Ever try explaining what you do to people who just don’t get it? My mother, for example, has never turned on a computer and has never seen a website, let alone a blog. She has no idea what I do. She tells her friends “my daughter writes for lawyers” and hopes they won’t ask any further questions. I’m kind of getting to that same point myself.
Now that most folks know what a website is, you’d think someone asking what I do wouldn’t be so frustrating. But it’s actually getting worse. There are just too many folks out there who do semi-understand what a web content writer does, but has very ill-conceived notions about it and wants to pin their stereotypes on me. Or rather, they don’t understand that there’s a very big scope between folks who scrap together keywords in broken English for $1 per 500 words and folks who write high-end web content.
Since the bulk of my work now is blogging, I’d love to be able to substitute the “I’m a web content writer” for “I’m a blogger” — but that would only make for more confusion. I can see it now: “What’s a blog?” “How do you make money blogging?” “Why would a lawyer want an online journal that reads in reversed chronological order?” “Do you earn enough to get by?” “Wanna borrow some money?”
How do you explain what you do to nosy people who don’t get it?
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Amy,
My sympathies, I understand completely. Here’s my experiences: What’s a Blog, exactly?
At least I know I’m not alone.
Funny, I get that from my own mom. To the rest, screw them. Ignorance is their problem.
Freelance writer? Blogger? What’s that? What’s a blog? What’s the Internet? E-mail? Huh? Do you write books? Oh, articles, like in magazines? Hmm. I don’t get it.
Yep, I’ve heard all these questions and more. I’m thinking of adding some definitions to the back of my business card so I can just say “Here, this explains everything.”
Melissa Donovan
Writing Forward
Ang,
Be careful; we’re still related. When are YOU going to start a blog?
Melissa,
Too funny. But very good idea!!!
@Amy: You’re never alone
@Angie: Funny thing is, of all people, my mom *does* get it.
@Melissa: If I were to do that, my business card would be 8.5×11
Might not be a bad idea to have a laminated glossary page to carry around. Like Bill Engval’s “Here’s Your Sign.”
Give them a glossary, and they’ll ask for a decoder ring. We can’t win.
Ha ha. Very true.
Please do comment and discuss.
We love a good conversation!
Please use a name when commenting. Does not have to be your real name or full name. But responding to folks calling themselves "Make Money Writing Online" and such kinda sucks. Calling yourself keywords will likely get you thrown into my spam filter.