I'm in no way attempting to be judgemental here. I recognize that bills must be paid and that one has to make a living but... Are there subjects that are off the table for you? Or will you hire yourself out to the highest bidder, irrespective of what they wish you to write about? Ethics verses reality? Morality versus poverty? Tell the truth,have you ever been forced to hold your nose and write about subjects, that you would have just as soon not have? Have you ever compromised more than you should have,any regrets?
Every now and then, I sit down to write something and I get stuck. Not in the "I don't know what to say" sense, but more in the "I don't enjoy writing about this" sense. While I usually take on topics I enjoy writing about, there have been times when I found myself writing on stuff I don't find terribly interesting. I'll admit that it has to do with the rates offered. No matter how well we line up our ducks, there are things we cannot control, personal obligations that need to be fulfilled. But I draw the line when it comes to what I consider offensive or obnoxious. Recently, one of my long-term clients asked if I would write on a particular topic . He offered a much higher rate, but I declined as I find the topic dark and depressing. I then directed him to a writer who I know is into that sort of writing. It turns out that my writer friend had given this client page-turning content with a nice touch of humor, and landed himself a huge contract. I lost a good earning opportunity, but I'm happy I didn't compromise. I'm with you on not being judgmental. We writers have the allowance to write what we want, and it's up to us to decide for ourselves where to draw the line; where we will not cross the line.
"Beggers can't be choosers." If you NEED to write to make a living, you best plug up your nose and get to cranking out words. If you see it as more of a craft, you can pick and choose. To me, other than damaging lies and libel, I don't see why anything would be taboo. Wouldn't it be a challenge for the aspiring writer to get involved in a subject that is unusual or uncomfortable for them? It will definitely broaden horizons to not set limits on what one is willing to write about.
For writers it is also about creative expression and creative liberty. But when it comes down to making a living... i guess it is an individual choice. No two writers are the same. What is poison for one can be nectar for the other. Take erotic or adult writing for instance. Some writers won't touch the subject, while others make a killing.
@Oosha Thank you for your post. It was very honest and revealing which is what I was hoping for. I like peering into the mind of a writer, even if it's only to a small extent. @Traditione "Beggers can't be choosers" if they wish to remain beggers,no? But I do understand your point. @willM "Liberty" that is hard to debate when one considers freedom of the press or writing in general. As you stated,I guess it has to come down to an individual choice. The choice being freedom(liberty)and personal ethics. A fine line sometimes huh?
Hm, this is a very interesting question. I have dealt with receiving writing jobs that I honestly did not want to go through with, and many times have I turned them down because I'm just not comfortable working on them. There are a select few subjects that I find hard to write about and there are those that just seem next to impossible because I have little to no understanding of them. If a job is too complex, I will turn it down. If I can manage to work around my problems, I accept the work.
I worked as a marketing manager for an IMer and was paid well, only till I realized it was an illegit product that's being sold. I also had a short stint with Academia Research few years back. Blame it on my naivety but little did I realize that the assignments I have written (paid) were for those clients that had foregone all the hard work of research and writing but awarded with grades/degrees. Three back to back assignments and I realized that if I was doing all the research-writing for someone that isn't doing one iota of it other than smoking a pop and hiring a writer to take all credit in his/her respective resume....is not ethical but cheating by any standards. All said, reviewing about a car that I haven't even test driven isn't worse than writing a sales pitch or review for an illegit product. All about drawing my line.....!
@Lisa-Marie Dutt It appears that you have found a workable compromise in regards to the subject of ethics, well done. @Live2Write I believe finding that "line" is a learning experience. Sort of by trial and error huh?
Yes, there are lots of jobs I will turn down--whether it is topics I do not care to write about, "rewriting" work (AKA plagiarism), and article spinning among them...I just think they are trashy ways to make a living....and a good writer has no business doing them.
There are times when you just cant help but write on subjects that you are least interested in. Freelancers, comparatively, have more freedom to choose what they write on.
@virtuallycapable I'm glad to read that you draw the line at plagiarism. @NathanielFletcher Excellant point,freelancers of course have more freedom to choose. When you are under contract this may not be the case.
I did have a few assignments I had to turn down because it was clear they were for college courses. I wouldn't be able to respect myself if I helped a student cheat.
@jennifer.koebele It is somewhat surprising that a student would even have enough $$$ to pay you. Took a lot of gall for that student to ask you to help him cheat huh?
I don't remember the site, but I had once stumbled upon an entire, very busy, marketplace just for finding writers for term papers. I was shocked at how blatantly out there the whole thing was. It was fun to see a few rants by students who got caught. lol
@YMC One can only hope that these students who cheat their way through their education, do not become leaders in our societies.
I am very picky when I write. I know that many persons have no limits when it is about money, and I don't judge them. I was never in the situation to refuse a writing job because the subject was a taboo, but I refused some because the subject had nothing to attract me. In my opinion if you hate the job, then it is impossible to do it very well. But this is how I am, and maybe others are very capable to accomplish a job even if they hate it.
@MarvinE I agree with your sentiments. I have wondered how some writers can produce without the motivation of attraction to the subject? Some as the topic subject suggests, will write on subjects they find distasteful.(taboo) I remember reading an article on how a writer swallowed his ethics because he had debts to pay.