Dear Mary: Must I work for free?

Q. A man I know has invited me and some other journalists, most of whom I admire, to join him in the Whitehall penthouse of the Corinthia Hotel for drinks and canapés with a view to our contributing to an online magazine he plans to start up. When I asked him what his word rate would be, he replied unapologetically, ‘Well at first you won’t be paid — though certainly, if it takes off, there will be money further down the line.’ As a professional writer I fear it would devalue my stock were I known to work without being paid, but I like this self-styled editor and would like to be involved. How should I play this?
— M.W., Pewsey

A. All journalists have stockpiles of ‘killed’ pieces which were commissioned and paid for but never run due to the vagaries of editorial agendas. Claim that you will be delighted to contribute, provided you are allowed to launder through perfectly good, and paid-for, killed pieces about whose non-appearance you have been feeling guilty.