Freelancers: take the credit you're owed
Ghostwriting. It doesn't just occur in celebrity biographies and cook books by top chefs. Over the past few months I've become increasingly aware of a sub-industry within the freelance writing community of "writers" outsourcing their regular gigs. Lower paid (and often lower-ability) writers take the assignments, sub-contracted to make the writer who is hired look extremely productive.
Now of course there is nothing wrong with this overall. Many businesses outsource, and freelancing is a business. Sometimes, you need to bring other people in to complete the contract.
But the person paying for the service needs to know about this. Otherwise, your business is acquiring regular work through fraudulent means.
That's not a good look.
I can't write too much about how this has come to my attention. In short, one writer informed us out of the blue that they had been producing work for another. Honestly, it's like kids doing each other's homework, except the stakes are higher, reputations are on the line, and it's fraudulent.
That information confirmed some suspicions, and helped us to spot other potential outsourcers. It's a shame this is happening; writers should be working to develop their skill and claiming control over their own reputations. Failing to do this devalues an already under-paying sector.
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If your work is worth $150, so are you. Make sure you're the one earning it. If it's not worth amount being you're paid for it, you could end up with repeated rewrites, way beyond the expected time investment.
It really isn't worth it. A successful freelancer must have value in themselves and the work they produce.
Ghostwriting certainly has its place. But that place is not guiding people through the steps required to backup an iPhone, or exploring what apps are suitable for restoring old photos. Thinking you're a ghostwriter when there is no book or big name involved is, I'm afraid, simply pretentious.
If you're good enough to write for someone else to slap their name on it, you're good enough to write under your own name and for full payment, rather than a "cut."
It's very difficult to tell for sure which writers are subcontracting out. Who are they using to furnish their articles with words? We can't be sure, but editors are smart enough to know when they're being "had" and when a writer switches between multiple writing "voices." The fact that the person claiming to be a writer is unaware that this is detectable further underlines their unsuitability for the role.
Author and Multi-Genre writer, Entrepreneur, Creative Writing Coach, Publishing Coach, Guest Speaker & Guest Host
2yVery interesting article and I agree that clients should know when we outsource. This may be besides the point, but I wrote all 5 of my Vegan Delectable: Volumes I - V Cookbooks. The was work foreign (new genre) and arduous since I’m a literary writer—no ghostwriter for me.
Corporate Healthcare Writer and Subject Matter Expert CareCredit/Synchrony Bank, Ezra Health, VKTR, and ContinuumCloud
2yI write health and wellness content for an SaaS startup founder who claims the byline for himself. It's not a problem for me. My rates start at $300. He pays on time. I write plenty of bylines as well, it's the same process, the same money.
Director, Department of Writing
2yI own a writing company and outsource the bulk of my work to carefully chosen freelancers. It's done openly, and often the writer works directly with the client. My main jobs are to secure work for my writing team, manage quality, ensure the client's needs are being met, and mentor writers. Outsourcing done openly has many benefits, including the ability to respond quickly and the ability to assign the right writer to a given task. To outsource secretly is deceptive, dumb and unnecessary. After some initial hesitation about not having me as their writer, most clients have been very comfortable about having a writer who I stand behind.
I help coaches, therapists, and counsellors write SEO blog posts that reach and help people at scale. I also have experience in copywriting and editing. Learn more ↓
2yIt's not always easy getting Gigs, and that's the reason many writers (including me) sometimes manage the “Cut”. I've always felt like some people hiring me for a job (on platforms like Fiverr) grossly “underprice” me to keep larger “cuts” for themselves - the arbitrate/middleman At some point, I got irritated scrolling through the Buyers Request sections to see people requiring 10 articles for $5...and worse, you get to see 20 offers sent. I'm like “WTF is going on here?!” That's the issue with going to Freelance Market Places - everyone tries to bid a little lower. Or maybe I'm not just good at navigating those platforms Anyway, I've made some money freelancing. But I know I deserve much more. It's also the reason I've simply doubled down on building my Personal Brand (and reputation) - by writing on my blog and publishing books every once in a while. I know it won't take long now, besides, my blog and publication business might soon get so profitable I would never have to write for someone else Thanks for the share, I really love it
Technology Writer & Editor | Web Content, Editorial, News Writing
2yThe bottomline is that the writer doesn’t have the passion to grow. It also leeches away any editorial motivation to help the writer grow organically with valuable feedback. We become better at our jobs… but when these situations crop up, I can’t but help think — what’s the point!