Back in the days when I used to get part-time gigs for content writing at P2,500 for about thirty articles, when I hear the phrase freelance writing, I thought it was a hell of a prestigious job that only well-known publishing writers could carry out.
But boy, was I dead wrong.
Freelance writing is a cutthroat business. On one hand, you have miser contractors and website solutions companies who are trying to outsource writing jobs at a steal, and on the other, a burgeoning number of freelance writing pros and newbies who are placed in a head-on battle for jobs, wrought in a dilemma of whether to accept low pay rates to survive, or to live with pride but get none at all. Nowadays, there are even sites where writers bid for work, some as low as $1 for a 500 word-article (or only P43 pesos in the Philippines) – a disgruntling rate as far as hard labor is concerned.
Yes, bidding. As if intellectual property was just an unused item you found in a closet then decided to put up on sale.
While a 500-word article may only account for almost a page, the research and effort that it entails are in reality, harder than what it looks like on paper (sometimes even more difficult than writing the article itself). A high-quality 500-word article takes about two hours to finish – research and proofreading included. Otherwise, you have plagiarists or bad writers who simple spin articles from other authors via rewriting softwares.
Some seasoned writers put the blame of the decreasing standards of freelance writing and decent pay on newbies who are eager to jump in on every bid despite measly compensation. They are, as one pro says, “pulling down the entire freelance writing business by undervaluing the profession“. While I totally understand their point, I know too, that for a third world-country like the Philippines, a dollar makes a huge impact. A dollar equates to 1 1/2 kilos of rice. It gets you to a destination thirty miles away. It is a third of a kilo of dressed chicken. It pays for a semester’s miscellaneous fees for those going to public colleges. For freelancing newbies who are still trying to learn the ropes, these meager rates pay for their families’ education, rent, bills and food.
I don’t think there’s any one writer to blame in this dismal situation. If anything, all of us, who make a living out of writing, are affected by this situation. Opportunities for seasoned writers are narrowing by the minute, while the novices are likely to get stuck in low paying jobs simply to survive. Sure, one may reason that his low asking rate is merely a stepping stone until he has enough experience to demand more, but for someone who needs to work to survive (like a working mom or dad), moving on to that step, most of the time, becomes nearly impossible. Dreams need to put on hold in order to live.
The only question is, if not now, when?
If there’s anything I’ve learned for working the past eleven years, it’s that if you settle, you’re undermining your own capabilities and putting less value on yourself than what you’re really worth.
I've had the opportunity to work as a writer for a major newspaper before and now, I work as a freelance writer online. The pay difference is so great and people who are used to writer for publications will cringe at the rates for online/web writers. I never accept very low rates because I think it's unfair for me. The lowest that I accept is $10 for a 500-word article that doesn't require research. Sabi nga when I was still in college, mahirap mabuhay sa pagsusulat.
$10 for a 500-word article? Wow. That's huge. Clap, clap, clap!
I wonder why the hell employers demand such low rates for online writers when the work they produce is a product of creativity, intellect and hard work too, just like those articles in publications. You're right, it is unfair for anyone, and I applaud you for having stood your ground every time 🙂
And totoo, mahirap mabuhay sa pagsusulat. Kung di mo siya mahal, hindi mo tatagalan. Hehe.