On Content Mills and Why I Have Not Been Freelancing.

I know I mention my writing from time to time, but I don't think I've yet blogged on why I have been on hiatus from my freelancing for so long. Some of it, of course, has been what we call "life." I have a day job, I've had health problems and upheavals, and I've been focusing on my visual art this past year.

I have really not put a lot of effort into finding leads and pitching articles for a long time. Part of it, I will admit, is that I got badly burned by an editor for whom I worked as a stringer a few years ago. There was another sad outcome, where a publication for which I'd been a stringer was discontinued. I loved that job, and I really put my all into it, and as far as I know, my editor appreciated my efforts and my work. It was definitely a sad day when he called to say he was ending the project. Where ever he is now, I hope he is doing well.

Another option for a freelancer looking to pick up a few bucks here and there is to write for what some call content mills. I have linked here to a good overview of some of the problems with these outlets. The problems, however, do not start there. The problems start with the fact that these outlets pay very, very little, once you do the math. We are talking in some cases as low as a few cents an article. It depends on how many articles are written and how quickly and how often. Getting back to my link here, though, I will say that the primary reason that I have chosen not to go this route is the quality of these articles. What I write might be fine--I've worked as a stringer, I know how to do my research, etc. Overall, however, I personally find the quality of the articles generated by these outlets to be questionable to low.

For example, I am a cat caretaker. I have multiple cats, and I've had cats all of my life. I was raised with cats, I read about cats, I discuss cats, etc. I have seen articles on some of these sites--cat advice articles--that were wrong and at times outright dangerous for the cats in question. I do recall that in a few cases, I have posted comments to the articles--where I was able--either alerting people that the information was incorrect, or correcting the information if I had that knowledge.

To sum up what I'm trying to say: I can either keep working really hard and just framing out time for writing, doing my blogging, looking for leads, working on my own projects, and submitting work, or I can write articles for a few pennies here and there--OK, in a good month, a few DOLLARS--and give my time and energy away for the benefit of the businesses that run these sites. It's an easy choice for me.

While my name is not "on the map," and I am not "a sought-after writer" or "great journalist," what I am is a writer who has faith in her abilities and who values her integrity. I know that, down the road, I will find the right opportunities, and that perhaps one day I will be successful with my writing. In the meantime, I get to enjoy the process. I get to think about and map out projects. I get to daydream a little. I get to write material that I enjoy writing and that I know will appear in quality publications. At the end of the day, this is a far greater reward for me.

I might never get rich, but it's also very likely I will never be used for someone else's gain.

I will end this by saying that I realize that every person is different. We all have different needs, and some of us depend on writing income for a living. (I am lucky enough to have a day job, but would love to support myself solely on my writing and art!) I get that, and I get that these outlets do work well for some people. To those people, I would say "More power to you!" I would also say, however, "Why don't you try pitching to some publications who will value your work and pay you what you are worth?"