Cheating Taken to a New Low

One of my favorite blogs, Craigslist Curmudgeon, highlights some of the really horrible writing job listings on Craigslist. He has branched out and also includes other types of ad now, as well.

Something I have repeatedly seen highlighted in his blog, as well as listed as legit jobs - *gag* on job sites are ads seeking writers to write term papers and college entrance essays. Some have even requested writers to do all of their homework.

The worst part of it is that there really are people who will take these 'jobs'. They justify it by saying they are just trying to make a buck or they are just 'helping' someone out.

Let's hope, when in an emergency, they get help from someone who earned their way there rather than got 'helped' there.

What do YOU think of this new trend?

Freelance Writing - So Easy Anyone Can Do It! . . .NOT

Photo by Sarah Sturtevant

One of my favorite bloggers, Deborah Ng, posted this article on her freelance writing blog, and I must say I most heartily agree. The assumption that not only is what we do 'easy' but 'wealth-creating' is something I run into a great deal in my interactions with others who find out what I do.

Not everyone can write, and not everyone has what it takes to not only come up with new ideas to write about, but also put the right spin on it so it will capture and hold the attention of readers.

Most freelance writers cannot live on what they make from writing, alone. We have to have other sources of income unless and until we can land some long-term and good paying contract work. We are more correctly associated, income-wise, with the category of 'starving artist' than we are with J.K.Rowling.

We love what we do. If we didn't, we surely would not continue to do it. But to minimize the amount of work and skill it takes to do what we do is a grave injustice.