I was thinking about this yesterday. I wonder if I would have been so successful in my writing career if there was no Internet. Sure, I spent a dozen years in publishing, but writing for print doesn’t provide the instant gratification one gets writing for the web.
In seven years I’ve had a lot of content posted to a lot of websites. Most of that is about topics near and dear to my heart: blogging, food, household matters, parenting, saving money and pop culture. There’s been some general interest stuff, but only that which I feel qualified to write about.
Though 99% of my income comes from blogging, I do have the occasional copy or content writing gig. The other day a client approached me about writing some technical articles. I declined as I know nothing about the topic and didn’t feel qualified. I had someone else contact me recently about writing adult pieces, but I’m not comfortable with that. I tried writing erotica once, and it was rather embarrassing.
I took over a blog about legal issues, specifically DWI & DUI laws, but I only post the news, I pay an expert to write the real articles because I don’t feel qualified to blog law. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with giving out advice about something I don’t know. Even though it’s tempting for me to accept every project out there, there are certain topics I turn down because I feel I don’t possess the expertise to write about them, even with the research.
So, I thought I’d throw out a fun question for the regulars. Are there topics or areas you won’t delve into ? What won’t you write about?
July 19th, 2007 at 6:40 am
As an atheist, I won’t write about religion, except in the context of how religion is detrimental or prejudicial in many cases. I never answer calls for “Christian writers,” even though I know enough about Christianty to write a book; it feels dishonest to pretend to be something I’m not, so I don’t write anything in which I would have to pretend that I’m not an atheist.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Technical, financial or business topics. I wish I knew more about them, but since I don’t, I feel it’s best to steer clear. Also, I don’t do anything I’d be embarrassed to show my family (hence, no R-to-X rated stuff).
July 19th, 2007 at 6:43 am
I won’t write adult material. Even though much of what I do is anonymous, I’d be embarrassed about the client or editor reading it. lol. I could do erotica on a blog, maybe where I was completely anonymous but life would be too crazy for me to have the energy to write in it regularly.
I gave a gig back to an agency once that I work for. The gig was pregnancy articles that were keyword stuffed. I wrote the first few but had a batch in the middle of the project that was clearly geared to those looking for ways to induce a miscarriage. The word had to be used at about 2% keyword density for the search engines and it made my stomach turn so I politely declined the gig.
July 19th, 2007 at 7:35 am
I’m out on the tech and finance articles, too. Too much stress to write about something I know sooo little about.
Dana–good for you re:miscarriage articles. I couldn’t write that, either.That must have been a little tough risking reputation giving back articles in the middle of a gig, but I totally understand your having done it.
July 19th, 2007 at 7:40 am
that would have to be about marriage and relationship. I flunked at both.
July 19th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Like Dana, I also avoid adult material or anything that I feel promotes something I find morally reprehensible, both of which would make me really uncomfortable, and I also steer clear of graphic horror when I’m editing. I don’t want to get nightmares from my work!
I have strong religious beliefs, so it would be hard for me to write in an objective way on religious topics that are contrary to my beliefs. I fear I would have a very hard time not somehow injecting my opinions, even subconsciously. I also wouldn’t feel very good about promulgating information that could be something I feel is incorrect, like a differing interpretation of a central belief. It would be like a die-hard Republican writing pro-Democrat literature — it would be weird.
kk
July 19th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I love to stretch my writing, but there are limits. Like many of you, erotica isn’t going to have my byline, and religion is something I stay away from.
I also can’t contrive passion for something I’m not enthusiastic about. I recently saw an ad for a blogger on tomatoes. I like tomatoes but can’t pretend I have a real interest in them.
July 19th, 2007 at 9:01 am
My policy is plain and simple - I will not lie. I’ve recently had to back out of gigs because the people who hired me misrepresented the assignments and later revealed that they wanted me to give detailed, deceitful testimonials about their products and services. I am not about to say the service at a particular hotel is outstanding, when I haven’t experienced it; the quality of a decorative piece is magnificent, when I can only base my evaluation on a tiny, fuzzy image that’s online; that a clock I bought at their online shop was properly wrapped for shipping, when I never made any purchases from that business; etc.
July 19th, 2007 at 9:28 am
For me, I would be uncomfortable writing anything erotica related. I have no interest in writing technical articles, I also know nothing about them.
I accept article suggestions on my blog and I’ve had people send me links to their sites with a story idea they’ve already written about. I am inspired by articles but in some of these cases, they’re way off the mark. They’ve obviously never read my blog to see how I write and what I write about.
July 19th, 2007 at 9:51 am
I won’t write on anything medically related, and it really bothers me when I’ve been asked to write about certain drugs or other medical topics when the person knows I don’t have the experience to do so. I know that the client will just find the next content writer who will do it because he is unwilling to pay an actual medical professional. I think it’s irresponsible.
I also quit a job once because I was asked to write a “celebrity” article on a many who murdered his wife and unborn child. I was told he was a “celebrity.”
July 19th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Adult topics I won’t write. I am a strong (conservative) Christian, and that therefore limits my topics.
I won’t write anything that promotes violation of or violates one of the Ten Commandments. I also won’t write highly technical topics.
General information can be researched, so I don’t mind doing that, including for medical topics. I know more than the average layman about medicine—I’m one of those patients that some doctors loathe because I can actually understand them—and from personal experience I can testify that regular doctors aren’t always the best sources for information if you want thorough information. When something’s unproven, I’m not above using such words as “might” and “allegedly.”
Even a good decade after my genetic disease has been KNOWN to be genetic and to screw up the endocrine system (and to affect 5-10% of women), most doctors have misinformation on it. When I had gall bladder issues lately, the surgeon didn’t know that beets could help bile function.
Now, if it’s a technical medical topic, I won’t do it. But if it’s a general overview of a disease or situation, I’m fine with that. (Except for abortion—I cannot write on that due to my personal existence being despite most people counseling abortion in my mother’s situation. I like being alive, thanks.)
In all cases, I am always forthright with clients about what aspect of their work I can research and what (if any) applicable personal experience I can claim.
-Misti
July 19th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I won’t write about topics I know nothing about - tech, finance, sports and video games seem to be biggies on my list. I wouldn’t write adult materials either. I have to feel comfortable with myself about what I’m writing and it leads to graeter enthusiasm about the subject matter.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I won’t write about food! I’m a terrible cook and while I know what I like to eat I don’t even have the vocabularly that I know would be necessary to write something semi-coherent.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I blog about entertainment, which means television-related stuff primarily. If you do that for a while and manage to get any kind of significant exposure, independent marketing companies and the marketing departments of production studios begin to contact you all the time. Their goal is to harness the power of the Internet and get you to help promote their projects for free. They probably (and often correctly) think you’ll be grateful for the attention since U.S. television networks are notorious for ignoring bloggers as legitimate outlets for entertainment news.
At first, this recognition feels nice–”Wow! Some industry insider told me about that show a whole month before it premiered!”–until you realize that, unlike with most independent bloggers, it’s customary for bloggers and writers at corporation-backed Web sites (for example, E! and TV Squad) to receive actual promotional material, such as screeners (episodes on DVD) and graphics, way in advance.
I have decided to stop writing about the details that marketers pass along to me unless they provide supporting materials. The main motivation for that choice was the two marketers who lied to me about sending screeners for two events after I wrote about them. Compare that to the marketers who promptly send me a screener, as promised, in advance of both a show’s premiere and my blog about it. This is apples and oranges.
On the surface, my decision might sound stingy or egotistical; but, as my blog gets more prominent, I feel that I have to treat it like the legitimate venture that it is, just as writers would be wise to stop accepting these insulting writing gigs that pay pennies, yet require tons of effort and time. Through the marvels of blog syndication, my posts sometimes get picked up by major news Web sites. So, there’s no reason for me to give marketers free publicity anymore, especially when they’re dishonest.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
For me it’s health issues and anything along the lines of alternative medicine. I don’t know enough to select the credible from the incredible and would not want to be responsible for providing misleading information about something so important.
I also don’t do lifestyle/celebrity/personal improvement-type writing as I don’t believe I could be convincing.
I will consider most other things, but always judge each project individually and only take on work if I believe I can provide the added value that’s required.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
As Pearl said, I won’t take any writing job that forces me to be dishonest. If someone wants a review of a product, ebook, etc., then it’s either got to be a product I’ve used or an ebook I’ve read, or they need to send me a sample or review copy. Even then, I won’t lie and say it’s a useful product if I don’t believe it is.
I also won’t take long-term writing or blogging assignments on topics I’m not interested in — I couldn’t blog about tomatoes either, Eun. They’re great in a salad, but that’s as far as I’d get on that one.
I try to stick with topics I feel I know a good deal about, but if it’s something I can do thorough research on or interview someone about, I’ll usually at least consider it, as long as I don’t find the gig morally compromising.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I won’t write about hunting, fur farming or any other related topics (unless it’s in an unfavorable light). Last month I turned down a LOT of money because it involved writing a series of articles on how to boil lobsters alive so they were more tender. I can’t do that. I also won’t write about religion, especially Christians. What I don’t know, I can research, so technical topics don’t scare me.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
As a newly full time freelancer, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I *thought* I’d write about almost anything–till I read some of these responses.
Now, I realize that I will draw the line at dishonesty. After that, I’m game for almost any kind of content–at the right price. Probably just the first flush of freelancer enthusiasm (read that hunger), right?
Since I do mostly commercial writing, the most important thing for me is the client. I do have a technical background AND a medical background–but I got out of the corporate foxhole so that I wouldn’t have to work with extremely difficult people, unless I want to.
In fact, that’s what I love about freelancing…if the project is priced at pennies, I don’t have to take it. If the client is a jerk, I don’t have to work with them. There are always more businesses that need good, professional writing.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I once was asked to write an ebook about “how to cheat on your wife.” I politely turned that down! I won’t lie to write either, unless the article can specifically say that I was paid to write it (and no one has ever taken me up on that!).
As for general subject matters, I’ll write about almost anything, as long as someone is willing to pay me enough to cover the time it takes to research it. For topics like medical conditions, I research very selectively. Since I don’t have enough knowledge to pick out the credible sources, I do my research with professional journals and professional websites.
July 19th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I won’t write about something I don’t believe in, or something that I’m not passionate about. I won’t write about anything that I, myself wouldn’t want to read.
Karen L. Alaniz
July 19th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I don’t write positively (ie, ad copy, web copy, etc.) for companies or on issues I find morally reprehensible. I turned down a huge salaried job a few weeks ago from a company that wants to promote their product’s “lifestyle” — only the product can kill you. Why would I try to pimp that, even for cash?
I have no trouble writing erotica — I publish under a half a dozen names, and those are kept quite separate from my business writing links. Or I don’t advertise those pseudonyms at all. However, the money has to be high — it’s extremely technical writing that has to hit certain points at certain rhythms, and I insist on being well-paid for it.
I don’t mind writing about topics I don’t know about — although I do expect to be paid for research time and I let them know upfront that I’m not an expert, but interested in the topic.
I don’t take jobs writing material for real estate developers because of my experiences dealing with the evil developers who tried to force 100+ families out of my mother’s building.
I don’t take jobs in the organized religious markets because my beliefs are different than the hardcore beliefs and why would I work for someone who’s convinced I’m going to hell or the equivalent?
July 19th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I wouldn’t visit a blog and call the owner names.
Thanks for looking out for us Deb.
July 19th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I don’t write celebrity critique. I realise as public figures celebrities seek media attention and some of them even perform ridiculous stunts to get it. But I can’t help but think under the spin machine there is a human being who I don’t really know/understand, so how I can I comment fairly on his/her actions?
I’m also uncomfortable writing stories about allegations of crimes against an individual. I’ll happily write about the corporation and the executives as part of the entity- if they don’t like what I say, they can always threaten to sue me, and they have PR people who spin things anyway. But if there is no corporation to back up the indivual, I don’t touch the story because I feel the media has unfair advantage and there is too much risk to do a person damage. Even if the story is exaggerated, as the media is wont to do, what can the individual do? Suing takes time and money and even when the person wins, it costs them too much personally.
I don’t write adult material. I’m a parenting and children’s writer and it would not be fair to ask this audience to swallow that I also write adult material.
July 19th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I don’t have taboo subjects per se, but I only choose projects that fit within my life purpose, and I always find plenty of work. The life purpose I developed (I am also a musician) is: To use my writing and music to entertain people and inspire them to live their dreams.
Every time I need work, I find something that fits within this purpose, whether it’s for a client or for a journalism assignment. By not taking other work, I always love what I do, feel passionate about it, and leave room in my life for my preferred topics to come in.
July 19th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
For me, the qualifier on whether or not I apply for or accept a project is “Am I interested in this?” Not knowing about a topic is an excellent excuse to find out more about it, and I’d have lost some good projects over the years if I stuck to only the things I knew personally. Having said that, I have to agree with the “honesty” thread I’ve seen in other responses. If the project puts forth a viewpoint that I don’t agree with, I won’t do it. For example, as an atheist, this tends to put anything with Christian on it out of my reach, although I don’t automatically reject such labels. Other than those vague guidelines, I go with my instinct; if something triggers my spider-sense, I heed the warning and leave off. It hasn’t yet steered me wrong.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I won’t write about video games because the only games I know how to play are Dance Dance Revolution and the old Mario and Donkey Kong Games from Super Nintendo. I don’t write about religion because there is so much I don’t know that I wouldn’t want to give any misinformation.
I love writing about medical topics. Like a previous poster, I have a lot of medical knowledge and have found that doctors and other medical professionals are not always the best resources. Sort of like the radiologist who pointed out my appendix to a radiology student - 5 years after my appendix had been removed.
My degree is in business, so I also do well with business, finance, and tech topics. I dabble with stock trading and I used to work for a foreign exchange trading firm (a hotbed of misery if I ever saw one) so I like to write about investing and personal finance the most out of the three business areas.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I figure that as long as I can research it, I’ll write about it, which means just about anything.
However, like other writers have mentioned, I won’t write about anything dishonest. I’ve pushed the envelope once by writing about something I don’t really agree with — marketing copy for nutritional supplements — but since it wasn’t dishonest I went ahead and did it.
I also have to agree with something another writer said: since I’m agnostic, I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing anything pro-Christianity. However, I’m fine with writing objective essays or research papers about religion (both of which I’ve done).
Speaking of research papers, the other thing I won’t write is other students’ homework… But I guess on this forum that probably goes without saying.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hmm, I think technical because it seems boring. In general, I don’t think I could write about something I’m not genuinely interested in.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I have turned down work, despite the fact that I need it, because I honestly felt I would never be able to get up to speed in time. Anything I do not understand better than an average person is off the list for me, unless I think I can learn about it pretty quickly. I generally stick to areas I know very well.
I have been called on to write articles for the local paper on issues I don’t know, but it’s easy enough to interview the principles of the story and let them do the talking - so it’s the one exception and/or area I can get up to speed quickly on.
July 19th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I thought that I would write about just about anything until recently when I started to look for a couple of contract jobs to fill in a dip in work from my full-time gig. I had a guy approach me about writing his master’s thesis. He wanted me to write his 95-page MBA thesis from scratch on a topic that I was COMPLETELY unfamiliar with. I told him that I just didn’t have the time, which was partially true. But really, ghostwriting is hard enough in that you don’t get a byline, but are there writers out there so desperate for work that they’d give up any and all rights for some cash and, at the same time, help some one cheat their way to the head of a billion-dollar corporation? I’m just appalled sometimes.
I also won’t write for anyone who promises a certain amount of money in an ad and then changes it once they’ve hired you. That’s not necessarily a topic, but it’s something I’ve run across frequently as of late.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:17 am
So far, the only jobs I’ve had to turn down or back out of had to do with alcohol. Since drinking is against my religion, I don’t feel comfortable getting paid to promote alcohol. I don’t actively seek technical, business, or medical jobs because they’re over my head. The pay would have to be great to justify the research it would require.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
The list is probably longer than I realize but I won’t write anything that promotes what I consider to be immoral.
I write on financial topics and I won’t give people bad financial advice. I’ve had one prospect ask me to write copy for their payday loan business. That wasn’t so bad, but I don’t agree with that business model, so I turned it down.
Leigh…I just wrote an article on forex a couple of weeks ago, I could have used you!
July 20th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Oh, i’m sorry I missed this discussion…hmmm, let’s see…
I’ve turned down topics on sarging before. I can’t stomach writing thousands of words about testosterone-driven males who’re drowning in machismo.
Another thing I won’t write about is technology. I’ve written a couple before and they’ve been called “rubbish” by experts. LOL. I guess it’s easy to separate the experts from the dabblers in a certain topic. Of course if I’ve been given enough time I could have produced better end products. Not trying to justify myself, just stating a fact…*mumbles*
PS: Hi latoya, nice seeing you here too
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 am
At the risk of repeating what everyone else is saying, I, too will not write erotica. Twice I’ve been contacted on this, and it just gave me the creeps talking with the people who wanted this stuff written. The first person had that shifty tone to his voice, and I could just tell that he wanted something like that, even before the words were out of his mouth.
Finance, politics, government, technology–those are pretty much the areas I don’t feel comfortable with.
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 am
I personally steer away from finance related writing. I don’t feel like I have a great deal of knowledge in this area and the research required for me to write on this topic is quite substantial. I do love to write on topics such as health, food, IM, and so forth but I must admit the majority of my earning come from writing adult content. It was not something that I had planned on doing it is just something I find easy to do and very high paying. I think the key to this is distancing yourself from what you write, don’t take what you are writing personally and just treat it as you would any other writing assignment. I have written on topics that I find repulsive but I just treat it like any other paying job. Some of the stuff I have written on has been quite funny especially male enlargement related content, I still can’t believe that men actually buy into the whole thing. But anyway that’s my 2cents.
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August 13th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
oh another great discussion I missed while fiending for internet in Mexico: I won’t write about religion either, also I hate finance and anything related to it. I don’t mind personal or fmaily money…but not like BANKING or etc. Funny because my husband is an accountant.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Interesting number of spam posts, here. Hm…
Anyway, I like how latoya summed up her “won’t-writes”: anything she considers immoral. That would sum up mine, too.
I also agree with the refusal to write what I can’t “get up to speed” on quickly enough. But I tend to find nice bosses who help me out when it’s an alien topic.
I used to think I wouldn’t write about cooking; I feel so unqualified beside to my mother. (She’s an excellent from-scratch cook.) But circumstances lately have made me realize how much I do know about cooking.