Comments on: Beware the Writing Pronouncement

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:27:33 +0000

Yeah, it's possible I hit publish but didn't have the captcha correct and didn't realize it. Operator error!

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 15:02:25 +0000

Actually, I'm not seeing it in the Spam folder, either. It's truly been evaporated!

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 15:00:37 +0000

You're right, Gabriella. Sometimes you lose a little faith when things are slow. It takes a wicked busy spell to turn that perspective around!

Ack! I haven't checked the spam folder, but I bet it's in there. Sorry, toots. I'll go dig it out.

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:57:01 +0000

You know, Lori, sometimes during the occasional slow spell, I worry that some aspect of our profession is "dead" and that I won't be able to sustain a business for much longer.

And then I put my head down and start contacting past and potential clients, and that slow period comes to an end.

I'm always surprised when people say, "And you make a living as a writer?" Yeah, and lots of other people could, too, if they put their heads down and worked hard and didn't accept crappy pay.

On your other point, love your comment about the cover!

P.S. I posted a comment about a week ago (I'm sure it was groundbreaking), and then I went back later to check in, and the comment got lost in the ether! Just want you to know that I've been paying attention but apparently I've been in an involuntary lurker mode. :)

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:39:44 +0000

Kris, that's exactly the way I'd approach someone who says that. Her answer seems to be indicative of what I've heard, too. Wow. Makes you scratch the head a bit, doesn't it?

And good for you! Fantastic to hear it's been such a good year for you! So far so good here, too. :)

Paula, exactly! LOL Once, I listened to an eight-minute explanation by some interview subject as to why he was the wrong person to talk to. But he still wanted to be quoted. LOL Make up your mind already!

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:43:14 +0000

I love Devon's closing comment!

And while I know some people place a higher perceived value on cover stories, you're right Lori: the only difference between a cover story and any other feature is placement. That guy's question makes me wonder how little effort he put into non-cover stories.

I liken it to people who spend 10 minutes explaining why they're too busy to do something. They spend more time making excuses than they would have spent doing what they're trying to avoid.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:55:22 +0000

Last summer I met a girl who worked part-time at a casino. We talked, and I found out she had a journalism degree. I don't, but shared that I had been working as a freelance writer for more than five years. Her first remark: "There are no jobs in our industry." I found out she had worked for a small-town newspaper after graduating. Pay rates at these types of publications are notoriously low in my part of the world. Shocked, I told her that there were lots of places online to find paying work, and shared that all of my clients are in the U.S. I offered to share with her where I look for work.

She kind of brushed me off and then revealed she wanted to spend as much time with her children as possible while they were small. I completely respect that, but don't make up something about an entire industry when you have never looked beyond your own backyard and aren't really interested in finding writing work!

For the record, 2013 is going to be my best year (money wise) by far.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 12:28:07 +0000

It does lack respect. It's certainly a proving ground for their commitment, isn't it? I would say as long as they're not getting a refund, screw them. They can show up or not. But it would singe me royally to put that kind of effort into something that they're not taking as seriously.

Amen to your pronouncement! I remember a guy I worked alongside for years (his office was right next to mine). He came to my door one day and said, "I have the cover story this month and I'm just overwhelmed! How on earth do you do it every month (we had a smaller budget, therefore I was on the cover a lot). I looked at this guy, who was there longer than I was, who was making more money than I was, and I couldn't help myself. I said "I stop whining in other people's doorways and I sit my ass in my chair and write."

Seriously -- a cover story? It's the same as any other article except for placement. Lord. What a putz.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:44:51 +0000

I'm dealing with dropped balls from two organizations just along those lines -- these people are lazy, and they're used to having someone else cleaning up the mess. I'm finishing out my terms with both, and then leaving. I can't afford (on either a financial or an emotional) level to waste my time with dabblers.

It's one of the things that's frustrating about teaching -- people beg for classes, but when someone takes the time to put it together, they either don't sign up or they sign up and don't participate. It's simply disrespectful.

I'm looking forward to autumn, where I get to cut major deadwood out of my life and career that's stacked up for the past couple of years.

There is, however, a pronouncement that is true:

Your (insert type of writing) won't write itself. Put butt in chair and do it or shut up about it.