The Cynical Side of Freelance Writing

Call me cynical.

Actually, don’t. I’m not cynical, not when it comes to my job. I love my freelance writing career. Sure, there are shitty parts, like content mills disguised as actual clients, job boards that cause freelancers to fight for the lowest possible rate, scary-bad job postings that are either completely clueless (and low-paying) clients or human traffickers who aren’t very good at hiding it.

But for the most part, it’s a great gig. So I’m not really cynical. But skeptical? You bet.

I’m skeptical when I hear other freelancers, both newbies and veterans — go on rants. I can understand it coming from a newbie — this is not an easy career to get up and running. But veterans should know better than to air their garbage in public.

I’m also skeptical when I see writers duking it out in public.

Or trashing their friends in public (been a victim a few times myself, actually). Or disregarding someone else’s method of running a business as stupid, uninformed, asinine, or wrong.

When I see that, my skepticism revs up. Why — because, dammit, if your life were perfect, if your job were going smoothly, and you actually had all the answers, you would be far too busy to be dumping on other people.

Instead of seeing frustration or helpfulness (since when is it helpful to openly insult?), I see insecurity. Lots and lots of insecurity. And I see cynicism — the belief in some people that all people are motivated purely by self-interest. And I have to think, if you’re so damned concerned about people who are pushing their own agendas constantly, what does that say about where your own focus is?

Freelance writers, we don’t need this.

We don’t need one more reason for clients to say “No thanks.”

Here’s how you know you’re a cynic:

• You can’t speak without being sarcastic
• You get riled up when someone says something on social media that’s counter to your beliefs
• You push everyone away first so they don’t ditch you
• You can’t get through a day without putting someone down or judging someone’s actions
• You’re certain someone is trying to out-maneuver you
• You can’t bring yourself to trust even close friends or family
• You know that new client is going to screw you — you just know it
• You have to call out stupidity instead of letting it go

And in every instance, your behavior and your actions are doing one thing: They’re conveying the message that you’re a real jerk.

But here’s what a cynic will do; a cynic will frame their attacks as helping you. Yep, they’ll call you an idiot while fixing your problem. Or they’ll praise your article, then rip it apart in public and show everyone where you screwed up. If you’re someone who wants to help but cannot stop from insulting as you’re doing so, you’re a cynic. And guess what? Cynicism is an addiction, just like complaining is. Once you get going, it’s hard to stop.

But here’s how to fix it:

• Focus on the work.
• Focus on the work.
• Focus on the work.

That’s what matters. It doesn’t matter what Jane said to Carol — that’s between Jane and Carol. It doesn’t matter that Henry is a colossal ass who knows nothing about grammar and punctuation — it’s his business how he communicates. It doesn’t matter that Barbara does things differently than you do — her business is hers to run.

None of these things are yours to fix. None of them are yours to get flustered about. None of it matters if you focus on the first three bullet points.

Okay, so maybe a few more things about cynicism and how to fix it:

• Think of it as cowardice — your cowardice. It is.
• Shut off social media and find more positive ways to spend your time.
• Reach out and do one kind thing each day — or say one kind thing to someone — without them asking. And don’t make it anything like fixing Henry’s grammar, standing up to Jane for Carol (unless she asks, and only offline), nor telling Barbara what she’s doing wrong and how she should be doing things. Those are not instances of helping someone. They’re insulting someone.

I know this isn’t necessarily writing-related, but yet it is. If you run your business as if the world is gunning for you, pretty soon the world will be gunning for you. Negative behavior does tend to generate one’s worst fears.

And if you’re someone who knows a cynic, rethink how much time and influence you want that person to have in your life. You’re in control, despite any notion the cynic believes or pushes.

Writers, how has cynicism — either by you or directed at you — impacted your business?
Have you come across a cynical client? How did you handle that relationship?