DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
  • Publication
  • #GhostsWriteIt Spotlight
    • Writer Spotlight Submission
  • Services
    • Digital Strategy
      • Content Marketing
      • Law Firm Marketing
      • Social Media Management
    • Ghostwriting
    • Public Relations
      • Social Sabotage & Online Privacy
        • Social Media Policy Template
  • About
  • Publication
  • #GhostsWriteIt Spotlight
    • Writer Spotlight Submission
  • Services
    • Digital Strategy
      • Content Marketing
      • Law Firm Marketing
      • Social Media Management
    • Ghostwriting
    • Public Relations
      • Social Sabotage & Online Privacy
        • Social Media Policy Template
  • About
Search

DIARY OF A FREELANCER, PART TWO: THE WRITE STUFF

7/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Will Viharo

​You probably won’t get rich as a writer. You may not even make any money at all.
But if you keep at it, the odds are in your favor that you will earn at least part of your income doing something you love.
 
Persistence and patience will eventually pay off, just maybe not in the manner or amount you wanted.
 
The dividends may prove more valuable than you imagined, too.

 In my previous column I shared some of my negative experiences as a freelance writer, specifically with scams designed to milk you of money and exploit your time and talent.
 
But there is a bright flipside to that dirty coin.
 
I confess, there is only one period in my long career where I actually made a living as a full time writer, which is rare. I was subcontracted by a big company (that will remain unnamed) for which I wrote “click bait” web content on a variety of assigned topics, basically researching the subject daily, then creatively cribbing from them to create my own plagiarized-yet-disguised version.
 
The main purpose of this online strategy – like many similar blogging networks – was to sucker browsers into clicking on the many sponsored ads embedded in each article. Nothing unethical about that. This is how web-based magazines make their money, just like their revenue-challenged print equivalents.
 
This company paid extremely well. In fact, that year I made more money than I have in my entire life – writing. There was nothing creatively rewarding about the work. In fact, it could get quite tedious and grueling. But I could do it all from home, meaning I didn’t have to take my work home with me. It was just there when I woke up in the morning, the ideal “commute.”
 
Then I began reading rumors that the company was being accused of using what’s known as “bots” to click on the ads, leading their clients to believe they were generating a lot more traffic than they actually were.
 
At first I dismissed them, mostly out of fear I’d lose this dream gig. But then one day I got a text message that the company was going under and I was being let go. Just like that.
 
The company soon merged with another, and I was re-hired, though at lesser rates with fewer assignments. But a few months older that deal imploded as well.
 
After improbably recovering from the loss of my previous, twelve-year career as a film programmer, which also ended quite abruptly when the company folded, I was back to square one.

From Bots to "Mr. Robot"
 
At the time Christian Slater was still moving ahead with his option of my novel Love Stories Are Too Violent For Me. But then he got a TV series and had to postpone the project “indefinitely.”
 
Devastated, I secretly hoped his new show would fail so he could resume our project. It was cancelled after five episodes aired. But then he almost immediately scored another one, Mr. Robot, which is now a critical and commercial hit. I am very happy for him. He’s a good guy, at least in my experience.
 
But his “comeback” does nothing for me. At least not so far.
 
So I decided to do something proactive to change my life, rather than relying on others to improve my situation. We sold our condo in the Bay Area and moved to Seattle, an epic relocation, logistically speaking, but well worth it. I am much happier and more productive here than ever before, having already written and published two novels, in addition to starting my own imprint, and my wife is also finally pursuing her academic dreams by studying for her PhD in the University of Washington School of Drama.
 
I had a lot of trouble finding steady work when we first moved here, and our profits from the condo sale were rapidly dwindling. I was rejected for basically every type of job I applied for, possibly due to the fact I’m a middle-aged pulp writer without any formal education.
 
After the initial rush of my newly inspirational environment, which is very important for any artist, my spirits were rapidly sinking all over again.

Happy Ending - Just Beginning
 
But now, over two years later, I make decent cash doing something I really enjoy – dog walking!
 
So what about my original career goals?
 
Well, I’m being flown to Costa Rica next year, all expenses paid, to conduct workshops at a writer’s retreat; a French publisher has expressed interest in my fiction; and I have two short stories coming out in two different anthologies – at the request of the respective editors.
 
I was also re-hired by a former Bay Area movie theater client as the administrator of the Facebook page, in addition to writing their newsletter, promoting special events, etc., since I could still do all that from my remote residence. In fact, it's a new iteration of the theater I once worked for, run by different owners. 

And as for my fate as a star-crossed freelance blogger? 

You’re looking at it.

Carry on.

PHOTO: WILL VIHARO (IMAGE BY DYER WILK)

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Become a Ghostwriter!
    Picture
    Contribute to DMG
    Picture
    BECOME A GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
    Picture
    PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS BY GUEST POSTING
    Picture
    ARE YOU A GHOSTWRITER? WE WANT TO KNOW!
    Picture
    DO YOU HAVE A GHOSTWRITING BUSINESS?

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Agency Spotlight
    Business
    Digital Marketing
    Ghost In A Flash
    Ghostwriting
    Media Relations
    Privacy Concerns
    Social Sabotage
    Technology
    Writer Spotlight
    Writing

    Advertising Disclaimer

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

Find your domain and create your site at Weebly.com!
Digital Media Strategy
Content Marketing
Law Firm Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Social Media Marketing
eBooks
Writing
Becoming a Ghostwriter
Blogging
Content Marketing
Ghostwriting Services
Guest Post Guidelines
Media Relations
Online Crisis Management
Personal Brand
Public Relations
Reputation Management
About
Our Team
Our Results
Testimonials
Contact Us
Locations:
New Orleans, LA
Nashville, TN

DMG University
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Cookie Policy
Digital Media Ghost  @2020
  • Publication
  • #GhostsWriteIt Spotlight
    • Writer Spotlight Submission
  • Services
    • Digital Strategy
      • Content Marketing
      • Law Firm Marketing
      • Social Media Management
    • Ghostwriting
    • Public Relations
      • Social Sabotage & Online Privacy
        • Social Media Policy Template
  • About