I'm fascinated by sites like Epinions and About.com (and the now defunct askme.com), where many writers contribute high-quality writing in exchange for little or no money.
If you have written for those sites (or similar sites) before, can you tell me why you were motivated to make such time-consuming contributions? Is it the prestige of being designated an expert? Is it a way to practice writing?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
>>can you tell me why you were motivated to make such time-consuming contributions?
Well, not for those sites, no.
But for Slash's RPG, I write for free. And I think that everyone involved makes up a pretty compelling story.
I do it because the collaboration is exciting. I have complete control over my own character; but I have no control over the events in his life. That can be kind of heady. I don't know what the DM or other players are going to throw out. That sort of situation (X-TREME WRITING! WAHOOOO!) is exciting for me.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Thanks Scott, I had not considered collaboration as a motivator. That is a very useful insight.
[ July 20, 2005, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Beren One Hand ]
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I've not written for any of those sites, but I have written "for free" in some cases, like writing plays for church. I do it because if writing is only ever about money, then I don't want to do it anymore. I do it because I love creating, pure and simple. I do it because everything I write makes me a better, more experienced writer and can only help me if I do decide to pursue publication once more, some time in the future.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Glory. Honor. Immortality.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I can only offer an analogy.
I'm a musician. I play around Lafayette once or twice a week, usually a solo acoustic thing. I get paid, but very little (50 bucks a night + tips or something along those lines). And the money I do make, I put it all back into my music (strings, amps, equipment, and maybe a new guitar one day). Because the money makes up none of my income, I take the financial aspect out of my music.
I play because it makes me happy. It's fun, and I enjoy it. If I reach a point where that's not the case, I'll stop. But because it's not my job, I don't have to stress it. There's no "I gotta play tonight, rent's due". I have a real job to take care of that stuff. The "business" aspect of music is disgusting.
That's why I do it for free. I can only assume some of those reasons apply to writers. You hone your craft, but in a less stressfull manner.
Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :
Money is not the only way to be compensated for work.
Why are people writing these posts at Hatrack and answering your questions if they are not getting paid? Why am I? Hmmm...
On second thought, you will recieve your bill in the mail... Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
on sites like epinions and wikipedia, people are not paid with money...but they get a sort of respect from the users which is a kind of payment. It is why amazon lists its "top reviewers." I think one reason people write great reviews is that they want to be recognized as a great reviewer. I don't think that is the only reason though. People like collaboration, a sense of community, and the feeling of a job well done as well.
*edit* It is also along the same lines of message board admins. Why does Pappa Moose take the time to admin this site...and clean things up when they get out of hand? My guess is that he likes to help out OSC. Thats the reason why I help admin Goodkind's site. I don't actually get paid money for it (though I do get signed books sometimes) but I enjoy doing it...and I like the other 4 people that admin the site.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
This seems to me to be less of a writing issue than a chance to influence other people. For example, if I have a really good experience with a product, I'm going to tell everyone I know, and recommend it to them. In the long run, I'm helping myself because I'm giving the good company more business. Likewise, if I'm horribly disappointed in a product (or customer service!), then I will spread that information around. Writing a review online just means that my audience is bigger.
Besides, it's easy to write opinions. People on Hatrack do it all the time. Anyone with a reasonable grasp of writing can do it.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Thanks for the great responses so far.
A little background may help. I'm creating a hobby site and I'm looking for guest contributors who would write about the hobby for free.
Aside from giving special credit such as "Top Reviewers" to the best contributors, what are some other things a webmaster can do to recognize the special contributions a volunteer writer has made to the community?
I've considered creating nice profile pages where volunteer writers can showcase their other interests and talents. I've also considered giving the authors banner space, where they could insert their own commissionjunction or amazon banners, so they can benefit from their own traffic.
Well, I guess I could also write a book and create characters based on your names, but I think it means very little coming from me.
Am I missing any other incentives?
Xap, I'm still sending residuals to Tres, so wait your turn. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I don't get paid extra for writing my columns, but I love being able to reach that many people every week. Also it gets my name out there so that when I do sell my work, I have a fanbase (sort of) and a more interesting resume.
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Practise. Practise and feedback.
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
I don't know what the impression people have is, but very few publications pay for opinion articles. I've published two op-eds and only one of the newspapers paid (the LA Times). I'm told that the LA Times is pretty unusual in that regard. The Hastings Center Report didn't pay for the commentary of mine they just published. Raggededgemagazine.com, where I've had a lot of my work published, can't afford to pay anyone for their work. In the last case, the editor is a friend and has my great respect for her work in disability rights. If she finds my work useful and people read it, I'm happy.
For me, of course, you could argue that I'm already being paid, since writing analytical and opinion pieces is part of my job.
My main goal is always to get the perspective of my organization out in the public eye. When I get paid, it's a surprise.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
>>what are some other things a webmaster can do to recognize the special contributions a volunteer writer has made to the community?
Um. . . extra fate points?
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
I virtually never write for free. My magazine pays me 30c a word for my articles, so I'm not about to devalue my marketability by writing for free somewhere else.
Just as with design, I rarely do 'mates rates' jobs because suddenly you have your mates mates, and their mates mates and their mates mates mates all wanting cheap work. And when you're doing your best to make sure everything that goes out the door with your name on it is of the highest quality, suddenly your effective return on time-investment is less than that of working in Macca's.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
All this mating. . . who knew web developers were such swingers?
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
Yeah well, it's a sexy business.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
quote: People like collaboration, a sense of community, and the feeling of a job well done as well.
Hatrack.
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
BTW, you all owe me bucketloads. Invoice is in the mail.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
quote:Originally posted by Troubadour: BTW, you all owe me bucketloads. Invoice is in the mail.
Was that aimed at me? If so, what the hell?!
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
You are one scary dude.
quote:Originally posted by Troubadour: BTW, you all owe me bucketloads. Invoice is in the mail.
Do I have to put cutesy little smile-ly faces around everything to indicate a joke? I thought Hatrack got 'deadpan'?
... back in the old days of Hatrack, deadpan was *required*....
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
Tell the truth, I'm dumbfounded that anyone could take this as anything *other* than a joke. Then again, it's been a long week....
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Hey, Troubadour, I think he missed the all, I did it too when I first read your post. And yeah, long week... Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Practice, practice, practice
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Sure. Fate points for everyone. Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
I've slept about 10 hours this week. I'm missing a lot of stuff and sseeing a lot of stuff. Hey! That word was rude, TomD!
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
quote:I've slept about 10 hours this week.
Well you did choose the job of 'smarmiest leader of a western nation'. What did you expect?
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
quote: Well you did choose the job of 'smarmiest leader of a western nation'.
I'm a little imperceptive. What?
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
JH, I'm not sure if you are the imperceptive one or if Troubadour is the cryptic one here...
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
There's not a single photo on this page that does not contain the image of John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia. The man who played 'follow the leader' in the war on Terror.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
I AM NOT JOHN ****ING HOWARD, THE ****ING PRY MINIATURE OF AUSTRALIA! NEVER ASSOCIATE ME WITH THAT ****!
Troubadour, you're cruisin' for a bruisin'.
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
well, dude, I'm just sayin' - everytime I see your name, it's what goes through my mind.....
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
You know, you seriously might want to investigate meditation or other relaxing diversions, Jonathan, you'll hurt someone you care about someday if you can't constrain yourself.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
Damn, I forgot to put j/k again.
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
Deadpan. Toldja.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I think we're missing something very important, here.
30c a word? What magazine pays that?
Heck with this free stuff...
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
Australian cents, Mr Bridges, Australian cents. But still, 2500 words at that rate is nothing to sneeze at - particularly if you *are* in Australia. I only wish it was weekly rather than monthly! I'd quit my job and write full-time.
Digital Media World Magazine. I do articles on post-production processes and game development.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I have three fate points now.
Enough for Pensive (Ty's game) to take on Slash (Tom's game).
Bring it, Lizardman.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
I write for free because I like writing. That's why I write here for free.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
It's fun and I like making people feel.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Practice; also, I get status within a community I care about, and I just like seeing my games recorded for posterity. Check out my saga here! Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
quote:I don't get paid extra for writing my columns
Wait a minute. You don't get paid for your weekly 24/7 column that I enjoy so much? That's criminal!
You said "extra." Does that mean you get paid for other work you do for the newspaper?
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