Today I want to have a little conversation about something that’s been on my mind for a while. We’re going to talk about…
EXPOSURE.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word? For someone who isn’t in a creative field, it might bring up thoughts of nudity, the outdoors, or both. But for those of us who create… I bet you cringed a little when I said it, right?
An artist's view on exposure can be summed up as...
Friends and Family
If you’re an artist (and yes, writers are artists) and a friend or family member — because let’s be real, this is often how it starts — asks you to create something for free, followed by “You’d be doing this anyway, right?” or “If someone asks, I’ll tell them you did it!” — let me make it clear: Don’t do it.
Friends and family are the hardest to say no to, but it’s one of the most valuable skills you can learn as an artist. Want to make something for them as a gift for a holiday or birthday? Go ahead, but it should be entirely your choice, and you should enjoy doing it. That gift won’t likely contribute to your professional creative future.
As for friend and family discounts? It’s a bit better, but still not ideal. It sets a precedent that you can be bartered with, and worse, that you can work for less. This can lead to the assumption that other artists should accept less than their asking price, which harms everyone in the industry. It’s not the kind of image you want to project for yourself or for others.
Set Your Prices and Stick To Them
After all, your friends and family should have a high enough level of respect for you that they will pay those rates.
So — exposure. Exposure has become the dirtiest word in art and literary spaces, and given what I just said I’m sure you’d assume I’m on board with that . . .
But Is It Actually So Terrible?
It can be. But what we’ve lost sight of in this age of black-and-white, immovable opinions is that there are varying degrees of exposure. Different types of exposure lead to different outcomes. Exposure on its own isn’t always harmful; it’s the quality and context of that exposure that really matters. That’s what you need to evaluate when considering any offer.
Let me illustrate with a few examples. I’ve already mentioned friends and family who ask for free commissions. In most cases, that’s a hard no.
“Hard no” you say? Well, let’s consider a scenario where a friend or family member wants to display that commission in their home, a home where they regularly host large charity galas attended by high-profile donors. Suddenly, that’s good exposure, isn’t it? This is where things start to get blurry. We’re stepping into grey areas, and we should be cautious in how we approach these situations.
Next We’ll Look At Big Companies
Total transparency here — in a previous day job, I spent years reaching out to writers, encouraging them to join beta programs where they could post their works either for fun or, you guessed it, free marketing. This puts me in a unique position as someone who has worked as an artist and writer for over two decades, now looking at things from the other side.
If a big company approaches you as an artist or writer and says, “Hey, post your stuff on our site for free,” you might be offended, especially if you don’t do any research. They're a large, wealthy company, and they’re not offering compensation for the work you’ve poured your heart into? That can feel like a slap in the face.
But wait — what is the scope for exposure?
If this type of opportunity presents itself to you, my recommendation would be to look into it. Research their traffic and assess the monetary value they’re offering in terms of marketing. If you’ve ever looked into online marketing, you know it can get expensive quickly. Personally, if someone offered me free ad space in a prime spot on a site that gets 20 million hits a day, I’d take it, because that’s worth it.
The thing with always turning down exposure without doing the research or giving it a second thought is that you could miss out on opportunities for marketing, networking, and community building. I’ve seen a lot of people stuck in this unadventurous mindset, and it rarely leads anywhere. More often, it results in nothing but frustrated rants on X—and that’s not constructive for anyone.
Speaking of X and Social Media in General…
Love it or hate it, we live in a time where the following matters. In fact, it’s so important that some agents won’t take you on unless you’ve already built one. Seems backwards? Maybe. My first instinct is to dislike it because a following doesn’t necessarily equate to talent.
But I can see both sides. The following is out there, and why wouldn’t they consider it? It shows them you’re a good bet.
Not only do you have a track record of people liking you, but if you’ve already put effort into self-marketing, they can see the investment you’ve made in yourself as a business, not just as a casual creator. And sure, we could get into the whole capitalism vs. self-expression debate, but for now, let’s accept the world as it is. Deal? Deal.
Before I Wrap This Up
Let me pose a few questions for you to think on...
If you actively use social media, you’re already supporting exposure by participating in writing communities on those platforms. Do writers lift each other up there?
It’s likely because you feel more in control, right?
But here’s the catch: a company is still in charge of your social media. Without them, you wouldn’t have a platform to begin with. You’re using their tools, their algorithms, and their spaces to build your presence. So while you may feel empowered, it’s important to recognize who’s really calling the shots.
It’s All About Value Exchange
If you want to make a living as an artist or writer today, you arguably have to put in more work than ever. It’s funny to see how quickly some content creators can blow up out of nowhere, but that's not something you can rely on. Despite how obvious and visible these individuals are, they’re rare in the grand scheme of things.
The key is to be cautious, but also logical. Do your research to assess whether the exposure is truly beneficial or not. Take control of yourself as a marketable entity and seize every opportunity that offers returns, whether they’re financial or help grow your following.
Ultimately, how you run your business is your choice. I’m simply sharing insights from my experience as both an artist and someone who works in recruitment, bridging the gap between product managers and artists.
To Conclude
We’d all do well to move beyond rigid black-and-white thinking and approach each new situation analytically, rather than holding onto a pre-determined, immovable opinion. This mindset isn’t just helpful in the creative world—it applies to every part of life.
We live in a strange time where opportunities and challenges constantly evolve. The more we can foster a spirit of cooperation and openness in creative spaces, the better we’ll be at building supportive, thriving communities. A little less hostility and a little more collaboration can go a long way in helping us grow, both as individuals and as a collective.
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