--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The freelance writer is a man who is paid…" description: "\"The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.\" — Robert Benchley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg" --- # The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per… ![“The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” quote by Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg) > “The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freelance writers are compensated per piece or word, highlighting the transactional nature of the work. **In simple terms:** Writers get paid per output. Key Takeaway Understand your payment model. Themes work economics freelance Mood pragmatic humorous Type informative satirical When to use this quote - contract negotiation - budget planning - career choice Key Concepts gig economy valuation of labor Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer per-word or per-project rates? - How does payment affect your writing style? A Different Perspective Pay structures can affect creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freelance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freelance/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The freelance writer is one who is paid per piece, or per word, or perhaps.” – Peter Benchley”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-boutros/the-freelance-writer-is-one-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/) Gabriel Boutros > [The free-lance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-free-lance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he’s given the freedom to starve anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dubious-privilege-of-a-freelance-writer-is-he-s-given-the-freedom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're a freelance writer and aren't used to being ignored, neglected, and generally given short shrift, you must not have been in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/if-you-re-a-freelance-writer-and-aren-t-used-to-being-ignored/) [Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/) > [I have to be a freelance writer for the rest of my life, unless I get some kind of real lucky break. But other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-have-to-be-a-freelance-writer-for-the-rest-of-my-life-unless-i-get/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My dad is a bank president and my mom was an accountant and they didn't think that seeking the life of a freelance writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/my-dad-is-a-bank-president-and-my-mom-was-an-accountant-and-they-didn/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [“A freelance writer is paid per word, per piece, perhaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/a-freelance-writer-is-paid-per-word-per-piece-perhaps/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [For the vast majority of my adult life, I was a freelance writer, forever scrambling for work that paid an insulting non-amount.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/for-the-vast-majority-of-my-adult-life-i-was-a-freelance-writer/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [I'm a freelance writer, and I work alone at a big desk in the living room of my apartment. There are many days when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/i-m-a-freelance-writer-and-i-work-alone-at-a-big-desk-in-the-living/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [As a freelance writer, I'd be asked to become an expert for various magazines on any subject, whether food or wine or history or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/as-a-freelance-writer-i-d-be-asked-to-become-an-expert-for-various/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [It was my very good fortune to find a mentor, Clay Felker, who started my career at the 'New York Magazine' as a freelance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/it-was-my-very-good-fortune-to-find-a-mentor-clay-felker-who-started/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [For 10 years, I'd been working as a freelance writer and editor, making money but not a living. It was a good arrangement family-wise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-allison/for-10-years-i-d-been-working-as-a-freelance-writer-and-editor-making/) [Will Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-allison/) > [The free-lance writer is the person who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-free-lance-writer-is-the-person-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [“The free-lance writer is one who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-free-lance-writer-is-one-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [A freelance is one who gets paid by the word -- per piece or perhaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/a-freelance-is-one-who-gets-paid-by-the-word-per-piece-or-perhaps/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## More by Robert Benchley > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/you-might-think-that-after-thousands-of-years-of-coming-up-too-soon/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/it-took-me-fifteen-years-to-discover-i-had-no-talent-for-writing-but/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But ice-crunching and loud gum-chewing, together with drumming on tables, and whistling the same tune 70 times in succession, because they indicate an indifference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/but-ice-crunching-and-loud-gum-chewing-together-with-drumming-on/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The naturalistic literature of this country has reached such a state that no family of characters is considered true to life whichdoes not include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-naturalistic-literature-of-this-country-has-reached-such-a-state/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [There is no such place as Budapest. Perhaps you are thinking of Bucharest, and there is no such place as Bucharest, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/there-is-no-such-place-as-budapest-perhaps-you-are-thinking-of/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [I am both a public and a private school boy myself, having always changed schools just as the class in English in the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-am-both-a-public-and-a-private-school-boy-myself-having-always/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed be doing at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/anyone-can-do-any-amount-of-work-provided-it-isn-t-the-work-he-is/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [After an author has been dead for some time, it becomes increasingly difficult for his publishers to get out a new book by him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/after-an-author-has-been-dead-for-some-time-it-becomes-increasingly/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [One of the chief duties of the fan is to engage in arguments with the man behind him. This department of the game has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/one-of-the-chief-duties-of-the-fan-is-to-engage-in-arguments-with-the/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [“There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who do not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-those-who-divide-the-world/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/why-don-t-you-get-out-of-that-wet-coat-and-into-a-dry-martini/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with that it's compounding a felony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/drinking-makes-such-fools-of-people-and-people-are-such-fools-to/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Behind every argument is someone's ignorance. Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/behind-every-argument-is-someone-s-ignorance-behind-every-argument-is/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) [Explore all 161 Robert Benchley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## More Freelance quotes > [I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance stuff for Car & Driver and such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-went-back-to-bumming-around-new-york-writing-freelance-stuff-for/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Freelance isn't for everyone - you've got to be aggressive and enjoy working alone. But you could make more money than you ever imagined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/freelance-isn-t-for-everyone-you-ve-got-to-be-aggressive-and-enjoy/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [“Choose and create a circle of proper advisors around you. Do not discuss your project with your relatives, neighbor, grandmother, friends’ friends, pastor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/choose-and-create-a-circle-of-proper-advisors-around-you-do-not/) Dmytro Zaporozhtsev > [My father started his own business, and before that was a freelance lecturer, and my friends are artists and musicians; they don't have real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/my-father-started-his-own-business-and-before-that-was-a-freelance/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) > [I'm only a freelance TV presenter and, in many ways, it's all just been a massive fluke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/i-m-only-a-freelance-tv-presenter-and-in-many-ways-it-s-all-just-been/) [James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/) > [The dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he’s given the freedom to starve anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dubious-privilege-of-a-freelance-writer-is-he-s-given-the-freedom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have certain rules that I've established for myself that took a while post-day job to figure out. Everyone says people who freelance or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-have-certain-rules-that-i-ve-established-for-myself-that-took-a/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [If you're looking to freelance, just get as many gigs going as you can, and you can make it work... It's about getting as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/if-you-re-looking-to-freelance-just-get-as-many-gigs-going-as-you-can/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [I wanted to work strictly as a freelance actor, and that's the way it turned out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/i-wanted-to-work-strictly-as-a-freelance-actor-and-that-s-the-way-it/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [I'm pretty freelance. A freelance meditator. I float from one thing to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/i-m-pretty-freelance-a-freelance-meditator-i-float-from-one-thing-to/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [I've never had a terrible job. I've been a cook, waitress, bookseller, teacher, freelance writer. I know what the bad jobs are, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-ve-never-had-a-terrible-job-i-ve-been-a-cook-waitress-bookseller/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [For 10 years, I'd been working as a freelance writer and editor, making money but not a living. It was a good arrangement family-wise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-allison/for-10-years-i-d-been-working-as-a-freelance-writer-and-editor-making/) [Will Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-allison/) > [“Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ackert/musicians-are-some-of-the-most-driven-courageous-people-on-the-face/) David Ackert > [“Go freelance yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dobson/go-freelance-yourself/) Jennifer Dobson > [The life of the professional writer - like that of any freelance, whether she be a plumber or a podiatrist - is predicated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/the-life-of-the-professional-writer-like-that-of-any-freelance/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) [Browse all 78 Freelance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freelance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Benchley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freelance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/robert-benchley-2562_writing_the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-pai_1970065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” — Robert Benchley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Benchley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The freelance writer is a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-freelance-writer-is-a-man-who-is-paid-per-piece-or-per-word-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```