I’ve been following a story on the Writer’s Weekly site about freelancing for friends. At first, I was pretty upset at the author. He came across as someone who is an utter jerk when his friends and family ask him to do a job for them for free. He emphasized rather proudly that he charges them full price, or gives them a break the first time with a stern lecture to not expect it again. In the course of the article, he implied that he did it because his friends were all freeloaders who took advantage of him.

That really rankled me somehow.

With very few exceptions (my tutoring and my jewelry), I’ve never thought twice about doing a favor for a friend using one of my money-earning skills. My friends and family have done so much for me, and in most cases, the only way I can repay that gratitude is through offering my skills. Even crazier, my friends tend to agree and remind me of this when I start feeling badly for not being able to contribute in other ways.

Maybe I just fell in with the right group of people.

The conversation on the site has continued, though, with people responding on both sides of the coin. Finally, the original author came back and said that he didn’t think he was being a jerk because you would never hit up a lawyer or doctor for free advice, therefore you shouldn’t expect it from a writer. But here’s the problem: I don’t think any industry is exempt from friends hoping for a little free advice or service. Some industries might be less willing to just share their skills, but we all get hit up.

I’m a teacher, a writer, and an editor, and I’ve definitely been asked for free work more times than I can count, especially as a teacher and editor. I probably do more free work than I should, but I try to gracefully accept payment when it’s offered unexpectedly by a friend. I’m not afraid to barter skills with friends (or anyone else who might approach me, actually). I don’t think I could ever bring myself to willingly charge a friend my full rate on most of my services.