Important Question about what the Internet is doing to professional writing

[David Eide]

I want to quote what recent member Debora Hill wrote, "After a number of years working in television and film, I would like to re-enter the world of Journalism. But, it seems as if the pay offered to journalists now is remarkably low -- sometimes lower than when I started out as a journalist in 1991. I find this bewildering...also, when people read my credentials they often tell me they can't pay enough for a person with my experience. It seems to me that this disparity in pay has come about through the internet idea that writing is only writing, no matter who does it -- blogging has helped foster this concept, that anyone can write, and therefore there doesn't seem to be a point to paying professionals. I would like to know what others think of this?"

I've always been in conflict whether the internet is good for professional writers or not. They have to reach into the markets that will pay professional rates and they turn out to be professional publications that have gone online. What do other writers think of this question?

[Kimberlee Leto]

Hi, I am new to this community. I haven't even had a chance to complete my profile but I cannot help but comment here because I believe the Internet is a double-edged sword. While it has made communication easier in some ways, it has also opened the door for scams and unethical business practices. I think as writers we have to maintain our value systems in this day and age and not be tempted to make a quick buck. It just doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth not knowing who I am dealing with and what has happened to integrity. I would rather have a menial job to pay the bills and hone my craft, stay focused on being published instead of making loads of money. Still it seems to me that not many value writing like before, at least some of the jobs I've seen out there. It takes time and faith, sacrifice. Thanks, Kim

[Cheryl Wright]

Hi David,

I totally agree with you about the internet bringing down prices. However, in my opinion, many writers are actually causing this problem, which then ripples down the line to everyone else.

I am a full-time writer, and do a lot of copywriting, as well as magazine writing, writing for websites etc. What I'm finding, especially on some of the job sites (like Guru etc) is that writers are underpricing themselves so much it's not funny.

I write keyword articles for a number of clients, and what I'm seeing lately is writers 'bidding' ridiculous prices like $2 to $10 per article of 450 words.

I charge a flat rate to all clients of $50 for 300 words, and $75 for 450 words. I don't deviate from these rates for anyone. My clients know they'll get good quality writing from me, and most of them are repeat clients and have me writing regular articles for them.

I'm happy to do one or two of these a day, but just think how many I'd need to do if I was charging $2 for the same word count. My mind boggles at what these people are thinking. You simply cannot run a PROFITABLE writing business charging such low fees.

When I quote for clients, they don't blink. They don't think twice. They just sign the agreement.

I am getting work via clients who have referred me, and that's even better, because I don't even have to market to those clients.

I have a policy in regard to magazine articles - if I won't earn $300 or more per 1,000 words, then I don't write for the publication.

No, I didn't start out that way, I had to earn my clips like everyone else. But once I was established, my rates went up very quickly indeed. And herein lies the problem. Writers are starting out at low rates, and I do totally understand that, but once they have established themselves, they are not putting their rates up or charging a reasonable price.

In my opinion, this is causing untold damage to those of us who are endeavouring to run a professional writing business and charge reasonable rates.

Anyone who thinks my rates are high needs to think again. My rates are on the lower scale. (FYI, I charge the same rates online as I do offline.)

As a final closing note, I would like to ask, no beg writers not to charge these degrading rates. Look at not only what it's doing to you and your writing business, but also what it's doing to others in the profession.

[Phyllis Schwartz]

Cheryl, I think your comment is right on the money (pun intended). In many cases, potential clients expect the lower rates ... are happy to settle for minimal quality -- or don't even understand the difference. Internet marketers promote products and software that will "turn anyone -- even people who hate to write -- into a top flight copywriter" (and they make a mint out of the products they're selling!).

For the most part, the Internet has become a losing proposition for me. I have started heading back into direct mail where people understand the value of effective copywriting.

Thanks much for confirming what I've felt for such a long time.

[Cheryl Wright]

It makes me crazy too, that people advertise like that. People are being brain-washed to believe they can become a high quality writer in no time, when it's taken professional writers like us years to learn the concepts.

I've learned the hard way that there are different breeds of clients - the ones who understand the benefits of having high quality copy, and the ones who think paying $2 for 450 words will give them the same result as paying $50 or $100 (or whatever) for the same word count.

It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but as I said before, I do think a lot of this has been brought about by writers charging unacceptable rates for their work.

[Star]

I totally, 100% agree with this and have gone to WAR with certain Craigslist aggregators (they search for ads and put them on their sites) for listing the ridiculously low ones. At least one of these people (very well known) says it's not up to her to decide what people charge (I guess it's just up to her to bring people to her site). These people could use their bully pulpit to at least not perpetuate these rates and help these advertisers, but they don't. A colleague and I started a website called Writer's Catablog--http://writerscatablog.com to try to restore respect to the profession--albeit through humor and satire (writers have brains--we deserve to be paid!). By the way--at the site I mentioned earlier, apparently some users have been chastising low-rent advertisers--and the owner of this site has admonished users for weeks to just pass on by and not annoy the advertisers. With friends like these...

[David Eide]

Every writer should learn from what Cheryl and Phyllis have written here recently. Writing for money is a profession, it is not an occassional hobby. Professionals know how to make money by writing for clients who pay and by understanding the value of their work in the marketplace. Writers are pounded from the time they declare their intentions to be writers that, "there's no money in writing." No, there is money in writing. I had a girlfriend who made $75k a year with three or four good contracts, one of which was to write headlines and captions for the Tupperware catalog. The writing market is structured like any other market. It eats the young and naive alive and rewards the one's who stick with it and have experience in it. Believe me, as the internet matures you will have a much more experienced group of people both on the freelance side and the hiring side and perhaps at that moment good, professional writing will be valued. At this moment there seems to be great demand for content but the supply side is even greater. Listen to these wonderful professionals who are doing it the right way!

[Cheryl Wright]

You're absolutely right, David. I'm about to embark on a project for a new client - he's had to wait nearly two weeks because I was so booked up, but he waited.

When I quoted him my rates, he told me he wanted to pay more because he knew he would get quality. You gotta love that.

The key to all this is in my opinion is - 1) High quality work at acceptable rates; 2) Earn a reputation you'll be proud of.

My original plan was to do copywriting as an aside to my non-fiction book writing career. But lately I've done nothing but copywriting. Still, I can't complain about the money I'm earning, and that's exactly what we're talking about.

[Kimberlee Leto]

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's reply to this because it gives me hope as someone starting out and after having a few bad experiences with Internet projects. I can remember at very young age of being told that there wasn't any money in writing unless I was discovered. So never quit your day job but now I am finally at a point where I can focus on what I want to write and I didn't really have a choice, I was laid off from the guaranteed day job. I guess what I am wanting to say is that there are no guarantees and life is short. We have to stick to our guns here!

[Cheryl Wright]

Kimberlee, sometimes it's the best way to break in - have no other choice.

It makes you really apply yourself and find work. That's what happened to me. When I was 46 years old (about six years ago) I was told by my doctors that I could never go back to a day job, and would never work again. They refused to give me clearance, so I had no choice about that part, but I was determined to lead a useful and fulfilling life.

I had been in and out of hospital for several months, very weak, and on home oxygen. (I have a lung disease.) I could barely get around because of the repeated hospitalisations, but I was determined to make writing my career. Even in that state of health, I secured a regular column within about three months of starting my campaign.

I guess what I'm saying is if you really want something, you'll find a way to make it happen.

I'm doing both on and offline work, but my starting point for copywriting was local businesses. I went to networking meetings and grabbed every opportunity to mix with local business owners. It's all paying off now, but for a while there I really thought I was wasting my time.

My best advise is to keep at it, and keep yourself visible. One of the best things I did was spend the time to write a short 'blurb' for my business. Some of the meetings I went to required a short introduction, and that's where the blurb really helped.

It goes something like this: My name is Cheryl Wright and my business is called Write Essentials. As a professional writer, I can give your business a professional image.

You'll need to write something that works for you, but you get the idea.

I can almost guarantee you'll have people crowding around you when the meeting is finished, and they'll be thrusting their business cards at you. And once they do that, they're fair game for you to keep in touch.

[Noelle Rilleau]

You are absolutely on the mark - the age of Internet has unfortunately lowered standards incredibly when it comes to language, grammar, punctuation, etc. I read a blurb in a medical publication which encouraged readers to submit articles for publication. When I emailed the journal exactly what they paid for articles, I never got a response. Many publications will encourage you to write for them - just don't expect to get paid for it !

[Cheryl Wright]

Absolutely. I'm not sure how these people expect quality work for no money.

And I don't know why writers would put themselves in a situation to accept such a thing unless they needed first clips. The unfortunate part is that many editors know which clips come from non-paying publications and don't even consider those when submitted.

[Josh S.]

There are a few examples that make sense when only a few options present themselves regarding a market inundated with people who can write and people who don't understand what good writing is if it ever is to exist for them. I 've seen a few undercutting bids swipe my lunch money for a week and it wasn't because I failed the football spirit quiz. It is a matter of the buyers being ignorant of what is behind quality work and the actual purpose of what it is to do. Like a young highschool girl, these buyers may be able to understand half but not even a fraction of a clue as to what they actually need for the copy or article to do, to accomplish, feasibly. A well written passage or brand is something to behold, not necessarily to read or even go so far as to process the words carrying the message or trend. It is a shame so many freelancers can't easily inform the buyer as to the quality of their work and how it differs from reading a dictionary.
However, especially on the web, and in these artistic circle niche sites, the copy can become something resembling king if not a bit of golden reading, content to keep bookmarked.