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May 16, 20232 min read

My Two Cents on Two Cents

Writers deserve to a livable income. Two cents doesn't cut it.


Two Pennies

A few weeks ago, while perusing the Interwebs for blogging opportunities, I found one that initially piqued my interest. Eight hundred words with six links and provided keywords. So far, so good.


Then, I reviewed the payout ...

Two cents a word.


My jaw fell to the ground. I needed bolts to secure it to my face.


My eyes bulged so much I ended up with detached retinas.


I drank some water just so I could do a spit take.


Two cents a word for research, links, and editing. All for the handsome sum of $16.


Woo.


We're Better Than That

I admit this was a tempting offer in my past life. I mean, $16 for an hour's work? It's what I got used to while writing for Textbroker and WriterAccess. It was a dream to write simple material and get a weekly payout.


However, it was an undervalued dream. I didn't utilize the gifts given to me or the skills I learned in 30 years of freelance writing. $16 an hour? That's slightly above a minimum wage.


What if it took more than an hour to research and edit? Well, that chopped the rate to well below the minimum wage. No wonder my passion eventually faded.


Thing is, when one creative comes to their senses, there are hundreds/thousands/millions of highly talented writers who take their place. They produce material for pennies because they don't believe in themselves. We're better than that.


We're certainly better than two cents a word for a crapload of work. Yes, I used the technical term crapload. Thank you, journalism degree.


Batman slapping Robin for what he said.

Better Ways to Get Experience

These organizations take advantage of their talent pool. They pay a miniscule amount and say the experience is priceless. Frankly, it's a crapload of poop.


There are better ways to develop your skillset. Not only to enhance your skills but also to put some emotion into what you write. In the end, it's the best way to stay ahead of the AI tsunami. Those two cent projects will probably disappear as artificial intelligence is increasingly embraced.


There's a call to action here. Always read a complete request for writers. If they don't mention a payout, then find out before you tackle a project.


Finally, don't undervalue yourself -- something I'll discuss in a future entry. You were given the gift of creativity to help better the world, even if it's a small parcel. If more creatives understand their value, their crapload of achievements will better everyone.


All the best.

Rich Scott Keller

 

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