Weezie's Soapbox: What Writers are Worth

Accomplished today: Finished and turned in an article, researched a new idea, jotted down ideas for a query.

Music Mood: I Wanna Be Sedated, by the Ramones

I recently signed up for a freelance service which, for a small fee, allows you to bid on freelance projects. It's not just for writers. All kinds of work-from-home types and independent contractors use the service. For the most part, I've been impressed. There are some quality jobs on the site and some very impressive talent bidding on them.

But I have one complaint. Cheapskates.

I could get really riled up about the large number of insultingly cheap employers offering, for example, $70 for 10, 600-word articles or "less than $250" to ghostwrite an entire book. (I mean, seriously? Are you kidding me?)

But what makes me even angrier than cheap employers are the writers who actually bid on these jobs.

There is a reason why businesses have to seek outside writers: Because they can't afford to keep a writer on staff full-time. And why is that? Because writers are professionals with a valuable skill.

But when a writer agrees to produce 10, 600-word articles for $70 (can anyone even figure out what the per-word rate is on that?), she sends a message that her skill isn't worth very much. And THAT sends a message to those employers that writers in general don't deserve decent pay for their work.

I realize that there are many newbie writers out there who are looking to simply build up a portfolio so they can eventually move into bigger pay scales. I also understand that small and/or start-up companies and individuals don't have the budget yet to pay much. The problem with using that as an excuse, however, is that both writer and employer run the risk of gaining reputations they can't shake.

Here's how the cycle works: You agree to do a job for next-to-nothing, the employer is happy with your work and wants more, so you try to negotiate a higher rate. They balk because clearly your work isn't worth that much... You did it for less before, right? So you vow never to work for that cheapskate again. You lose a client and a possible reference. The employer loses a talented writer and now has to start all over.

My suggestion to the writers is this: There are other ways to build a portfolio that don't force you to work for insulting fees. Can you expect to command $2 a word as a newbie? No. But fifty-cents per word is hardly unreasonable. And you can -- yes, you CAN -- find that.

My suggestion to employers is this: Budget better. If your business requires writing services, you'd better plan to spend more on that service than you pay for the toilet paper it takes to stock your bathroom. Otherwise, you will never attract the kind of professional talent that leads to more readers for your website, magazine, whatever.

And that's Weezie's soapbox for the day.

The 2008 Pulitzer Prizes

Accomplished today: Successfully pitched another story, researched three other stories, did some on-site reporting.

Music mood: No Bad News, by Patty Griffin

The 2008 Pulitzer Prizes were announced today! Just as Hollywood bites its nails to find out who won an Oscar, those of us in the print journalism world hover in anticipation of finding out who was honored with journalism's highest prize. I actually organized my day so that I could be sitting at my computer late in the afternoon, eagerly awaiting the news.

Why do I get so excited every year? Because the Pulitzer Prize reminds me of why I chose journalism as a career; that is, the press -- despite its many flaws -- is still one of the most powerful forces for change and understanding in the world. And for all the wasted minutes spent speculating about Britney's next meltdown or Paris Hilton's latest outfit, the vast majority of American journalists are out there telling important stories every single day.

Consider just a few of the things that this year's winners accomplished:
-- Revealed the neglectful treatment of many wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital (Washington Post: Public Service Award)
-- Exposed the many dangerous ingredients in products imported from China, prompting major crackdowns (The New York Times: Investigative Reporting Award)
-- Exposed corruption in the enforcement of tax laws regarding public officials in Milwaukee (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Local Reporting Award)

I used to get a lot of smirks and eye-rolls whenever I would tell my old newspaper colleagues that I wanted to win a Pulitzer someday. You know the look...it's the "who the hell does she think she is?" look that is too often adopted in the face of big dreams. It's the same look that writers get when they tell people they want to be a published author.

Is it a big dream to want to win a Pulitzer someday? Of course it is. But I would hope that every working journalist in America has that dream. Because it's not about seeking glory. It's about wanting to do the kinds of stories that make a difference.

And anyway, I like big dreams. Is there any other kind worth having?

(For a full list of winners, click here.)