What’s on the iPod: Little Boxes by Walk off the Earth
Another slow-ish day yesterday. I liked it because I was able to get some personal writing done early before concentrating on client work and marketing. I’m eager to see people at the conference (starting Sunday night, oh my!), and I’ll be happy to get back to a more normal schedule. Most of my clients and potential clients are hard at it getting ready for the show, so I’ve sat more idle than I’m used to. I had one project disappear, but there will be more in its place, says the client. Three more in the wings, and I guarantee they’ll show up at the same time.
So on to what’s been cropping up this week that I could surely live without.
Explosion #1:
I was talking with another freelancer, who related a disturbing story. Another writer contacted him with an offer — would you like to write my web content and I’ll split the profits evenly with you?
Sounds okay, right? However, the content is housed on Examiner.com, notorious for paying ridiculously low rates. As I said to the writer when he shared his story, half of crap is more crap — the only math equation in which less adds up to more.
Then came the promise — it doesn’t pay much now, but it sure could later. Right. As we know, that would be the answer always, like saying “I’ll get to that tomorrow.” Tomorrow is always one day out. So it will be with that fortune promised.
Here’s what really bugs me about this offer. It’s not the low pay (though that does cause me to burn a bit). It’s not the empty promises. No. It’s that a fellow writer was making this pathetic offer. The writer in question isn’t saying to my writer friend, “You do the work and just kick back about 10 percent to me in a finder’s fee.” No, this is a writer who isn’t lifting a finger, yet is keeping half. Again, half of crap….
My writer friend said he was shocked because the writer making this offer was one he respected and thought had a good business practice. He’s now rethinking it. Strike one is the writer works for Examiner. Strike two is the writer isn’t thinking twice about exploiting others for financial gain.
Explosion #2:
I frequent a number of forums in various professional (and more casual) settings. In one case, I was trying to help someone who asked a rather specific question on getting started in freelancing. Specific is good — I can address that. However, the conversation quickly snowballed into more of a tell-me-where-to-look hand-holding session that wasn’t what I signed up for.
We all have questions. I love helping, and I love answering when I can. What I don’t love is spinning my wheels for someone who isn’t interested in putting the effort into the job. Odd that yesterday’s post talked about listening to advice given, because shortly after that post went live, I was dealing with someone who was saying “Please help me!” and exhaling with “But I’m not sure it’s what I want to do.”
That would be the sound of my hair being pulled out in bunches. Very frustrating to offer so much help and then get the “Well, I’m not sure I’m all that interested” in response.
Explosion #3:
On another forum, I keep running into someone I’ll refer to as the self-promoter. I don’t know this writer beyond the few posts I’ve seen. Each one I see, I flag as spam. That’s because the poster is answering the question by promoting the organization she makes money from, and she’s not disclosing that fact. I can count several comments that include a “get this book” or “join this group” message, all of which she benefits from, albeit not all directly. I cannot trust someone who won’t follow the basic rules of conduct becoming a journalist — disclose all. If you don’t, you’re lying to your audience.
What’s making your head explode this week?
Mine exploded in my customer service (or lack thereof) rant at my personal blog. That and the DIY attitude of so many businesses when it comes to the customers' problems.
Someone who came into a very specific, focused class (and the specifics were clearly outlined in the catalog) and then said, "I'm not interested in writing this way."
Um, and WHY are you here again? We're not doing independent study — we're focused on a topic.
The student actually expects the class to change to accommodate her, instead of working within the parameters of the class. This happens more and more frequently, and it's the unpublished who are the most demanding.
the publishing world isn't going to change to accommodate you. You have to follow the protocols and then explode with something unique.
Someone asked for a manuscript consultation the other day and dumped a block of text on me — no punctuation, no differentiation, just all one lump of text with nothing. When I questioned the vision, the writer said, "I don't do punctuation. It's oppression."
Um, no, it makes the work comprehensible.
I suggested arranging the words on the page like a poem or text art, grouping them into specific images and placing them in ways to guide the reader from image to image.
Nope. The writer wants the blob of text published verbatim.
I suggested experimental fiction outlets. The writer's friend sent those out to such markets and the piece was repeatedly rejected as lacking style and content.
I suggested to keep searching for markets.
"I don't look for markets. I'm an artist. It's not my job."
Huh?
The writer went on to say it was MY job, as a manuscript consultant, to make sure she was signed with an agent, a publisher and a "top" publicist.
I refrained from suggesting she up the medication, and declined.
Head explosion.
And a fantastic rant it is, Cathy! (www.millercathy.com)
Devon, your "artist" sounds like a spoiled idiot. Everything is work and yes, even "artists" have to conform to someone else's standards occasionally.
Sounds like she was hiring you for praise and validation. I think your medication suggestion would have been entirely warranted!
Thanks, Lori. 🙂
Punctuation is oppression? I love it! Sounds like a great way to hide ignorance. Or maybe not. 🙂
Cathy, "artistes" can't be encumbered by convention. They must express themselves…. (gag)
I think someone took ee cummings' brilliant example and gorged herself on it. LOL
Cathy, "artistes" can't be encumbered by convention. They must express themselves…. (gag)
I think someone took ee cummings' brilliant example and gorged herself on it. LOL
Cathy's in my brain again. Only I was thinking: Punctuation may be oppression, but not using punctuation is the mark of an illiterate "artiste."
I mean, without punctuation, someone could mistake my use of "artiste" as a compliment.
My head has been exploding from clients expecting finished products without providing any needed information. I'm good, but I'm not psychic.
And, like everyone else, getting the taxes finished off is another giant explosion. I owe so much this year that it will wipe both checking accounts clean. I expected to owe more to the Feds, but my state taxes more than doubled (my state went from 3% income tax to 5% in 2011. Ouch!).
Funny how it works… a new coaching client – I define a client as one who pays me – eliminated one market – I was delighted because she's getting clear on what she really wants to do.
If someone I considered a pro offered to split Examiner income with me I'd laugh… then weep.
My head is actually in pretty good shape right now… am about to quit work early… as I usually do on Friday.
virtual hugs everyone
Paypal is making my head explode. Three glitches in as many weeks. One for an outgoing payment, two for incoming. They're "protecting" me from my own client (who is a doll and would never do anything untoward). Arghh!!