Comments on: What We Can Do

By: Krista

Krista — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:06:56 +0000

I'm very late adding to this discussion, I know. I think one important thing is that writers (particularly those who are doing well) need to be more open about their rates and what they earn each year.

So many writers, when the subject comes up, don't seem comfortable talking numbers. Instead they say they earn a "professional" or "full-time" wage. Many beginning writers have no idea what that is. $10? $20? $100? I know I didn't.

Maybe if beginning writers knew there are writers out there earning 40, 50, 60 thousand and even more, they'd sit down, do the math, and see for themselves that writing articles for $1 or $2 is just plain stupid.

I'm only entering my third year and expect to earn between 40 and 45, so I'm constantly amazed by the "success stories" featured on sites about writers who earn two or three thousand a year. (Hope that didn't come across as arrogant).

I also have to agree with Devon, though. Some people who call themselves writers just aren't very good at it.

By: Devon ellington

Devon ellington — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:44:43 +0000

I've also come to the conclusion that there are writers who work for these sites because, bluntly, they're NOT good enough to work anywhere else.

You get what you pay for. If the client pays crap, that's what they'll get. If the client wants quality, the client has to pony up.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:11:25 +0000

Well there's the thing, Devon. If you were to make $400 in 4-6 hours, you'd be making a standard writing wage. To bust your hump nearly 40 hours a week for that? Why?

And I agree. If you're talking the talk, you'd better be walking the walk.

By: Devon ellington

Devon ellington — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:54:44 +0000

I"m getting a little tired of the writers who know they're doing the wrong thing by taking these jobs, but do it anyway and then argue about why they do it, and boast about making $400 a week for working 4-6 hours per day.

Or those who advocate fair pay for writers and then accept advertising or sponsorship dollars from mill content sites to pimp out writers to them.