Freelance Writing Bloggers: Who’s Right?

When I began blogging, there weren’t a whole lot of freelance writing bloggers. I was one of maybe a dozen and I was the only one listing jobs.

What difference a few years makes…

It seems as if every freelance writer has a writing blog nowadays. There’s nothing wrong with this, I see it as a “the more the merrier” situation. However, it can be confusing for the readers of the different writing blogs. If Blogger A is saying one thing and Blogger B disagrees, who is right?  How does a writer choose which advice to follow?

Here are some of the things I consider when reading a freelance writing blog:

Consider that there’s no right or wrong: Opposing point of views don’t necessarily mean one blogger is wrong. It simply means all writers see things differently. There are certain issues that writers have been arguing about since I began and will continue to argue about forever: exposure vs. pay, low pay vs. high pay, and web vs. print. Every few months there’s another heated cross blog discussion on certain writing blogs.  Each blogger feels he’s right and neither will give in.The truth is, each camp has valid points. Weigh them and use them to make informed choices.

Consider how the material is presented to you: There are some bloggers I like to call “my way or the highway” bloggers. These are the bloggers who feel they’re right and everyone else is wrong. If you don’t follow their advice you must be a loser who doesn’t know how to write anyway. There are other bloggers who list all sides of the coin, the pros and cons. They offer a balanced assement and come to their own logical conclusion. Instead of being made to feel as if you can’t make your own choices, you should be able to digest the good, the bad and the ugly.

Consider a blogger’s expertise and experience: A blogger who has never written for a web content site probably isn’t the best person to offer advice regarding these sites. Someone who has never worked for a newspaper or magazine isn’t qualfied to tell you why you should or shouldn’t work as a journalist. A blogger couldn’t offer the merits of copywriting if he hasn’t ever written for anything other than blogs. When confused about whether or not to take a blogger’s advice, consider his or her experience and take it from there. Sometimes some bloggers jump on a bandwagon for traffic purposes while others are talking about what they think they should be talking about, without knowing enough about the topic. Always consider the source.

Consider all sides of a discussion: The great thing about having bloggers present opposing sides is how you can take all of arguements and use them to balance each other out. Now you have all sides of the story and you can consider the options that will work best for you.

Freelance writers don’t necessarily follow the same path. One writer might have the most luck with corporate clients while another has good results querying magazines. Follow the bloggers who best fit the writing you want to do, but read the other bloggers once in a while as well. Good advice is in the eye of the beholder. Take what you need and use it to your advantage. There’s no right or wrong, only different experiences.