My aunt: “So beta, what are
you doing these days? Must be sitting at home and preparing for your wedding?”
Me: “ No, Aunty. I am
working as a content writer.”
My aunt: “ So you write?
What do you write? Poems or letters, or stories?”
Me: “I write academic
content- everything ranging from research proposals, assignments,
presentations, thesis, etc.”
My aunt (after being blinded
with the science): “Yes beta, I understand. (To my uncle) So she basically
utilizes her time at home so that she does not feel jobless.”
Me: “What?”
It is beyond me why people
don’t consider content writing as a serious job. Just because I can earn
sitting comfortably in my house, with no one to boss around, flexibility in the
working hours and taking up tasks at my beck and call, it doesn’t mean that
life is a bowl of cherries for me. Content writing is in itself very large.
Large, not in terms of area or space or any other physical quantity, but large
in terms of variety of projects I get. It might seem that there are no clouds
on the horizon, but the reality is little known. Whenever any of my relative
asks about my job and I explain them about content writing, they go blank. And
in order to cover up their confusion, they tag me as “jobless”. How on earth,
is it possible to call a person jobless, when the person is earning more than
enough? I fail to understand.
Yes, I do not wake up early
(because I stay up late completing assignments), I do not own a set of formal
wear (because my work does not have any dress code), I do not know what it is
like to work with people (because I work alone), I do not know what it is like
to be insulted by the boss infront of the other staff members (because my job
believes in one to one interaction). But that does not qualify me as jobless. I
work at my own convininece. Probably this suits my lifestyle. I may not go the
office like others do, but at the same time, I do not sit idle at home, wasting
my time in watching daily soaps. I work. I learn. I experience. For those, who
work from home, this post may grab your attention as you must also have faced a
similar situation at some point of your life. But for those, who still believe
that working from home is equivalent to not working at all, here are a few
own-life-experiences that might change your perception.
1.
New
project ~ New level of research- Hailing from the field of
biotechnology, makes this even worst. With every new project or assignment, newer
dimensions have to be explored in terms of content and evidence. Even if a
project requires a modest word count of 1000, it takes hell lot of time. But
the positive part is that I am able to learn new things, which I didn’t even
know, existed.
2.
0%
Plagiarism- Plagiarism is the copying of other’s written work. And
when you are a content writer, you strictly abstain from plagiarizing the
content that you write. The “blue chip companies” penalize you for plagiarizing
and it is like asking for trouble, when you do not abide by their guidelines.
3.
The
never ending “wifi” problem- For research you require internet and
for internet you either choose net pack or wifi. I prefer wifi (owing to its
speed and easy access). But when the wifi breaks up, you are in such a quandary!
The task has to be completed and that too before the deadline, come hell or
high water.
4.
The “terse
deadlines”- Every project/ assignment comes with a specific
deadline. Some might have ample time but some are super urgent. In case of
former, the management of time is feasible but in case of latter, if any of the
problems (number 3 above, mood swings, tiredness or lazy day problem) occur and the deadline is missed, then completion of the
assignment is like moving up a blind alley.
5.
The “jittery
phonecalls”- Working from home leaves only two choices
to communicate- either via email/ chat or via telephone. Both the mediums send
jitters down the spine because you cannot predict if the team is calling you
for a new project or for a rework. The former is definitely a “happy news”,
while the latter literally blows up in your face.
6.
The
panic attacks- In a situation, when any project cannot be
completed because of the problems that arise prior notice, you get a mini panic
attack. First, because you will miss the deadline, second, you cannot possible
ask for extension at the eleventh hour and last, you would be penalized for the
same (which means deduction from the salary).
7.
Lack
of appraisal- Unlike other jobs, the job of working as a freelancer,
does not guarantee appraisal. The company might or might not praise your
efforts. There is not proper feedback channel. The writers are, by default,
made to maintain a low profile and the appreciation for the work is kept under
wraps.
And the list is never ending.
It has been more than one year for me now and I have grown accustomed to the
pros and cons of working as a content writer. If I cope with the above
mentioned points, the grass on the other side is greener. There is ease of working
from home, no specific office hours, more profit less loss and so many more
perks.
So, next time, if anybody
classifies content writing as “not a job”, argue the toss!
