Comments on: Market Value and You

By: Ron - Copywriting Blog

Ron - Copywriting Blog — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:16:47 +0000

Here's what I think about it:

Market Value | Writing

Check it out. I even trackback'ed you.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:51:38 +0000

Yikes Lori, I missed this post of yours... shame on me for not paying attention.

I didn't write for Huffington but I'll bet many of the folks who did did so because it was a place where progressive voices could be heard. I know as a progressive it's hard for me to not think they sold out... we'll know one way or the other eventually... altho' I don't have a whole lot of confidence in aol surviving... but that's another story.

NWU has done some decent negotiating for writers and been effective - helping with grievances, copyright issues, etc. I join them from time-to-time because I believe in the idea of unions.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:21:17 +0000

Can I just bottle you? :)) Amen.

True enough on contributed work, Jenn. I've worked for clients in the past where I've written articles to contribute. The client pays me, not the publication. "Expert" opinion is often given for free. It's free publicity.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:34:36 +0000

It's more stirring up a sense of entitlement. The reality is simple — if you can't convey your value and get paid accordingly, then you're not entitled to anything after the fact. Your job as a freelance professional is to sell your work. If you can't do that, you're not cut out for this game. I also think it's interesting that they don't seem to ask actual writers how they feel about the situation (unless I missed it). Not all people who contribute to publications for free (online or off) are professional writers trying to sell that service. It's an extremely common PR tactic in other professions to offer your articles for free if you think it will help sell books, your professional services, etc. And it works extremely well. But as writers we sometimes lose sight of valid work if it doesn't fall in line with our own goals. That's not to say it's ok for companies to actively seek freelance writers, hoping to pay them pennies or nothing at all. And I'm not saying HuffPo necessarily fits in that group for all contributors. But when organizations come out like this not considering things beyond the freelance side, it reeks of ignorance more than anything else.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:56:44 +0000

Jenn, I do know how you feel. :) Likewise. I get a little weary of reactive responses by these so-called "champions" who claim to be protecting our interests. You want to protect my interests? Do so from the start, not at the end. And tell me how I can better myself so that crud like this doesn't happen. Don't send up a rallying cry when all is said and done.

Writers need education and resources to better themselves, not outrage that does nothing more than stir up an empty pot.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:03:43 +0000

Well Lori, you know how I feel about it. ;)

I'm honestly sick of these associations stepping in and making a fuss when something's big news. Either stay on top of the industry and be the ones leading the discussions or stay the hell out of it and let freelancers act like the responsible independent business owners they're supposed to be. Why is it they only seem so turn up either A) when it will bring them their own attention or B) to make ridiculous claims that do more to hurt freelancers than help them (like the ridiculous attempt one of them made a while back to say freelancers should standardize their rates). I'm all for community groups of like-minded folks getting together. I'm less for people who try to step into a role traditionally for employees -- something freelancers should be doing everything in their power to separate themselves from.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:15:12 +0000

Jake, don't you dare apologize! I'm loving it. On the NWU Bill of Rights - great idea, totally no impact whatsoever on the status quo. There are people who, no matter how much you try to educate them, will never get the message.

Wendy, if it weren't for content like that, I'd never know how to tie my shoes. LOL

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:30:43 +0000

Jake-EXACTLY 🙂

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:35:25 +0000

How can you not be moved by those who take the time to educate others on things like pouring milk? There are people,out there who had to live their life not knowing it. It's a tragedy and we should be doing more to help them. LOL! Okay, the link Gabriella provided is funny.

As far as the Huffington post deal, I don't really know what to say. But, I think you're right, they should spend more time focusing on building self-worth or something like that.

By: Jake P

Jake P — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:44:23 +0000

Sorry for the "Serenity Now!" moment, apparently getting pre-wound up to rant at Jake's Take :) There's a similar conversation going on over at EFA, and the whining is epic from several parties -- the same ones who think that the (laughable, IMHO) NWU "Bill of Rights" is some sort of magic cloak of invincibility. (Good luck with that.)

And Gabriella's link is a piece of inspired beauty!