I just posted my own thoughts today on this subject after having a few days to think about it, and I believe I fall into the catagory that writing is still an art. Anyone that looks down on anyone else who feels the desire to express themself through the medium of the written word, in my opinion, should zip the lip.

We all have a right to express ourselves through the written word in the way that suits our creativity, our needs and our budgets. No one way is better or worse than an other.

Any time one person feels the need to make another person look or feel bad, I am checking to see where they are feeling insecure within themselves.

oh.. and Herbie J. Pilato..I agree.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time for everything so in any given month, the balance may be tipped to favor one over the other.

I do feel the divide as well – it’s almost as if the two sides don’t understand each other. But, I am one of those writers who does both and enjoys both.

I’m just talking print versus web for the Divide.

@ Mary – Thanks for seeing what I’m trying to get across. You have the right of it.

And… uh… no, I don’t like classic literature. Personal preference, nothing at all against it. Or those who write it.

On the other hand, I am able to make a living writing those brochures — not even Fitzgerald could make a living from his novels…

~Graham

I say again that I think the point a few people are missing here is that James is not in anyway against literature, just against the attitudes of snobbery among those who think they are better because they are novelists, published book authors, etc…

It’s not about the type of writing, it’s about the attitude that SOME think they are entitled to hold over others.

Like Jennifer I write for ‘love to know’ and get the best buzz out of writing about topics of interest. I also write for 2 magazines and quite frankly it is boring and they never pay on time!!!

When I say I am a writer people always ask “so what hyave you published”? Omitting to care about the hundreds of interesting web articles I have written. By sheer fact that I’ve morphed from a nurse to a writer is good enough for me, to then face snobbery and a writing ‘cast system’ is just another challenge!

I would say the most frustrating thing for print writers is getting used to things such as writing for search engine optimization and networking at sites such as Mixx, Propeller, etc. to “sell” an article and get web site traffic to in turn generate more clicking on ads, etc. This is an entirely separate process than writing, and in fact, is not necessarily good writing but is now inextricably linked with blogging and writing for general.

Personally, this is not such a great development and is more akin to good coding and marketing than good writing.

But then again, marketing has always been part of the writing for money equation – it’s just taking a different form than we are accustomed to …

I think was some might perceive to be “snobbery” may in fact just be people who are threatened by all these new developments. The new technological world is TOUGH for those of us who did not grow up in it. I never had a computer until my 20s, and a slow one at that. We have heard to learn on the fly and are at a disadvantage compared with folks in their 20s who had a computer always like they had a TV.

But THAT’s LIFE! We all have to suck it up, make the best of it and adapt to it. Enough said!

Beneath me? I don’t know. But definitely not something I enjoy writing or write easily. I’ll write press releases, magazine- or newspaper-style journalistic articles (online or print, doesn’t matter to me), personal essays, blog posts, and lots of other things, but not keyword or filler articles whose primary purpose is to drive web traffic.

I think the real issue is that right now, it’s easier to look down on Web writing, as opposed to print writing, because there is a lot more crap out there on the Web than there is in print. Why? Well, there’s a lot more online writing, for one; it’s relatively easy to get written material online, and so there’s just a flood of text available. You don’t need the traditional editorial setup to be published electronically, which has its ups and downs, but one of the more visible downs is the lack of editorial oversight at some outlets. Poorly written, poorly spelled, poorly thought out; some of the stuff I see online makes me grit my teeth and think rather unkind thoughts. Proportionally, it’s probably about the same as in print (some of the things I see in supposedly professional print publications … ay yi yi), but when you’re dealing with the far vaster marketplace of the Web, the numbers get enormous very quickly. Online writing is still a young medium, and since it seems to be human nature to need to look down on somebody, online writers can look forward to being the red-headed stepchild of the literary world for some time. Being patient and being professional will win out in the long term, I suspect. For myself, I’m going to try it and see.

Arrogance is not soley the issue of the literati, online or in print.

Arrogance is a serious issue in EVERY profession – and it is also, unsurprisingly, the most destructive.

Whether you’re a writer, a doctor, a lawyer or a candle-stick maker, if you’re arrogant – you’re NOT doing your job – and you’re a disgrace to your profession. Especially, if you’re a writer.

The writer should know better. It’s the writer’s job to serve as a conduit, liaison, whatever you want to say, between all people’s. It’s the writer’s job to get their message across.

Arrogrance serves them little in doing so.

Is it ever a wonder we have an increasing and ever-damaging illiteracy challenge in America (and around the world)?

For starters, we can blame our school librarian’s, who encourage a false sense of pride in those who can read – as opposed to those who cannot.

Bottom line is this:

If you’re an arrogrant idiot as a human being, in your personal life, then you’re going to be an arrogrant idiot in your professional life.

First, fix your attitude as a person, then your professional attitude will fall perfectly into place, whatever it is you do – or decide to do – to make money.

Then, too, once you get the money – don’t be cheap. Instead, be generous, and take care of your fellow human beings, whether that means boosting the economy – or paying your bills – or just plain properly taking care of your own family (within your means).

Real bottom line: Don’t be attached to money, and don’t think it makes you a better person. And don’t set your sights (“sites”, as in “web”?) on your writing career making you rich.

Write or become a writer, online or in print, because it is a noble profession…and because you will have the power to do good (with your words and your work).

All the other stuff (independent wealth, financial security, the Mercedes) – will follow as blessings of a life-well lived. And you will SUSTAIN such status (instead of lose it, like so many arrogant successful snobs who ultimately go on to fail first as human beings – and then in the workforce of their choice.

Herbie J Pilato
Published Author AND Online Editor/Blogger

I was torn. I loved both; I appreciated both forms of critical thinking and writing. I still do.

It saddens me that in general there is less of an appreciation for writing among readers. Because most people in the general population can string words together, there is little understanding of what it means or what it requires to write a blog or to write an article or to write a novel or to write ad copy. It looks easy to the reader. They think, “Anyone can do that. It’s just writing words.”

It is up to us as writers to respect each other and appreciate all writing forms. No one cares as much about words as we do. It is a disservice to us if we criticize each other.

I think the reason the $2 article is still around as a phenomenon is because it’s still working. I’ve spoken to people who own article directories and they’re concentrating on the quality of articles they accept because they’re all afraid Google will delist them at some point because of the really bad articles many are accepting.

While I don’t ever expect to see $20+ as the low end for articles (until the dollar falls enough to cause that), like I said, when these articles aren’t effective in bringing in money, the people who depend on them as their business model will fold up and move on.

The people who can’t write quality articles will fold up and move on with them. Everybody left will hammer out whatever the market dictates, pricewise.

Like Ann said, as long as there are places where $1 or $2 an article is a good wadge we will have to weed through those bleak offers to get the the good paying ones. They are out there, though, and I find it gets easier to find them once you’v make some contacts and regular clients. Still, for those just starting out now–I don’t envy you!

What bothers me more are the sites that charge that little and don’t make any effort to hide their take. Then they get defensive when people call them out.

I was looking at one today at Freelance Writing Jobs – the guy is offering $5 to $7 for 500 word articles. If you look at his site, he’s selling these articles for $12 each. He’s taking a $5 to $7 cut out of every article writers are sending him.

There is a divide, but I don’t think it’s necessary snobbery. It certainly sounds like snobbery because when people go off about why they’re worth more than X/word, it’s usually because they have a long track record of print gigs.

What I really feel is at the base of the situation is the fact that people see the writing world at large changing due to the rising interest in writing for pay the internet has spurred.

When you hear someone talking about how long they’ve been in the business, how much they earn, and how new writers are ruining the market by accepting ‘insulting’ offers, the thing they usually point to is the low quality of writing that’s being put out right now. I think what’s really going on is that such people fear becoming obsolete. They fear a world where knowledge of SEO or actual copywriting will weigh more than their decades in the business and their impressive bylines.

The internet tends to be more results oriented than the print world. Sure, you can still brand yourself and develop a reputation on the internet, but the days of being ‘special’ because you’ve been published are numbered.

Add in the fact that some of these ‘low quality’ writers aren’t bad, they’re inexperienced. They will get better as they write more and learn what works, both in the wordcraft sense and the business sense. I would imagine this causes a great deal of insecurity in anyone who makes a fine living based on performance in a different arena.

For what it’s worth, I also think the days of the $2 article are very numbered. Those who are paying this will go out of business, those who are offering this will either go out of business or realize they need to be compensated more for their efforts.

What’s clear is that snobbery exists everywhere, in all industries and groups of society. What’s also clear is that people should do what they love, despite negative feedback from others with differing options.

Regarding print and web, it’s also clear that web is overtaking a good portion of print markets, and that web is here to stay. Acceptance of that isn’t always easy – change never is – and protest might come from those who are sad to see what they love most get crowded out or from those who wished change wasn’t happening.

Change is inevitable. And opinions always rage strong. There will always be market for all types of writing, and I think that no one type or style or format is better than another. Each has its purpose and goal.

Quality based on type of work is a standard we all want – and no one type is lesser than another, no matter how it’s written or presented.

Is there snobbery? Sure. There always will be. I can’t change the world. Does it matter in the long run? Maybe. Maybe not. Do I care? Of course – I like everyone to get along.

Those are my thoughts this morning. Cheers.

Mentally, I think I do put literary writing above web content. I guess I do sort of look at it as more of an “art” than web writing, and I put art on a pedestal. If it’s a matter of money, though, I am far more likely to earn a living writing web content than a novel. That doesn’t mean that I can’t attempt both, though, right?

I will also agree with James that literary writing tends to be at a different level. I’m reading a George Will book and find myself reaching for the dictionary. Not the kind of writing you see in the typical newspaper or online.