Do We Really Need to Be a Part of Something in Order to Gain Respect as a Freelance Writer?

“She is an editor for….”

 

“He is a teacher for….”

 

“She is a member of….”

 

“They are a part of….”

 

These are credits I have seen among many writers published in various forms of media: Online, in newspapers, magazines, E-zines, E-newsletters, etc. After seeing these in a writer’s bio so often (and, yes, I DO read the bios!), I can’t help but wonder if being a part of a team or part of SOMETHING gives a writer more respect among the publishing community.

 

As for me, the only thing I am a “part” of is the team of book reviewers at Reader Views. That’s it!

 

Everything else I do is solo.

 

I USED to be a part of things.

 

I was once a book editor for an independent publishing company.

 

I was once part of the production team for my college newspaper – and, yes, I occasionally wrote articles for them.

 

I was once a contributing writer to the local newspaper in Palm Springs, California (The Desert Sun).

 

I was once a staff writer for the national newspaper, SIGNews.

 

I was once a member of the editorial advisory board for the DPPi, a magazine published for disabled parents.

 

I was once a poetry editor for a literary magazine.

 

And I was once one of the panel of judges for a short story contest.

 

So, yes, I USED to be a part of things. I used to belong to something.

 

But not anymore.

 

These days, I put the “free” in “freelance.” As in, while I review books for Reader Views, I’m basically not much a part of anywhere else. I am a free agent. I am an INDEPENDENT contractor.

 

I am a freelance writer.

 

I am a freelance editor.

 

I am a freelance ghostwriter.

 

I have no employer except myself. I have no one to answer to except myself. And I don’t have to worry about someone deciding whether or not I am “good enough” to be a part of their team – because I am on my own team. And I am the only one I have to answer to, at the end of the day.

 

And yesterday, I decided that I am going to keep it that way. No more gigs and no more trying to be a part of a team.

 

Yes, I am still trying to get an agent for my novels – and, in fact, I currently have an agent interested in one novel in particular. But he knows that I like to have the freedom to do what I please with the OTHER books. The poetry books. Nonfiction.

 

My freedom is important to me. I have been fiercely independent ever since I moved out of my parents’ house at 19. My husband knows that my independence is important to me and he does not try to control where I go or who I’m with. (We do keep tabs on where we are or where we’re going with each other for safety reasons.) This freedom is likewise important to me in the work that I do.

 

I don’t like people breathing down my neck, controlling what kind of writing I will do. I don’t like having to rush anything for a client. And I don’t like being chained to the computer or phone for anyone I work with.

 

If I agree to turn something in by a deadline, then I will work on meeting that deadline.

 

But for everything else, I don’t like someone rushing me to complete a project and I will not work with such a person.

 

I have no one demanding I drop what I’m doing to give her my complete attention for something else (I don’t function that way).

 

I have no one deciding I am “too slow” and using it as a reason to cut me loose.

 

I have no one trying to interrupt my routines to add something new, thereby causing me to suddenly forget everything else and messing up a whole system I created in order to meet expectations.

 

I am on my own. I’m a lone wolf. As far as being a writer, editor and ghostwriter is concerned, I work alone. I send work out to different markets, and it’s all based on my own efforts. I find these markets myself. I write the queries and cover letters myself. I write ALL of the material I submit myself.

 

There is no magic system giving me passage to getting published. I work on creating my own opportunities for getting published.

 

The idea of belonging to something and being a part of a team used to appeal to me. I thought it was an important distinction to have, because it seems like EVERYONE EVERYWHERE must have this in order to gain respect among their peers in the publishing industry. But I no longer feel it is important to have. Yes, I’m currently a part of the Reader Views team, but that’s it! I’m not a team member for anything else.

 

The reality is, I don’t belong anywhere.I may be everywhere, but I don't belong anywhere.

 

As far as being a writer is concerned, I am on my own.

 

As far as being an editor is concerned, I am on my own.

 

As far as being a ghostwriter is concerned, I am on my own.

 

I don’t have any employer. I don’t have a “boss.”

 

I am my own boss, and I plan to keep it this way.

 

And if this conflicts with my ability to get published somewhere, so be it. If a publication only wants writers with the privilege of being a part of something, then so be it. I will pass on them, just as they will pass on me. 

 

I know there are other markets out there who accept writers even though they are not bestselling authors, contest winners, part of a residency or a member of some team or organization, etc. Those markets are out there. So I guess it is not really necessary to be a part of some THING in order to get published, and it’s better to just stay away from the markets that make this a requirement.