My goal is to inform (and yes, pester a bit). 🙂

Jenn, good point. I suspect there are plenty of new writers (and plenty of veterans, too) who just walk into the job without too much thought. You can learn on the fly in many cases, but it's so much smarter to have a plan of attack and know the minefields.

I'm just not bothered by people who somehow can't manage to get paid decently for their writing. There are enough of us, me, you, Jenn, — well your whole list of links or mine — that are telling them exactly what to do… Maybe I'm just not in the mood for it today.

I'm just not bothered by people who somehow can't manage to get paid decently for their writing. There are enough of us, me, you, Jenn, — well your whole list of links or mine — that are telling them exactly what to do… Maybe I'm just not in the mood for it today.

That's a great idea, Hugh! Maybe one of us should start that…. 😉

You're right. We undervalue our skills and we are a commodity. I'm hopeful (born with a Susie Sunshine attitude gets tiresome) that writers will wake up and embrace their value. Sadly though, I think Jake's correct in thinking it's not happening as long as starry-eyed noobs take what comes without question.

Gabriella, I have to thank you again for the link to The Content Farm. It's hysterical!

Paula, LOL! You're probably right. Those working for farms aren't able to see beyond the quota perhaps. And that client experience you had is just weird! Why would geography matter in payment if it doesn't matter in the job being performed?

I regret trusting one of my first regular markets. I assumed they paid all writers the same rate, but later learned they paid non-local writers more than local writers. They seemed to think geographic location dictated quality – that's like the neighbor having a garage sale who put higher prices on old clothes just because they were purchased in California. She didn't catch the sarcasm when a shopper said, "Oh, then they must be special." Like they don't have Target in California, too.

And well said, Hugh!

1. A whole lot of us drastically undervalue what we do.
2. What we do has significant value.

I realize those are simplistic statements – but if nothing else, the HuffPo financial revelations should drive home the point that there is real cash money to be made from arranging words in an interesting, informative or otherwise intriguing manner. I don't expect the writing landscape to change overnight, but I do hope this is somewhat of a clarion call to those who think that content is just what you hire a minimum-wager to slap together to fill the blank spaces once the design crew gets done doing the real work.

It's almost like we need to dedicate a day to focus on the worth of writers … Hmmm ….