Sometimes that's what it can feel like, pulling words from the vein. If you're a writer, like me, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Words are what you live by, and words are what you get paid for. But, words don't always come willing. Sometimes you just stare at the screen, wishing for a spark when all you get is the grocery list popping up in your head. Or worse yet, you start hearing the subliminal call of the PSP as it sits on your desk, a game willing to be played.
Yeah, it can be tough. It can be tiring. It can be sometimes downright depressing. But when the magic flows, and the clients process their invoices in a timely manner, boy can it be thrilling, too. Because that's what it all comes down to right? We just want to get paid for the work we're performing. Sometimes I get angry at the writers who are willing to write a 700-word article for two dollars. I take complete offense. This is our work we're talking about here! This is coming from our veins, our lifeblood!
In a perfect world, writers would get paid what they're worth, but sadly, that's not the case. Some companies believe that they can pad their bottom line by cutting back on what they pay their writers. The problem is - as long as there are writers willing to do it, the companies will continue to lower their payments.
The Hollywood writer's strike should spark every writer to stand up for themselves and declare that we are no longer taking jobs for less than the work is worth. Come on writers, we're only hurting ourselves. Why should we expect to be paid properly, when there are so many of us selling out?
It's about time the writers get their due. I hope the strike lasts as long as it needs to for those guys to get what they deserve and in turn, I hope it ignites a spark under all the other writers out there. Get up the courage and say, "No, I won't write that 700-word article for two dollars!" If we all do it, who knows, we may just get what we deserve.
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