WritingThoughts

18 responses so far ↓

• 1 Robert Hruzek // Aug 7, 2008 at

  I’d say that’ s true of most of us. Besides, in one sense, we’re ALL working for someone else, even the entrepreneurs who think otherwise! But that’s OK with me, too. I need the motivation that a deadline, a goal, or a project give me. Otherwise I may just spend time in the hammock and read.

• 2 Laura Spencer // Aug 7, 2008 at

  Hi Robert!

  You are so right.

  One of the hardest things to explain to those who aren’t self-employed is that you aren’t really working for yourself and you can’t just do whatever whenever. You’re working for clients.

  For some reason, many who are unfamiliar with freelancing don’t grasp this.

• 3 Graham Strong // Aug 8, 2008 at

  Hi Laura,

  Sure, all freelancers do their “best work” for other people. But I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with that. Paying customers should come first every time.

  Besides, it’s still your work. Yes, you may own that Van Gogh hanging in the corner. But ol’ Vinnie could still lay some claim to it, even if its not on the wall in his own living room…

  ~Graham

• 4 Laura // Aug 9, 2008 at

  Thanks Graham!

  I don’t think that my work is quite on the level of Van Gogh (thanks for putting that in perspective ), though.

  Actually, I do a fair share of business writing where confidentiality dictates that I don’t lay claim to the work. (Of course, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it.)

  All freelancers, I think, have certain things that they would like to do “if only they had the time.” That’s what I was thinking about when I wrote this article.

• 5 Paula Mooney Money Online // Aug 9, 2008 at

  Yeah Laura – I realized that when I decided to stop writing (mostly) for other sites making money off my words thru ads and flow that money to me thru my own websites.

  I figured: Why give that split of income away, especially to the sites that don’t pay bonuses.

  Of course, if you’ve got good sites paying good copywriting monies up front, that’s good.

  But I also like having ownership of my own words and the ability to make revenue off of them for years and years to come.

  Go with God!

• 6 Lillie Ammann // Aug 9, 2008 at

  Laura,
  It’s natural for us to focus on client work rather than our own. My Web site is in desperate need of updating … but it’s ignored while I work on sites for clients. But I’m going to re-do it in preparation for the release of my novel in a couple of months. And I hope my novel is as good as any work I do for clients. Ultimately, of course, the “clients’ are the readers, of which I hope there are zillions. 🙂

• 7 Laura Spencer // Aug 9, 2008 at

  Hi Paula and Lillie!

  This post is generating some good discussion – which I think is great!

  I definitely agree with Lille – as a working writer it is normal to always be working for others. However, like you, I don’t have time to update and renovate this blog. I have to wonder if that is hurting me – if folks stop by here and say, “This is so 2006! If this is the best that she can do, why bother with her?” Of course, who knows if that is happening.

  The other reason that I am attracted to writing for myself is the one that Paula mentioned. Right now, for most of my writing, I’m paid once and that’s it. Paula, for one, has done a terrific job of using her writing to generate an ongoing income (and she gets paid for the same pieces over and over). I ‘d like to have a combination of both.

  Good comments, all!

• 8 Nikki // Aug 11, 2008 at

  I always do my best work for the client and unfortunately it seems that by the time I get around to doing anything for myself there is little left over. I would love to learn to balance writing my best for the client without sacrificing any creativity for myself. Unfortunately I just feel spent.

  I think saying that I don’t have the time to devote to writing for myself would be accurate, I do have the time, I just lack the energy and the mental creativity to do it more.

  Great post as always!

• 9 Mihaela Lica // Aug 13, 2008 at

  Good questions, Laura. I suppose I can join the discussion, although I am not really a copywriter. But the PR profession requires good writing skills, and most press releases don’t have “branded” authors. Texts we write in form of corporate and business letters, ads, marketing literature etc cannot be “author signed” either. Does this mean that we don’t do our best? Hardly.

  I too have things that wait for me to “do my best” including a novel, but somehow, as it happens to you, I have to focus on what pays now and postpone almost everything else.

  Somehow is sad that we have to struggle and we never seem to have time for what really defines us.

• 10 Laura // Aug 13, 2008 at

  Hi Nikki and Mihaela!

  You’re both welcome here any time. Thanks for jumping into the conversation.

  I guess this is another question about balance, isn’t it?

• 11 Vivienne Quek // Aug 16, 2008 at

  We cannot call ourselves professionals when we don’t deliver the best for a paying job. It’s easier to pamper ourselves, in comparison to making others felt love by us. So we tend to walk that extra mile for paying clients. After all, they pay for our bread and butter and even that cherry on the icing cake.

• 12 wii // Aug 19, 2008 at

  I seem to work better for someone else, more incentive. I relax more when i work for myself!

• 13 Aibal // Aug 23, 2008 at

  This is why I originally became an entrepreneur. I realized that having a superior work ethic was not all it took to advance in the workplace. Eventually, the bitterness and resentment boiled over and I quit my job. Anyone who takes their employment seriously should be working for themselves.

  If i did freelance/contract work for other people, I’d just be stealing time away from my own projects. If my projects didn’t earn enough money I’d have to think this over, however.

• 14 Jen Brister // Sep 4, 2008 at

  I think I do my best work for myself…simply because I’m not afraid to be the silly, curious and sometimes profane person that I really am…and it shows.

  I do my most professional work for others…but as far as writing what I enjoy and what I’m good at…that’s for me.

• 15 Glad Doggett // Sep 14, 2008 at

  Hi. Yes, I do my best work for others. I don’t like it. I’ve dreamed of becoming a freelance writer/copywriter, but I don’t know where or how to start. The day job gets in the way of what I really want. I’ve been a corporate writer for far too long. Last week, I gave my notice of my intention of leaving. I just can’t play the game anymore. I have no other job offers and I’m stumbling around, trying to figure out what’s next. I found your site today. I’m hopeful I can glean a few tips on freelancing, especially via the Internet.

  Thanks for writing!!

• 16 Freelance negotiation guidelines // Nov 12, 2008 at

  Why I would support the idea is one reason: when you write for someone else and you retain the copyright, then giving the best effort on that job will catch others’ attention. It will be like a testimonial for a better job(s) in the future. So, always give it a best shot when writing for others.

• 17 Jobs For Writers- Make $200-$300 Daily // Feb 25, 2009 at

  I think it is true that writers are wired to work hard for others, but will not work for themselves. it still suprises me to this day how many writers will work for $2 an article or ad revenue sharing sites when they can make a ton more with their own website. Writers love to express their art and desires to others, and maybe the writer psychologically feel that if he works for free or little, he can be repaid with the fact that someone is recognzing or scrutizing their finished project. Hey..just my guess.but I’m no Freud 🙂

• 18 dave // Mar 4, 2009 at

  Id prefer to work for myself, however when I do i’m pretty lazy and don’t get as much accomplished as I do working for others.