Why Skilled Writers Should Thank Their Mediocre Counterparts
Written on
Chapter 1: Understanding the Landscape of Freelance Writing
In the world of freelance writing, it often feels like for every dedicated and talented writer, there are at least ten others who struggle to form coherent sentences, communicate with clients, or show up for meetings. Discussions with previous clients reveal that these less competent writers seem to dominate the landscape.
For now, let’s put aside questions about where my clients find these individuals and why they continue to engage them. Instead of frustration, I find myself oddly grateful for these underperformers.
This paragraph will result in an indented block of text, typically used for quoting other text.
Section 1.1: The Impact of Unreliable Freelancers
It may sound harsh, but a significant number of freelancers in today’s market do not appear to take their craft seriously. Many are simply looking for a quick payday, while others lack the skills necessary for a successful freelance career.
These are the writers who fail to return calls, submit incomplete work, miss deadlines, and ultimately do not meet their clients' expectations. As a result, the overall standard in freelance writing has dropped considerably.
My clients, understandably, come to me with a healthy dose of skepticism regarding my ability to deliver quality work on time. After all, their experiences with the last five writers they hired might have involved ghosting or subpar work.
Hence, when I consistently provide quality content on schedule, my clients are often pleasantly surprised. I owe this positive reception to the low standards set by those who came before me.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Consequences of Low Standards
Chapter 2: The Value of Being Human
Many clients treat me with remarkable kindness, and I attribute this to several factors. I make a conscious effort to screen potential clients, aiming to work with those who are pleasant. I strive to be friendly and accommodating, fostering a reciprocal goodwill.
However, another significant factor is the clients' previous experiences. They often share stories of writers who missed deadlines, submitted subpar work, or were simply unpleasant to deal with.
Dealing with rude or unhelpful freelancers can be frustrating, especially when they fail to meet even basic expectations. By the time clients come to me, they are often conditioned to expect curt communication and poor service. When I treat them with the respect they deserve, they typically respond with overwhelming positivity.
Being punctual and treating clients with kindness should be the bare minimum for freelancers. Unfortunately, many writers fail to meet these basic standards, leading clients to be pleasantly surprised by a freelancer who behaves like a decent human being.
To All the Mediocre Writers Out There
I want to extend a begrudging acknowledgment to all the less competent writers. While I don’t condone your methods or lack of professionalism, your inability to meet reasonable client expectations has inadvertently made me appear exceptional simply for doing my job. For that, I am thankful.
Video Description: This video discusses eight common reasons why writers struggle in their careers, along with strategies to overcome these challenges.
Video Description: Explore the dynamics of reader expectations in the writing world with this engaging discussion on bad romance literature.