Comments on: Marketing Rant: Cheapening the Craft http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/ Writing and Creative Success Through Righteous, Rockin' Rebellion Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:16:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Charlie Gilkey http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-37 Charlie Gilkey Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:34:03 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-37 A two-for?! What a steal...and here I thought that my blogging malaise was spreading. I don't have much experience writing ads, but I have a lot of experience with the devaluation of writing. My students often have a reality check when they turn their first, mostly-correctly spelled paper in and receive their first sub-B grade. Years of having Microsoft Word reassure them that their writing is good actually makes them think it's good, though the reality is that they can't write a coherent paper (sometimes not even a paragraph) about anything non-trivial. It dawns on them that writing a coherent, plausible, consistent essay is very hard, even though completing sentences correctly is not. I'm with you, though, that I'd be pissed about $5 to $7 per 500 word article. That's what, $2.50 an hour? Sadly, it's supply and demand, and they can charge that because someone's willing to do it. And that someone is so getting screwed. A two-for?! What a steal…and here I thought that my blogging malaise was spreading.

I don’t have much experience writing ads, but I have a lot of experience with the devaluation of writing. My students often have a reality check when they turn their first, mostly-correctly spelled paper in and receive their first sub-B grade. Years of having Microsoft Word reassure them that their writing is good actually makes them think it’s good, though the reality is that they can’t write a coherent paper (sometimes not even a paragraph) about anything non-trivial.

It dawns on them that writing a coherent, plausible, consistent essay is very hard, even though completing sentences correctly is not.

I’m with you, though, that I’d be pissed about $5 to $7 per 500 word article. That’s what, $2.50 an hour? Sadly, it’s supply and demand, and they can charge that because someone’s willing to do it. And that someone is so getting screwed.

]]> By: Amy http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-43 Amy Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:50:39 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-43 Hey Charlie - You brought up a great point. I remember entering college thinking I had it all figured out - I routinely got A's on my papers in my AP classes, so I was a good writer, right? It's quite a shock when you realize - wait, there's more to good writing than simply following the grammar and spelling rules, or the general rules. And when you do, you can never go back. You start bitching to the whole world about writing devaluation :) Hey Charlie -
You brought up a great point. I remember entering college thinking I had it all figured out - I routinely got A’s on my papers in my AP classes, so I was a good writer, right? It’s quite a shock when you realize - wait, there’s more to good writing than simply following the grammar and spelling rules, or the general rules. And when you do, you can never go back. You start bitching to the whole world about writing devaluation :)

]]> By: 2ThePoint http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-74 2ThePoint Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:38:11 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-74 Seeing requests for very low-paying writing gigs irritates and saddens me. Sometimes, I just wanna reply in massive font saying 'LOVE YOURSELF, PEOPLE'. But I've been there and understand some of the motivation behind why some people might accept low-paying gigs. Someone sent me a PM today asking me to copy, paste and 'slightly rewrite' articles for the grand sum of $0.05 per article. It was all I could do not to cuss their ass out. But, I breathed in deep and kept my composure. Like Charlie said, as long as there are people out there willing to write for peanuts and don't think they deserve better, you will get people paying peanuts. In the meantime, like you suggested, I plan on being my own freelance warrior, concentrating on what I have to offer (this is a learning process that I'm getting better at). take care... Seeing requests for very low-paying writing gigs irritates and saddens me. Sometimes, I just wanna reply in massive font saying ‘LOVE YOURSELF, PEOPLE’. But I’ve been there and understand some of the motivation behind why some people might accept low-paying gigs.

Someone sent me a PM today asking me to copy, paste and ’slightly rewrite’ articles for the grand sum of $0.05 per article. It was all I could do not to cuss their ass out. But, I breathed in deep and kept my composure.

Like Charlie said, as long as there are people out there willing to write for peanuts and don’t think they deserve better, you will get people paying peanuts.

In the meantime, like you suggested, I plan on being my own freelance warrior, concentrating on what I have to offer (this is a learning process that I’m getting better at).

take care…

]]> By: Amy http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-78 Amy Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:10:51 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-78 Hi 2ThePoint: Thanks for the comment, and glad to hear there's others that just want to cuss people out when people post such jobs, and when writers accept the jobs. Urgh. BTW - fantastic site. I so want to see the Brad Pitt coin-ball piece of art! Hi 2ThePoint: Thanks for the comment, and glad to hear there’s others that just want to cuss people out when people post such jobs, and when writers accept the jobs. Urgh. BTW - fantastic site. I so want to see the Brad Pitt coin-ball piece of art!

]]> By: 2ThePoint http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-79 2ThePoint Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:14:27 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/03/14/marketing-rant-cheapening-the-craft/#comment-79 You're welcome! I found you from another site and I'm really glad about that. I've bookmarked you. The Brad-Pitt 'art installation' is gonna have to wait this month as I'm giving away the total. Was feeling generous. I can always start again. ;-) But, by the time I'm done, his balls are gonna weigh a ton ;-) take care! You’re welcome! I found you from another site and I’m really glad about that. I’ve bookmarked you.

The Brad-Pitt ‘art installation’ is gonna have to wait this month as I’m giving away the total. Was feeling generous. I can always start again. ;-) But, by the time I’m done, his balls are gonna weigh a ton ;-)

take care!

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