I was looking through my giant RSS list of Craigslist writing jobs and found this little rant sandwiched in among the Toronto Writing Jobs. Whoever you are, my anonymous brother or sister, I salute you.

So sick of cheap writing rates! (anywhere)

from Toronto Writing Jobs

To all of the job posters looking for writers and offering “get your voice out there”, “exposure” or similar in lieu of decent pay:

Once upon a time, a writer’s greatest challenge was finding a publication that would publish their work. There were only so many magazines and newspapers that an article could be published in. Now, anyone can publish a blog, online zine, or website about any topic. Why some people still offer “getting your voice out there” like it’s actual currency is mind-boggling. Instead of a writer pouring their energy and time into a well-thought-out article and selling it to someone else for mere pennies, that same person could start their own blog, zine, or website and retain creative control. Sure, you wouldn’t make that precious $5 or even $20, but it would be yours, and you could get all of the credit for it….while at the same time getting the same exposure.

The point is: if you want quality writing, you now have to pay for it. Exposure in itself is no longer a reward when any writer can do that for themselves, on their own timetable, for their own glory.