In research writers’ terms, “positionality” pertains to the writer’s point-of-view/stand and placement, considering her social milieu.
(Milieu = environment/location/atmosphere, not just a physical location, but the era a person exists in).
This is my positionality statement as a Filipino freelance writer for almost one year.
There is an official writers’ group here in the Philippines whose goal is to champion the rights of Freelance Writers.
I’ve done some moves to join this group, but I am quite disappointed with them.
I would like to note that this blog entry is not an opinion piece about the group, I will just describe my writer-life. At some points, it has intersected with the goings-on of this group.
I contacted first because I wanted to know the correct rate and pay for a writer. I was given a flat answer of $40 USD/1000 words or 2 Philippine pesos per word.
I started out with my first writing gig of $10 USD/1000 words feeling so poor and incompetent. I took this as a necessity because I have not worked for 10 years.
After a year, I am now paid $23 USD/ 1000 words. This is my active rate.
I have considered myself accomplished. Then I remembered I am still below this group’s recommended rate.
They plan to push this rate into official law.
Well, whoopee!
But…the reality is, writers are not being paid like that. The norm is more $10 USD/1000 words.
A simple Craigslist search will verify that.
It can even go lower. Lower than that.
Not that I want writers to be paid low.
Not that I am going to war with this Writer’s group.
What I am saying is that, perhaps, the group needs to consider advances in the industry?
The world of working for writers has changed. Writers need to adapt to the changes. Innovate.
Maybe Freelance Writers need to have a pay scale, pay grade, pay mix, pay strategy.
Maybe Freelance Writers in the Philippines need to do more than ask for a minimum wage/rate.
Maybe Freelance Writers need to change the way they are marketing themselves in the global sphere.
There are current actionable research works on marketing strategy to draw from.
There are current actionable research works on compensation strategy for Freelance Writers to draw from.
Maybe the Filipino Freelance Writer needs to differentiate herself from her nearest competitors. (Hello, Bangladeshi Freelance Writers!)
We need to strategize. Not simply de-cry out low rates.
We have to learn to be globally competitive.
It is not just necessary that we learn to adjust.
We have to adjust for our survival.
As a Psychologist, I would like to apply all those things I learned in the subject “Compensation”.
I have made moves to do such a study with the group, but nobody has decided to participate yet. Hmmm.
Recently, there has been a brouhaha because of the ABS-CBN shutdown issue.
Admin from the group posted something about the issue. Words were exchanged (virtually), some writers were removed, and some left voluntarily.
I read. And I have reflected on it.
Hmmm.
The way it is going, and I will revert to my positionality:
That I am a stranger entering this group because I am not a Journalism/Mass Media/ English graduate…
Neither do I have extensive work experience in the writing field…
I am a psychologist who is an Academic Writer for only a year…
The writer’s world in the Philippines is a fragmented one.
The philosophy is basically to “row your own boat.”
There are websites where a Freelance Writer can go find a Client (local or international). They agree on a rate, and then it’s done.
You can even find a job on Facebook pages; or go post a job.
Want to get published? Same principle.
You can self-publish now.
And it looks like, this is what is going to be like for the years to come.
Again, the philosophy is basically to “row your own boat.”
The featured image on this blog was AI-generated by me using free tools, namely ChatGPT, Canva, and Leonardo AI. I use these images to support my written content creatively and cost-effectively.
