Oct 27 2008
Lessons Of An Online Writer
When I first started writing online more than 10 years ago, I thought I’d never get to the stage where I actually made real money for what I was doing. However, I’m not only doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing, I’m doing it well enough to help pay some of the expenses of my son’s upcoming graduation costs. However, I’m finding that there is a lot more to this than I thought, and that nobody ever talked about.
Believe it or not, there are some down sides to being a freelance writer. Yes, it’s true. For the most part, I’m living my dream, but I’m finding that I wasn’t given all the details to this type of lifestyle. Though I won’t get into all the petty things I’ve run across, I will give you a few ideas of what to look for in the world of online freelance writing.
First of all, I wished someone would have told me when I started this journey that it was going to take me more than 10 years to see my dream come true. Honestly, I thought by now I’d be living in a big house on the hill with a nice car, picket fence, and all the finer things in life. The truth of the matter is that I’m just now getting to the point where I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Another thing I’ve learned over the years is that what’s hot one day, is old news the next. When you write online, you’ve got to be able to keep up with all the latest trends, and know when they’re no longer seen as interesting. And now, there’s all this talk about making sure you’ve got the right keywords in your articles, and the right amount of keywords. Not to mention the fact that you’ve got to produce something unique from those words that doesn’t resemble anything else on the Internet.
I think, though, the biggest thing I’ve learned throughout my journey is that even when you’ve managed to make a name for yourself online, you’re still a nobody in traditional writing circles. Most magazines and other print venues want a sample of your writing abilities. When you tell them that you’ve written for several websites and online magazines, they look at you as though you’ve got the plague. This makes it hard to get anything into print, which is where the real money lies.
That may be the biggest lesson I’ve learned, but the most important one is the fact that you can never give up. If you really want to be a writer, it shouldn’t matter where your work is showcased. Anyone who has the desire to be a writer will tell you that the greatest feeling isn’t so much in the amount of money you’ve made, but in the number of people who have read what you have to say. And for me, that’s worth more than gold.
Nice post. I also enjoy sharing what I’ve learned about writing online. Luckily, I’m not temperamentally suited for normal freelancing, so I’m content with staying online.
My third try at NaNo also. Maybe it will be my first win. Good luck to you.
I think its interesting this snobbery between online/offline publishers. I know the rates are better off-line but online I seldom have to stick to specific topic - I don’t pitch ideas I just write them and publish them on the blogs that I work for. Every post is accepted, I don’t deal with editors who want to change things.
Are the offline rates so much better to justify getting stuff rejected?
You are so right, they are a bit snobbish. And honestly, I’ve made a lot more money writing online than I ever did offline.
The thing about writing online is that there is always work somewhere to be found. Offline, it’s a crap shoot. The money is great working offline, as some articles will pay as much as $100 a shot. However, you’re next article may not sell for months and that hundred bucks isn’t going to last that long.
I know there are a lot of writers out there, writing for print publications, that are making a really good living. But they’ve already managed to establish themselves and that’s why they make the big bucks. If you’re not an established writer, you’re work ends up in a slush pile and may never even get read.
No thanks, I’ll stick to the online world. Even when I can’t find work, I can still write and make some money.
Thanks for stopping by Lissie.