For a year, I've written a regular column on the SF Bay Area poetry scene for Examiner.com, one of those "reportorial" sites that substitute for the few remaining newspapers. Heh, at least they are interested in poetry (our local newspaper rarely prints anything about one of the richest, most active poetry scenes in the country). In 18 months, I've posted almost 90 articles and earned a whopping $90 dollars, roughly a dollar a column.
To prepare each article, I've done background research, read some of the author's work, interviewed my subject(s), gone over the draft with my subject to clear up any errors, and finalized the article. I've taken photographs to post along with it, and that usually involves some "massaging" of the image.
Because I'm given free reign to write about poetry and because I've developed a small readership I feel confident to continue although I have to overlook the fact that I'm essentially doing this work for free.
Today, I had to throw in the towel on a new gig that attracted me with its humungous offer to pay me $12.50 for each listing I wrote about local businesses. After calculating my driving time, the cost of fuel, the photography and sizing of images (a minimum of 5 pictures were required), the time to write the report and post everything, I realized I would hardly earn anything, particularly since the company had the right to refuse any particular listing.
I'm glad for young or unpublished writers that there are so many opportunities to get bylines online, or to be an unpaid intern for the few publishing companies still scrounging to make it through this recession. For myself, I'd almost prefer physical labor at a higher hourly wage than be exploited for my experience and intellectual abilities by industries that do not comprehend the real work involved in writing.
Once upon a time, poets and writers could make something of a living publishing their journalism, including Hemingway, Stephen Crane, Jack London, and others. If they came back today, they'd be seeing that old come-on: "writers we need you, we want you, we'll give you a byline . . . just don't expect any payment."
I'll stick with my gigs that allow me to engage in the world of poetry, but I'm on the watch for scams that want to use my abilities as a writer to sell their websites to advertisers. I'd rather bag groceries or sell flowers (any jobs out there?). There are just some things your soul and sense of dignity won't let you do.
