What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Words by The Avett Brothers
It was apropos to have that song appear on my iPod yesterday. With the article halfway completed, the dozen emails I dealt with, project revisions, and research, I burned through about that many words before 3 pm. Two days of headlong, intense work. I’m actually loving it.
I took a break yesterday long enough to check out a few forums. On one, someone was relating her story of turning down low-paying work. Nearly everyone agreed with her decision and shared her frustration with the prolific nature of these jobs. Almost everyone.
One writer went there. You know the scenario “There’s nothing better, so get used to it.” Then he told his story. It was of someone who used to earn big bucks. Now he couldn’t stop from saying how writers need to “suck it up” and accept the ridiculously low rates. When pressed, the real story came out. He’s a successful writer-turned hobbyist doing this to supplement his retirement, and he really doesn’t care to run a business anymore. He makes decent enough cash and doesn’t really want to do any more than what he’s already doing.
So isn’t that like comparing apples to oranges then?
If I hadn’t pressed him for why he wasn’t doing well now, and had others not also wondered aloud about it, his words would have stood as a state-of-the-industry assessment that is nowhere near clearly depicting the state of anything other than his own commitment. And no one would have known differently, which to me is where the real harm would have occurred. Writers who are highly suggestible or new to the game would have accepted the veteran’s words as fact and may have started behaving accordingly.
Clearly, he misrepresented his own case as the truth for all of freelancing. And that, my friends, ticks me off.
Any time I hear another writer saying “There’s nothing better out there” I want to get physically aggressive. Walls and pillows are not safe, I tell you! That’s because as most of you know, that thinking is nothing more than a steaming pile of hog spit. And it’s self-defeating, so if you’re prone to that particular whine, stop it right now or I’m coming over there.
This guy’s story was one of the rare ones in which the writer says something like that and it turns out he’s just not interested in doing it differently. His exact words were ‘the bottom line here is that I don’t really care that much.” Oh, but you do care, or you wouldn’t be complaining about it and making such sweeping generalizations on an Internet forum. But that’s another issue.
So when you hear the words “There’s nothing better out there!” here’s what I hear:
I have no idea where or how to start! Pretty common newbie fear and assumption, and if you’re the newbie, take heart in the fact that you aren’t alone. Many of us have thought the same thing at one time or another. Allow yourself that momentary “Ack!” and then get back on track with building your business.
I’m too lazy to do it differently! Oh yes, you are. You think if you whine all over the Internet that someone will take pity on you and give you work. Or is it your excuse for not looking or building a career the right way? Probably that. Stuff a sock in it and grow a backbone. Writing careers take work, and if you read up on it, research what you don’t know, and ask the right questions of your peers, you’ll manage just fine.
I lack any ability to run a business! When did you realize that writing was only part of the job? Maybe when you realized it’s not a career but a small business, you balked. Maybe when you heard the word “marketing” and responded “Ew!” was when you realized this clearly wasn’t something you’d intended to be doing. Either learn how to do the simplest of business functions (and it’s not all that difficult to start up a business) or find a different career path.
I don’t really want to be a writer! Oh, it was your dream for about five minutes into that new career, wasn’t it? It died for you the minute you realized that editors weren’t going to praise you like your mother and your high school English teacher did. You thought it would be much easier, and now it’s just not any fun. So you need an excuse, and the low-paying stuff is your out, right? Do yourself and the rest of the writing community a favor — admit it’s not for you (nothing more — no need to expound or embellish) and move on toward your real passion.
Writers, what do you hear when you hear that statement? What has been your experience with those who say such things?
11 responses to “The “Nothing Better” Fallacy”
I hear laziness. Also, I hear someone who is causing harm to other writers by accepting low wages and continuing the model that says writers shouldn't be respected and paid properly for their work.
It's fine to decide you don't want to write full time. It's a different career trajectory. But you don't have the right to hurt those who make our living at it.
First-time commenter, long-time lurker. Love your blog.
I don't like the "nothing better" complaint, not because it's never true — there are always exceptions — but just because it's such a negative attitude to take toward something you supposedly love to do. I want to be surrounded by positive people, because when things get hard I have to push through and not get bogged down. I don't want to hear that things can't be done, there's nothing better out there — because I will find a way and I will find something better!
Adding to Allie's comment that attitude is a defeatist attitude. The exact opposite of the tenacity freelancers of any stripe need.
I saw the thread you're talking about, Lori, but the guy came across to me as a blow-hard know-it-all, so I paid little mind to his comments.
The other day I noticed that a very dear friend of mine (trying to re-launch her writing career after getting her MA and dealing with some major health issues) had an LinkedIn update about Helium writers. I immediately advised her to remove that, explaining how some prospective clients – editors especially – might not take her seriously if they see any association to a known content mill. I guess she'd been lured by the idea joining Helium might lead to steady assignments, but hadn't yet written anything for them. She thanked me and removed it from her profile.
Then we discussed how seeking out places she's interested in working for and sending out LOIs will give her better odds of landing some assignments than replying to job ads or content mills. I made a list of some things she's really knowledgeable about or enjoys and told her to search for places that do or cover those things and let them know they need her services.
Then I sent an LOI of my own.
Apologies for the numerous errors above. There was a loud, out-of-control house party one block away last night kept the entire neighborhood up last night calling police and one another to find out what was going on. Five squad cars, a police van, numerous arrests… so I'm a bit tired right now.
I hear that too, Devon. But I also hear too many newbies with no real idea how to get a business going uttering the same thing. They fall into the content mill work without realizing it's not actual writing, and then they become disheartened. I just thank my lucky stars that crap wasn't around when I started. It does present itself as legitimate writing work.I was naive enough then I may have fallen for it.
Allie, great to have you come out of lurkdom. 🙂 I seriously love your attitude! I like positive people too, and I try to be positive in what can be accomplished if you try. You're so right — if you try, it's out there and it's going to be better!
You're a good friend, Paula. She'll do much better without that experience in her profile.
This is a great post, Lori. And Devon, I totally agree that it's laziness–and harmful to pros.
I just don't get it. We all know other writers because it's sorta a small world. I don't know a single professional writer who's had to turn to those low-paying gigs, despite the economy.
It's all about understanding your own worth–and expecting nothing less. I actually think you win converts when you politely tell people that you can't work for their rate.
It has to come off like, "It's nothing personal, just not what I charge." Over time, many will get a first-hand education in the "you get what you pay for" model, and that benefits us all.
You know what I took away from this story? It's another great example of why you don't let others tell you what's right, wrong or best.
Just like you shouldn't judge because you don't know everything there is about another person's life (or career), so, too, should you not assume you know what's best for me.
And, along the lines of Allie, I prefer to associate with more positive people. Like I always say, I have enough of my own problems, I don't need to take on yours. 🙂
I've quit forums and groups when the tone becomes there are no good writing gigs out there… whine whine whine… possible exception is the newbie who listens.
Glad you busted that guy… what was his agenda I wonder?
So much fear out there… you know me, it's write, rewrite and market.
As I was reading Gabriella's comment (hi, Gabriella – how are you doing?), it struck me how I've always viewed the mills the same way I view the get-rich-quick schemes, or the promise of getting something valuable for listening to a time-share pitch. I never buy it when someone offers me something for nothing – or for very little investment of time or money.
Hi Paula! Doing well and life seems to be back to normal. Thanks for asking!
Gabriella, you show up with the best advice. 🙂 I love your approach. There's no need to make it contentious — just make it clear. Amen. (And I'm so glad to see you again!)
Cathy, that's how I read it, too. If you're whining about the state of things, you're allowing too many people to tell you how much you're able to earn. That's horse hockey — you set your rates. Not some stranger.
Anne, I can't quit this one– I'm one of the moderators. 🙂 I suspect this guy was feeling trapped. He's not allowed to earn more than he does (probably collecting SSI or something similar), and feels restricted. That's a good reason to feel so frustrated. It's not a good reason to paint the entire state of freelancing with the same brush. It's simply not true that those jobs are all there is.
Great way to think of them, Paula. If more people viewed content mills as timeshares, we'd have fewer content mills!