writing – Page 11 – Natalie Burg

October 28, 2013October 29, 2013Self-Employment Writing

The non-controversy of writing for free

There’s been a bit of buzz round the internet over the past few days about the apocalyptic scenario in which we writers find ourselves. Some people don’t want to pay us, it seems, and some people are all in a huff about it.

It seems to have been kicked off by a New York Times opinion column titled, “Slaves of the Internet Unite.” So it’s pretty clear where that piece landed. It was funny, clever and established the skill and experience of the writer says he is constantly barraged with requests for free content. I found him charming, but his argument started going south for me around here:

October 25, 2013Self-Employment Writing

Everything But the Writing

During a recent presentation to college students about entrepreneurship in the arts, I asked the class what they thought a freelance writer did with her time all day. Their guesses included “thinking about character development” and “writing,” and bless their hearts, that would be amazing. But as any freelance writer can attest, the business of pitching stories, research, contacting sources, waiting for sources to call back and interviewing sources takes up the bulk of one’s life. So much, in fact, that I often (or, rather, daily) find myself with this problem: I feel so accomplished by the time I finally hang up the phone after an interview call, that I’m all, “Done! I’m finished! Let’s go fishing or whatever!”

October 23, 2013October 23, 2013General Life Whatnot Self-Employment Writing

Hey! Look at what we do! How connecting with humans makes everything better.

Mike and I had an incredibly fun experience on Monday, visiting Mike’s alma mater, Western Michigan University, to give a presentation to a class about entrepreneurship in the arts. The class of about 200 students were so delightful and engaged, and asked a number of really great questions…