Bookworm

A cozy-looking bookshelf that’s perfect for condo-dwelling bookworms who do not have a lot of space to spare. Called The Bookworm, I think it does not look too bad in terms of aesthetics. It could use some more cushions to make that nook more comfy.

On a totally different note, it also makes me think of hamsters running non-stop!

What do you think?

Via Holy Kaw!

Freelance Writing Rates

So where does that leave me? Somewhere in between.

No complaints here, to be honest. I consider myself well paid for what I do on a regular basis. It is only when I occasionally deal with new clients that I have to come to terms with the differences in freelance writing rates.

Then there is the fact that I also work with one of the biggest freelance writing blogs – Freelance Writing Jobs. Its audience is mainly based in North America, although we cannot ignore the fact that freelance writers are emerging more and more all over the world.

This brings us to my point: what do we consider a fair rate?

This question has been bugging me for a while, especially when people point out that USD10 for a 500-word article is a ridiculously low amount. Someone even labeled it as slave labor. Here are some opinions about this particular rate.

Freelance Writing Rates Comments

I beg to disagree.

I do not know where you are located. I do not know what your standards are. I do know, however, that for some people, USD10 can make a significant difference.

To give you another perspective, let’s convert USD10 to PHP (Philippine Peso). That’s about PHP413. That’s more than enough for my monthly water bill. That can buy me two buckets of beer (depending on where you go). That can pay for two homecooked meals for two persons.

Okay, so I live in a country where the standard of living is lower than in the US. A little goes a long way here.

But, I’ve received feedback from some freelance writers based in North America who would take 10-dollar writing jobs (some even go as low as USD8) because it all adds up at the end of the month. You can’t really argue with that, can you?

How about the idea of lowering the prevailing rates, and thus lowering the worth of writers in the eyes of clients?

This is one of the most common arguments I have come across in the defence of NOT accepting USD10 for a 500-word article. (The numbers vary depending on the person, of course.)

I totally understand where the argument is coming from. However, we also need to take a look at the specifics of the writing job. Personally, I think that this is a fair rate for general articles and blog posts. Sure, I would love to receive more, but if the article – research, writing, and proofreading – will not take more than an hour of my time, I would take it.

Additionally, if the writing job is a bulk order or a long-term gig, having that “sure money” is better than having to spend even more time and effort creating pitches and getting in touch with potential clients.

There are many factors!

Having voiced out my thoughts, I have to say that it is not cut-and-dried. There are many factors that come into play: your location, the topic, the amount of research, and the amount of detail needed, among many others.

I do think that at the end of the day, the freelance writing world is not limited to one part of the world. There are freelance writers struggling to make ends meet everywhere. We might have different standards, and we cannot really impose what we think is a fair rate on everyone.

It’s up to the client and the writer to come to an agreement, and if they don’t, then it’s for them to deal with. (On that note, I have to say that I think I just lost a potential client after telling him how much I charge per hour for a copywriting gig.)

So tell me, what are your thoughts on freelance writing rates?

Image via Freelance Writing Tips

1. Not to be arrogant about it, but I know I can give many a native speaker a run for their money.

Byte Cellar

Will you please consider opening up the “Byte Cellar” – which some people have dubbed the ultimate man cave – to a tenant?¹ I promise not to be a slob. I promise to keep liquids a foot away – at least – from your wonderful machines. I promise to be so quiet you won’t even know I am there.

I also swear that I will not change any settings on any machine. I will not even rearrange the icons on your desktop(s).

I simply want to bask in the pleasure that your museum-like man cave will surely give. I want to see with my own eyes and touch (with supervision, if it pleases you) those machines that I have only ever read about.

Please, Mr. Patterson?

Yours truly,
The Digital Hobo

P.S. I am a reasonably good cook, and I clean up after myself.

[UPDATE] The petition has been read!
via Lifehacker

1. Although I have my misgivings about the use of “man cave” as opposed to [whatever] cave, I am not a feminist. I am female though, so I’d rather change the label just so I can be allowed to enter.

The Mirror of Uncertainty

It is something that many people feel, especially if they have the need to know that they are in control of their lives.

They say human beings are creatures of habit, and the more certain we are about what’s going to happen, the more we know about our future, the more peace of mind we have.

While that may be true in some cases, there is also something to be said about uncertainty.

As I was drinking my first cup of coffee and just letting the cold morning air wake me up – not as gently as I wanted – thoughts about uncertainty flooded my mind. In a good way.

It dawned on me that when it comes to writing, uncertainty can be a good thing for me.

I have been writing for a living for almost a decade now, and I cannot deny that at the beginning of a new project, I encounter a LOT of uncertainty. When I deal with a new client, I run through a gamut of emotions, ranging from excitement to anxiousness to uncertainty.

Compare this to writing for the same client, about the same topic for months, even years.

The difference?

When I face something new, uncertainty is the predominant feeling. With something that I know like the back of my hand,¹ a sense of comfort tends to envelope me. Whether it is a false sense of comfort or not, it can have adverse effects.

The thinking that I’ve been doing something forever can give a sense of complacency. That makes me prone to making mistakes. Even worse, perhaps, is that that sense of complacency tends to lead to lack of creativity.

“I know exactly what to do. I do not need to think out of the box.”
“I can do this in my sleep. I do not need to exert much effort.”

Thoughts such as those may or may not be consciously expressed, but they can get a writer stuck in a rut. As comfortable that rut may be, it still is a rut!

Don’t get me wrong. That rut can help a writer churn out articles as fast as possible. It pays the bills. But at the end of the day, I believe that we must continue to press ourselves to take our work to a higher level.

Sure, it may not be possible to produce a magnificent piece hour after hour, day after day. However, if we do not take the time to continuously seek ways to improve our writing in whatever way or whichever aspect, then burn out will not be far behind.

This is the beauty of uncertainty.

It pushes me to examine, and re-examine, what I do. It helps me discover different ways to write, different ways to approach subjects and pieces.

Uncertainty pushes me to proofread more – and not just the usual grammar and punctuation nitpicking. The uncertainty of what the client may want or expect helps me to be more thorough and look at my work from a different angle.

Yes, uncertainty can be paralyzing if not dealt with properly, but if welcomed with open arms and an open mind, it can create new limits!

How do you perceive uncertainty in your writing?

Photo credit: Cea.

1. Incidentally, I recently learned that the back of your hand is scientifically called dorsum manum. So much for knowing it.

See the lamps in action at VidAddict.

Digital Hobo Trash

This t-shirt is pretty cool, though, especially for Digital Hobo. You can get it at GlennZ Tees for $21.95. They have tees both for men and women in various sizes.

1. As if I had a Tony Stark!

Dr. Seuss Comic Covers

Via

Baby Seals and Punctuation

A cute (or not-so-cute, depending on your perspective) take on the importance of punctuation.

Chocolate Bling

Nothing more needs to be said, yes? I just wonder how much this chocolate bar will set you back. In any case, I wouldn’t buy it – price not even considered. Too good to eat and all that.

Via Reddit

We Can Be Heroes

This is the best poster I have seen this week. No, this month. I find the Justice League impressive enough as it is, but this rendition makes them look even more so. Mesmerizing is the word that came to mind when I first laid my eyes on the poster, and after minutes of gazing at it, I was even more convinced of how gorgeous they artist made the superheroes look.

The poster was made for a campaign called We Can Be Heroes, where DC partnered up with several charities working to fight hunger in the Horn of Africa. The charities involved are Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, and Mercy Corps.

Find out more from the official press release.