FWJ Idol: Who Gets the Gig?

Fri, Aug 29, 2008

Uncategorized

This post was written by:

Jodee - who has written 617 posts on Freelance Writing Jobs.

Contact the author

32 Comments For This Post

Hazel Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

Hi Deb,
I didn’t find this vote difficult at all! I was left cold by the two niches proposed by one of the two candidates, so the other one got my vote.
Of course that does leave open the possibility that if you hire the one with no stated niche and encourage her into one I’m not interested in, I wouldn’t read the columns …
Something on the business side of our business would probably be the most universal.
Thanks -
Hazel

Kreacher Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Deb — what time are you going to close the poll on Sunday? I would like to give “Carrie” some time to address our concerns before I make a final decision and cast my vote.

Deb Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

Hi Kreach -

It will close Sunday afternoon so Ms Underwood has plenty of time to come here and address everyone’s concerns.

Carrie Underwood Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

Just done with my thanks on the short delay. I too had to collect my own thoughts before writing my reply, because those were good comments and deserved my attention.

Karen Muldavin Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Before I vote I’d like to ask Carrie Underwood:

If you get the gig are you just going to post and run or will you be communicating with us? If I’m not mistaken the ability to interact with the community was high on the ole laundry list and I’m not seeing that happen here.

Mariella Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

I think I’d have to wait before I vote, but good luck to whoever wins!

Roberta Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Megatron!! lol

Jodee Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

@ Roberta: There are no write-in candidates….

Deb Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Tell us how you really feel, Roberta.

Kristy Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pm

This week was an easier choice…I just preferred one to the other. But, I wish both candidates the best of luck.

Fiona Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 7:50 am

I must admit voting was much easier than I expected this week because I feel cheated by one of the candidates. We came this far and voted carefully each week and now in the final stage one decides that she doesn’t want a niche which Deb asked for right back at the beginning. From a hiring perspective, that gives me obvious second and third and fourth thoughts about the candidate.
I hate to say that but approaching it from a clear cut, “here is the job description, so how can you fill it” perspective, that’s the way I have to vote.

Sabrina Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 8:47 am

I haven’t been following FWJ Idol very closely and I haven’t voted, but I’m curious about one thing. I understand that the candidates’ names were changed to keep them anonymous, but it makes it impossible to judge them based on their body of work. Obviously their previous posts were good, or they wouldn’t have made it this far.
Not criticizing, just observing. Good luck to the two candidates!

Roxie Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Just my opinion, in defense of not having a niche - I think those who are open enough to reason as the candidate did about why there isn’t a CHOSEN niche, people who see it the way she did in her post, they would probably make the best fillers of niches if given them, and would write with variety because they are so open and versatile.

For example, I don’t look for work because it fits my niche - although I admit I have an affinity for some subjects - and I think that I am a better writer because I have the sincere belief that I can write well about anything.

Roxie Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

(And the freelance life and work is such a complex subject, if you’re a good writer at this blog and can help me be successful with what you write about, I want to read about the multitude of subjects you CAN and WILL cover. I really think it’s unfair to criticize her not wanting a niche and feel “cheated.” HONESTLY - I would feel cheated if you knew about something and could write well about it - and it could help me to read about it - but you didn’t do so because you wanted to stay within your niche.)

Fiona Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

She writes very well but going back to the idea that is a job interview, to go this far and then to refuse to provide a niche is somewhat unfair to those who did meet the requirements and state one.
Whatever happens, I wish both candidates well.

Kreacher Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Fiona — I very much agree with you. I was keeping an open mind about it all, and yes, she does write very well.

I almost commented on your first post on the 30th but didn’t want to influence anyone, but since I see some dissenting opinions, I’ll chime in.

The parameters for this round stated specifically:

“Your mission this week, should you choose to accept it, is to pitch your niche. The winner after this week will get a twice weekly paying gig at Freelance Writing Jobs but it’s not going to be a general writing thing. Tell us what subject, having to do with freelance writing, you wish to discuss with our community on a regular basis.”

As the candidate who was voted out last week, it’s frustrating to watch someone ‘beat’ you and then turn around and decide to create his/her own rules at the last minute, when I know I (and many of the other candidates) could have written engaging, compelling entries that met the terms dictated and focused on a specific area/niche.

Not sure how the other candidates feel about that, but in my view, if a candidate wants to have free rein and write about whatever he/she wants then, let him/her stick to writing his/her own blog and leave this interview process/contest to those who want to follow the scope of the assignment.

And while I did indeed think his/her post was well written, it left me questioning some things, so I wanted to give him/her a chance to address those issues (even a token “I will become your Marketing Maven” or “Query Queen” — something, anything, to let us know what we might expect from this candidate.)

That didn’t happen, even when Deb expounded on what her long-term vision for FWJ is — to bring in a slew of niche-specific bloggers to gradually expand this site.

Megatron, if you’re monitoring - since you seem to be a perennial crowd favorite, what are your thoughts on the events as they are unfolding?
(See if you can beat your record 104 posts!)

Dani Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

@ Kreacher: you summed up some of my own thoughts and observations very well, so I can’t add anything other than “Thank you” for saying it all so eloquently.

Rhonda Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

This final vote is happening over a holiday. Is this a good idea? I wonder how many people are taking a break from their computers or may not have internet access this weekend.

Just a thought. This happened to me over 4th of July weekend with this contest, and I didn’t vote.

Amy Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

I wish the “pitch your niche” assignment would have been at the beginning. But too late for hindsight…

Aside from that, Kreacher covered my feelings on the subject, so I won’t rehash.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Deb Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Good points, all.

Amy, contestants all pitched niches (say that 10 times fast) in their applications as well - or rather they were asked to but not everyone did.

I think this is a good lesson though and something we talk about often - the importance of following directions. How do we think this will efffect the outcome?

Rhonda - We’re actually have the best turnout ever as far as voting goes.

Have a good night all.

Carrie Underwood Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

I appreciate everyone’s comments. They’ve been interesting to read and I respect the views put forth. Thanks for discussing.

James Chartrand - Men with Pens Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

Heh, coolness. The end begins! It’s been neat to watch the contest, Deb, and I tip my hat to you for having gone through it.

(Hey, but you can relax now, right?)

Brandi Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 4:08 am

@Roxie: In some ways, I think there’s some confusion about “niche.” The candidates weren’t asked to pitch about a niche in the way that I look for a writing based on career-related topics, my niche. They’re asked to write about a certain very broad topic under the banner “freelance writing.” I find it hard to believe that one writer cannot come up with an indefinite number of topics about web writing or magazine writing or blogging, which as I said in a comment under her original post, makes me wonder how much she’s willing to dig for creative angles to cover.

When asked for clarification, I felt the response was “nope, still won’t name anything,” though I got from Deb’s reponse that she’d be “discussing” the issue if Underwood wins that Deb will force the issue. Is Underwood going to be happy then - if she’s forced into choosing a topic when she so clearly doesn’t want to? Will she put her best effort into the gig then? Will the community in the end be cheated by a blogger who feel trapped? Will Underwood and Deb grow resentful that they went through this whole process?

@Sabrina: I wondered the same thing. There were comments at some point about judging candidates’ participation throughout, but there’s no way to do that with the names changing here at the end. For people like me, who admittedly haven’t read every single entry to determine who I think wrote which each week, it leaves me only this week’s to use.

Jenny B Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 6:42 am

I also agree with Kreacher as my feelings were the same.

Carrie Underwood Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 6:52 am

@ Roxie - Niche is not a broad topic as you suggested, and what Deb asked was not to list whether we’d talk about marketing or website content. She asked for very specific areas - pay rates, for example.

That is not a broad subject. By saying that I found this too narrow, I was hoping to show people that I would prefer to be more versatile and offer them a wider base of information. The community didn’t want that; so be it. The community wanted someone discussing pay rates week after week; so be it. I am not the person for that job, unfortunately, and had I known that the job would be so restrictive from the beginning, I would not have entered the contest.

I don’t feel that I’ve done anything wrong, not listened to instructions (as Deb put it) or cheated anyone who had entered the competition. I have already pitched my expertise and niche areas several times throughout this contest. If people weren’t impressed with what I could offer, they should have voted me out long ago.

I want to address your last part of the comment. Deb is certainly not the type of person to force the issue with anyone, and your comment makes it sound like I would be punished or chastised in a very hostile environment.

Please. Deb and I are adults. There is no angst, no drama and no media cameras filming the bloodshed. No dark closet in which I’ve been shoved and no slave labor. I actually find it a little offensive you portray both Deb and I with such a heavy brush. Ah, well.

Deb Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 7:38 am

Oh Dear. This is quite the drama,isn’t it?

@Brandi - If Ms. Underwood wins she and I will talk about what she’d like to write and work together for a compromise. I’m not a forcing the issue kind of person. I’m a lover not a fighter.

Yes, I would have liked Ms. Underwood to say she’d like to write on a particular topic but it’s not a deal breaker for me.

What I find most distressing is not how this contestant doesn’t have a niche, but how quickly some people turn against the candidates. The truth is (contrary to the deleted negative comments of a disgruntled contestant) this community voted Carrie Underwood to be here for the finals. Each weekend since June this contestant won a top spot in the competition and most of you voted to keep her there. In fact, Ms Underwood was the only candidate to place in first or second place each week since the contest began. So even though I asked for a niche, something else we need to consider is how Ms. Underwood got here. You all put her here.

Throughout this contest we had instances where participants didn’t exactly deliver what was asked. I find it a little late in the game to start ganging up on Ms. Underwood now.

Carrie Underwood Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 8:23 am

Just a last note and then I’ll let it go.

I think many people don’t understand why I wrote that post. I wanted to write something that would provoke some thought in people, have them sit back and say, “Yeah, wow… I never thought of that.” It would have been the coolest thing to have people discuss the drawbacks of being a blogger, creativity burnout or hazards of freelance writing.

I wasn’t deliberately attempting to malign anything about the contest or Deb’s requirement. But as a blogger, if I didn’t make anyone think beyond the face value, then I’d be remiss in my job.

(I’m going to post this comment over on that post’s comment section as well.)

Thanks Deb, for your support.

Hazel Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am

Drama indeed! It’s like a TV serial - I just keep coming back to see what else has happened! Good job, Carrie and Deb …

Deb, I didn’t understand the bit about you and Jodee seeing yourselves as generalists and wanting the new blogger to be in a niche. I was thinking of niche as being narrow, but your more recent posts have broadened that perspective for me and I understand better now what you were after.

I have to go back to my original post - Corporate Corner and Article Avenue leave me cold, both from the subject matter perspective and the “cute” angle. I like Carrie’s style and would likely read her regular blog posts. Can’t say the same for Kelly, so my vote stands.

Good luck to both - and Jodee, please keep those leads coming!!!

Kelly Clarkson Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Wow, isn’t all of this discussion exciting and interesting! I didn’t know if I should say anything given that I have something to gain from winning but I wanted to add a note about interpretation. I interpreted the niche aspect to be broad. Which is why I proposed article writing - where you can cover web article writing, magazine articles, news articles, styles, etc.

Carrie had a more narrow interpretation. Which seems to be what has caused the confusion. But, Deb, this would be a great general freelance writing blog entry on communicating with the client, what to do when a miscommunication happens including tips on compromise, clarifying expectations, etc.

Here’s a thumb in the eye of people who say writers are boring!

Megatron Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 7:13 pm

Kreacher, good points, all… for more of my thoughts, I posted a reply to Carrie’s post this week, so anyone is free to read that. I did feel that she didn’t address the assignment as thoroughly as she could have, but I just love her writing style, and Kelly’s post this week seemed a bit too PR-like for my tastes (probably the wrong term, but oh, well). In any case, I do think both candidates are very qualified. I actually didn’t vote this week because I didn’t feel I could choose.

Roxie Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 8:51 pm

@ Kelly Clarkson: That’s how I interpreted “niche” as well… but I don’t think my comments above said “niche = broad,” I think they said “niche = possibly limiting for Ms. Underwood,” to clarify.

Either way, I think its more important to look at writing style and ability to communicate (that’s what we are as writers, I believe, COMMUNICATORS) through writing about whatever the subject is (and in this case Ms. Underwood’s subject was not having a niche). It comes down to who the voters believe can write well, and in the most helpful and informative way - because this community is about helping and informing fellow writers (and doing it well).

Brandi Says:
September 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am

@Deb, no I didn’t think you’d beat Carrie over the head to pick something if she’d won. You did say you’d discuss it, though, and given your vision of FWJ, it would make sense to say “you gotta pick something.” (Yes, I know you already posted the winner, but I think this conversation is an interesting one.)

@Carrie: You’ve mentioned pay rates as a niche several times. I know others have as well. I think you’re right that it’s too narrow. A couple of other topics mentioned (dealing with clients comes to mind) were, in my opinion, far too narrow. OTOH, I think broadly construed, choosing a niche is something that can be done. My blog is on a very tightly-focused topic, and I have 50 or so post ideas jotted down. More come to me every week, so I don’t really buy the idea that coming up with 2 posts per week isn’t possible.

Truth is, though some were turned off by the “cutesy” nature of Kelly’s post that I liked it. I enjoy a writer who can really get into a themed article like that partly because it’s not my writing style. I enjoy it. I also liked that the topics listed under AA and CC included ones that I’d probably skip because I’ve done this for a while and ones that I’d love to read because they’re issues I still consider regularly. So in the end, I thought that would make a wonderful fit for the community Deb’s building here.