Negative Aspects of Freelance Writing

In A Bunch of Crap I Hate About Writing and a Challenge Jaipi Sixbear issues a challenge to "positive" writers to dig deep and give voice to some of their more negative feelings about writing. I have never given much thought to whether or not I count as a positive writer. I am a writer, and I hope a good one. One who is getting better with each day's writing and each new challenge - perhaps not measurably from one day to the next, but I know I'm making progress.

I don't generally engage in discussions of what I don't like about writing. I mean, why depress myself? Dwelling on all the drawbacks of one's job is counterproductive. Speaking ill of one's profession, one's colleagues or one's employers has a predictably negative effect on one's career. Sure, sometimes a little catharsis can be healthy. Airing the results of that process on the internet for all to see? Maybe not so healthy.

Still . . .

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The Associated Content Model for Success: A Community of Writers with Heart

"Content farms": a derogatory term used by the mainstream for sites like Associated Content, Demand Studios and Seed. Sites like these regularly accept writing from ordinary people - people who don't have the benefit of a degree in journalism or communications, but who all the same have something to say.

The business model is making big money, and has got internet giants like Yahoo! and Google looking to get involved. But writers from the mainstream media view sites like Associated Content as a threat to the survival of their profession. One group has set out to create controls for online writing. They have even gone so far as to suggest Google should change the way it ranks content, because they feel articles by Associated Content writers and their peers are choking out mainstream content in search engine rankings.

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Image: Chris Wightman, Wikimedia Commons