Writer, Do Yourself a Favor: Don’t Be a Mooch

Okay, be forewarned: this post has the potential to make you squirm. But I’ve promised you a behind-the-scenes look at writing, so put on your big kid pants.

As a writer, you may eventually rub elbows with people of celebrity. How you conduct yourself and your business in those situations can help determine your future.

I have made much of my living penning as-told-to-autobiographies of famous people. Early on I established a policy: I would not ask them for anything other than what the publisher was paying them for.

They had already committed to giving me large blocks of uninterrupted time for interviews and also shadowing time–when I just hung in the background and watched them interact with their families, teammates, the press, and colleagues. This helped me catch their natural voice, which was often different from their interview voice.

I noticed that almost all the other people in their lives had an agenda, something they wanted. People either hinted at what they were after or came right out and asked for pictures, pennants, autographs, tickets, or even to have the celeb call a relative and wish him happy birthday.

I decided I would never ask for any of that, and to my surprise, they noticed and appreciated it. It was an early, critical decision I made as a writer.

As I say, I expected only their time, for which they were being handsomely paid. Otherwise, I did not have my hand out, asking for or expecting anything. That helped when friends prevailed upon me to ask them for such things. I’d say, “You know what? I don’t even ask for those things for myself or my sons.”

The last thing I wanted was to leave a memory of myself as just another moocher.

In almost every instance, eventually the celebrity himself or a manager or agent would say, “I noticed you haven’t asked for anything. Can we send you some pictures for your kids? Would you like a few tickets to a game?” Now it was time to gratefully accept.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend the don’t ask policy. Mutual trust and respect is crucial for such important work. Strive to be low maintenance and practice being the giver in the relationship, not the taker.

You’d be surprised at the meaningful referrals that result from such a posture.

Have you ever worked with a celebrity? Please share what have you learned.

The post Writer, Do Yourself a Favor: Don’t Be a Mooch appeared first on Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild.