol.

I got paid in attaboys.

J.N. wrote: "I got paid in attaboys."

Haha! Pardon me while I succumb to fits of laughter. Super lame but still funny. Sorry!

Micah wrote: "And no one yet has agreed to accept pretzels in lieu of cash."

*raises hand*

I have worked for pretzels before.

Holly wrote: "Sort of an aside, I have a German friend who wants to publish but thinks she may have to get permission from the government to use a nom de plume rather than her own name. I thought this was odd, b..."

She sounds like a lot of German people I know who think the same. Germany has compulsory ID cards and a national registry where you have to register your place of residence (you can't get work or healthcare or anything if you don't). The government basically wants to know who you are and where you are at all times, so "hiding" behind a nom de plume seems like it might be against some law or other.

(However, I'm from Germany, and I can confirm that you can of course pick any nom de plume you like without permission from anyone. I have two.)

Kat wrote: "Micah wrote: "And no one yet has agreed to accept pretzels in lieu of cash."

*raises hand*

I have worked for pretzels before."

I suppose there are few things I would not do for a fresh-out-of-the-oven soft baked giant pretzel with nacho cheese dipping sauce...

I know someone who was paid in books. I myself have been paid once in pizza lol.

I wouldn't mind being paid in bitcoin.

never worked for pretzels but have been paid in pizza booze and drugs. lolz now these days I take money. I do payment plans!

K.P. wrote: "I do payment plans!"

I should make a habit of that.

Not related to writing, but my ex and I often used to take rides in the car with our two Samoyeds. One night we saw a couple on the road. The woman was crying. They told us that their brother in law had kicked them out of the house without bringing them back home. We told them we'd be back in ten minutes. We were going to put the dogs in the house and come back.

They seemed surprise we did but anyway, at the time, I didn't speak much English although I understood it. The man used his French to tell us he didn't have any money but was willing to give us his watch for payment. We drove them three cities further but we never accepted his watch. What is life worth if you can't help people in need?

Of course, at the time, picking up hitchhikers was not as risky and we did that all the time.

V.M. wrote: "Michael wrote: "i once got paid with a date by a girl i liked for helping with her essay. was proud of myself for it, and quite freaked for not knowing a thing on the topic at hand lol."

That's a ..."

yes, and then i moved to Minnesota the week before date numero tres. grrr lol

As a student and resident, the owner of a strong back and a weak mind, I was frequently asked to help people move.
The standard payment was beer and pizza, sausage and olives, of course. I have my standards