Who am I? What’s my purpose here? And where did this rash on my butt come from? *scratches*
These were questions that have been weighing on my mind lately, especially when I had to abandon an assignment I received after making a pitch to a popular travel site. The assignment was to write an article about leaf peeping during the fall, and I was hoping I could get an article published there to boost my credibility as a travel writer, and also finally start developing what journalists call a “clipping.” Clippings, if you don’t already know, are samples of work by a writer that were published at notable publications and popular sites. It helps to establish their authenticity as a professional writer, as well as provide proof that they have access to outlets with a high circulation of readers.
As far as that goes, I have zero credibility as a travel writer, because I’ve never been published any where. There may have been things published ABOUT me though (specifically police bulletins,) but I don’t think that counts.
So anyway, I make this pitch about leaf peeping in the Smoky mountains and how to avoid the crowds during that time, and it gets rejected. Partly because the topic was too narrow, and they wanted something a little bit more broader than what I proposed. So I re-pitched the same idea, only including a few other places besides the Smokies, and this time it tentatively gets accepted.
Only problem was, they wanted 8-10 destinations covered, including a few international as well, and wanted details on where it was, what makes it such a great place to see the leaves change, when to go, how to avoid crowds, etc.
And they wanted an outline in two days, AND a 1,200 word article draft in a week or less.
What?
I suppose that’s normal for journalists who face these kinds of deadlines all the time, but… what?
It was an unexpected broadside in a week where I already needed to complete a few time consuming projects, but I was hoping I could still get to it and eventually get the article published. But alas, it was not to be.
I noticed though, whenever I had time to spare for researching and developing the kind of article they wanted, that the art of writing was no longer becoming fun for me. It was starting to feel more like… work.
It didn’t help that I had to write in a format that I have come to absolutely DESPISE too, a format known as “list articles,” where every title starts with “X amount of ways to do <fill in the blank>.” And they are EVERYWHERE on the Internet.
“27 ways to wash your car!”
“13 steps to tweezing your nose hairs”
“6,240 ways that you can bite me”
Ugh. I can’t write like that. And when I try to, it always builds up my anxiety to the point where I have to physically stop and take a walk outside just to calm down again. I consider my writing to be a reflection of my personality, and when I have to write in such a rigid, stupid (yes, STUPID) format, it’s like I’m forcing myself to change my personality.
There are experts who say list articles are so predominant because they are highly popular and easy to absorb by people who tend to scan rather than read content on the Internet, and if I’m ever going to succeed as a writer, then I MUST WRITE THIS WAY OR BE A FAILURE FOREVER.
Oh, and it can’t be too long either, a rule I’ve already broken with this post. Oh, and it has to include lots of photos to break the monotony. Yet another strike against this post.
You know what? The world’s smallest violin just emailed me to say, “I don’t give a rat’s ballsack.”
Has it occurred to any of them that maybe people scan content not just for lack of time, but because 99% of what they read is utter, soulless crap?
Do I need to be a part of the problem here, even if it may be the only way I can establish myself as a legitimate travel writer to the point where I could do this full time?
Or maybe I should develop my own path, and see where the road leads from there?
It’s not that I shun the work either, but it should be a FUN kind of work, you know? I already have a soul-sucking, dead-end job, so why exert all this effort and play by the industry’s rules, only to exchange my current job for a career that will wind up being just as soul sucking? Stupid.
There’s a certain… debonair quality to how I write: comfortable, loose, carefree, and occasionally, somewhat insane. But that’s me. It’s how I express myself, and I find immense joy in that.
So I’ve made my decision. If I’m ever to realize my dreams of being a self-employed writer/blogger, then it must be on my terms.
Oh, and in case you’d like a more detailed explanation of what those terms are, please see my article, “19 Reasons Why the Internet Should Acknowledge the Dripping Awesome Sauce That is Me.” I’ll be publishing an eBook with the same title as well.
I love this post, and I fully agree with you. What’s the point of writing if you don’t enjoy it, and you are just doing what everyone else is doing. It should be about you, and about your personality, that’s what will keep bringing people back. My girlfriend recently told me to put more of my personality into my travel blog writings, my personality is why people like me, and I’m funny etc, so I’m trying to do more of ‘myself’ in there now.
So what I’m trying to say is, keep up the good work, keep doing what you are doing and don’t change. It’s why I love your blog. Write for yourself and have fun :)
It’s definitely readers like you that keep me blogging too. Thanks for the support, and for acknowledging the supreme awesomeness that is me. O:-)
Anytime buddy :D Its also good to see some of the other comments below that agree, means there is still hope in this world ;)
A low barrier to entry has saturated the marketplace.
Very true.. I am new to the blogging scene and it’s a bit discouraging at first seeing the very defined line between those successful, and those trying to make it. It seems there’s no middle ground. I don’t want to conform either, though looking at the options, it’s either that or just tough it out, and hope for the best. I personally am planning on taking the same route as yourself. You should enjoy what you do.. otherwise, why are you doing it? The whole concept of blogging came about because people wanted to share a part of themselves with the world… not be told what to share, and how, with bullet points and ascending numbered lists. ;) Keep on Keepin it real!
Thanks Ian! Ultimately there’s an advantage to developing our own path based on what we’re seeing now, which is an entire demographic of bloggers who are all imitating each other and rehashing each other’s contents. It’s going to reach critical mass to the point that brands will start crying out for something new. You have one successful blogger, and the next thing you know a sea of bloggers all trying to emulate that same blogger in every shape, manner and form. Stupid.
Here’s what’s important: Find a niche you love to write about, something you’d enthusiastically blog even if you never earned a red cent for it. That way if things don’t work out, you’re not wasting your time because you’re doing something you would have done for free anyway. That’s key.
It also helps when it’s a niche that virtually everyone in creation has completely ignored because it’s not lucrative, or more accurately, it’s not AS lucrative as other niches. In regards to travel bloggers, I’ve noticed it’s lopsidedly geared towards younger backpackers, so there’s something of a void when it comes to discussing hi-tech and budget travel, a void I’ll happily fill.
I don’t expect to make a living from it, but I’m already seeing an advantage where a good chunk of my travel expenses are being paid for by my blogging incomes and sponsors, making it MUCH easier for me to get around without going bankrupt. :-D
Finally, there are some basics to blogging you should know, much of which is common sense, like splitting up chunks of text into small blocks for easier reading/scanning, linking up your blog so every post gets sent to social media networks you belong to, avoiding Adsense like the plague etc., but once that infrastructure is laid down, I find the more specific “experts” tend to be about how you should blog, the less they seem to really know.
It’s so refreshing to read a post like yours. If I read one more “how to” list I am going to seriously LOSE IT.
And, just to give you some insight, people WILL pay — and pay big bucks — for writing that is well researched, thoughtful, and unique. I have regressed a bit from blogging to specialty newsletters. I have two clients–one in the biotech industry and one in the chemical industry–who pay $32,000 annually for specialty newsletters. Granted, those newsletters include information that can’t be found in any other publication, and it takes me weeks to research just one article, but it pays well.
So..as you said, do what you love, and stay true to your own values.
Vicki, you know what’s been perpetuating those types of posts/articles? Demand Studios, a network that provides content to a broad range of websites in the form of how-to’s and list articles. They actually bought out eHow.com as well, and have played a large role in the development of content farms, until Google finally got fed up and updated their algorithm to slap these farms down.
It’s not so much that the content is bad, but rather that it’s… soul-less, for a lack of a better term. There’s no ZING, no passion, no emotion in the ocean. :-D
I’m glad you found something profitable, I also found something in the form of writing weekly for a company blog, who allow me to write in whatever manner I please , so I can’t complain. We really can walk another path, we just have to look hard enough for it. :-)
It is frustrating to not be able to write in your own style. Writing is a creative craft, not a paint-by-numbers template-driven process.
I got out of the news biz (I’m a former TV anchor) because I wanted to write the kinds of stories I wanted to write, the way I wanted to write them. In addition to the newsletters (which pays the bills), I also do branded news sites for companies that include videos, articles, eLearning modules, and interactive games. Those don’t pay as well, but they are wonderfully creative and make it all worthwhile. I love taking a concept and creating an entire storyline around it.
It’s sad to see so many writers feel as if they have no alternative but to work for the content farms. As you said, the content is just soul-less, and has not storyline or emotion to it! (Or, as you so aptly put it: “No emotion in the ocean.” LOL! Love that!)
Good luck to you! Sounds as if you are definitely on the right track. :)
Thank you, LOVE that you were a former anchor too. I feel so prestigious now that a TV personality has visited my blog. :-D
Taking a concept and creating a storyline around it is exactly my passion as well. I love to tell stories, and I’m grateful that I can do so on my terms via this blog. I’ll only get better at it too as time goes on.
Good luck to you as well! I hope all of us can obtain and enjoy the blessings of our writing craft. :-)
Fabulous. You owe me a screen clean, caused in particular by “The world’s smallest violin just emailed me to say, “I don’t give a rat’s ballsack.””
I love that violin. He always did have a way with words. :-D
Hey man,
I have these fights all the time with publishers… I understand that readers really like the lists, and as much as I mock them I’ve noticed whenever I do lists they are more popular. As for my professional travel writing, I have refused to do lists except as guest posts for friends. Usually if you fight the editor a little bit they’ll give you your way as long as you promise that the article will also be easy to read. Good luck finding your way in this crazy game.
I equate list articles to shows like the Jersey Shore: while it’s immensely popular, you also come away feeling cheap and dirty afterwards too. It’s the Snooki effect, complete with big hair and orange tan.
I know of one blog that breaks every rule in the book: no list articles at all, rarely any pictures, posts that go on for 2,000 words or more, and still rakes in 3 million visitors a month. Bloggers who shun the golden rules as laid down by Copyblogger can still and indeed enjoy success. :-)
Good luck to you as well!
Dude. Keep me posted on the release date of that e-book. Sounds like a best seller!
But for reals, all this “travel blogger” “travel writer” “travel ***hole” stuff only really comes down to one thing. Labels….and bragging rights.
Personally, I’d much rather write what I want (like an e-book containing the term “awesome sauce”) than some thoughtless, bullet-point article about the top 34 things to do in the most popular tourist city in the world.
Amen to that. Here’s to keeping it real and of course, awesome. ;-)