The Complaint Department
Recent “writerly” talk turned to what’s discussed in weblogs. Some suggested that weblogs were bitch-and-moan sessions that reflected badly on the writer.
What’s your weblog say about you? Do you complain? If your clients were reading your weblog, would you still stand by your posts?
It made me think about what I present here. Yes, I vent. However, I hope my venting (and please, correct me if I’m wrong) teaches you something. A lot of times, my venting teaches me something about myself and how my work process is flawed or is working. I try really hard to amend the facts in order to protect the guilty. I may not always be successful (as in the case of Whiney Bob and Baby Einstein), but I digress. If you learn something from the facts I reveal here, I’m okay with that. I will NEVER speak negatively of a client without seriously altering the descriptions so as not to embarrass or call anyone out. If I present client woes, I hope you take them in the spirit they were intended – to teach us all something about how to communicate better.
So, go through your weblog posts. Hold the mirror up to it. What do you see?
Well, if anyone’s blog can be called a “bitch-and-moan session,” I suppose it would be mine. Does that reflect badly on me? Maybe, but I don’t think so. In fact, my blog has even landed me a few jobs. Like you (except in the case of my most notorious nonpaying client, wherein I wanted to warn as many freelancers as possible about the company), I always protect the identies of the guilty parties, so they’re used as anonymous examples only. I believe much can be gleaned amidst the moaning.
LOL@Kathy ^
I learned, not too long ago, that I refuse to say anything that I can’t back up 100% (even if it is just my own opinion), and that I will not change for anyone – possible employer, employer, whomever. I bitch-and-moan some in my blog, but I attempt to do it tactfully. (For example – I won’t say, “I was like ‘You think I’d write an article for $1?!?!’ and he was like ‘LOL!’ and I was like ‘WTF?!’ and blah blah blabbit blah.” Rather, I’d say, “Today I ran into an advertiser who honestly thought any qualified writer with one ounce of self-esteem would write articles for $1.)
Anyway, I’m rambling. Like you, I learn a lot about myself from venting. Like Kathy, I hope others will glean from my venting.
Kathy, your blog is exactly as you advertise it, and frankly, I think it’s great as it is. I don’t see yours as offensive. In fact, you reach your audience very well – other writers who have been screwed! No, I don’t necessarily agree with those who say bitching and moaning on a weblog is detrimental. I think, as you’ve proven, it’s another way to show your clients that you know how you should be treated.