The Second Annual Writers Worth Day is less than a month away – May 15. If you’re tired of low-paying job postings, tired of writers taking too little for too much work, tired of being told “But I spent all my money on the web design!”, this day is for you. Since we can’t change the industry from the pseudo-employer side, I’m proposing we change it from inside our own ranks. Here are some suggestions for you to join the cause on May 15th –
– Post to your blog. You can link here if you like, but it’s not necessary. The idea is to spread the word about the cause in your own way, to become an advocate for the industry.
– Speak out on forums. Too often we see writers taking horrifically low amounts of money (or worse – no money) for their talents. If you see it happening, speak out. Educate these writers where they cluster. Be kind, but be convincing.
– Comment. Many of this blog’s more interesting posts have resided in the activity in the comments section. If you see someone taking less than they should be, say so. Be bold!
– Twitter. Tweet your opinions about writers who devalue their worth. Tell the Twitter-sphere how we’re no longer sitting still for the erosion of the industry.
– Email clients and writing colleagues. Those who have valued you in the past are strong supporters who could help change mindsets in the business world. You don’t have to evangelize – simply send a notice to clients on May 15th stating the purpose of Writers Worth Day (to come here soon) and thank them for valuing your industry and your training. Might want to offer a discount along with your thank-you message.
– Hold teleclasses, online classes, email classes to educate writers. Newbie writers are lining up behind any number of writers in an attempt to cull information and learn how to start a business. Why not make one of those classes a lesson in rates, crap jobs, and how to set rates and hold firm to them?
Kirk mentioned a logo – I’m working on it. Those who are interested will be able to post the widget on their sites. I’m also considering putting up a Writers Worth Day page on my website to serve as a link to the widget.
What can you do to spread the word on the Second Annual Writers Worth Day? Please, if you want to start now, do it! It’s never too early to tell other writers what they’re doing to all of us when they give it away.
Any other ideas?
Daniel Sieberg of CBS’s The Early Show just celebrated some wanna-be who talked about “writing by the pool” having written and sold 2200 articles for $1-$20/article. She’s pulling us all down and perhaps we should take Mr. Sieberg to task for promoting such a misrepresentation of our profession.
I can’t really take him to task – he interviewed me once for a story. :)) But propogating the notion that our work isn’t worth that much is a serious misrepresentation. And it’s what we now call “news” – this regurgitation of stories, the twisting of facts to give them what they want so they can win some stupid ratings war.
I think we should take HER to task for being an idiot. There’s the real criminal.
I’m so there! I love the idea of a little widget, and you know I will blog/tweet about this.
Thanks, Susan. It may look like something akin to roadkill (I’m not a designer!), but it’s the idea of spreading the word. 🙂
Lori,
I suspect you’re onto something big. Hope so.
For professional help with your logo artwork I’d suggest contacting Bryan at http://www.artboygrafix.com. He’s who I use and he does great stuff.
Chuck
Lori, what a great idea… yours I assume… you know, maybe that gal who wrote 2200 articles for cheap did us a favor… I’m betting it was seo writing, not solid magazine-type articles that deserve more… I’m glad when someone other than me takes those jobs… gets ’em out of my hair.
Thanks, Chuck. I actually have a great designer I work with. I may call him.
Anne, that’s how I used to feel, too. Then it started to affect our community on a larger scale – employers (pseudo-employers) low-balling us because hey, someone online will do it for pennies. No more. I’m tired of having my work undermined by those who don’t have enough self-esteem or self-worth to do the job for the right price.
And yes, my idea. 🙂 I did this last year on a much smaller scale, but it’s time to bump it up a notch or ten.
Just read where the Detroit Lions, because of an off year, have had a new and more aggressive Logo designed, and a whole new deck of uniforms are on order to sport it.
Might a uniform to go with the new logo make sense for those professional writers be in the offing?
Chuck
Chuck
I’m envisioning a cape with a big SW on it (Super Writer lives!) and a pen for a lightning bolt….
If he’s interviewed you before, he should have interviewed you for this segment. Makes him go down even further in my estimation.
I’m trying to hunt down the segment on the CBS site to review it before I do a full rant.
What he did was communicate to potential employers that $1/article is the going rate. He is AS culpable as the Twinkie who charges $1/article while “writing by the pool.”
He slapped us all in the face.
I’ve posted the Writers Worth Day widget on my site. Thanks for making it.
Great idea! I just added the gadget and plan to blog about it!