Let me ask you a question, what do you think of when you hear the term ‘freelancer’?

Do you think a writer who is a spot/fill-in worker like a substitute teacher is when a teacher is sick or do you think some random dude trying to get a quick paycheck?

As a freelancer for two years trying to work my way up to staff writer I get looks when I say I’m a freelancer.  Why? Because they think I’m just out there trying to get a quick fix paycheck and not trying to work my way into the field.

Is it true for some freelancers?  Yes.  I’ve seen one or two since I started who went with the persona of, “Yeah I write for any publications that pays son!”.

Ok, maybe not saying the term ‘son’, but I’ve seen as I call freelancers, ‘fill-in’ or ‘substitute’ writers, more or less saying they are looking to get paid.  I like the honesty, but for someone like me who want to make a difference with my chances, I look at it as a slap in the face.

But back to my Title Question:  Is the term ‘Freelancing’ or ‘Stringer’ Derogatory?

Let me answer my own question with another one:  Would you call a substitute teacher a ‘Stringer’ or ‘Freelancer’?  Probably not even though they’re practically the same thing.  You are doing a ‘spot’ job for a ‘project’, or a class in this occasion, for x-amount for a period of time.

Going back to my question, would you call a substitute teacher a ‘Stringer’ or ‘Freelancer’?

Probably not, but my take on it is because it’ll be disrespectful to the Educator to say that your a “Freelancer”, roaming around for nothing.  Then why is it not ok to give that common curiosity to our Watchdogs in Journalism?

Is it because we’re stuck in 19th-century ways and can’t evolve with the times as our Educator counterparts?  I think so.

I pose this challenge to my field.  Let’s come up with a new term.  Something that doesn’t measure words by a ‘string’ of a shoe from 1879, but as what these writers like myself are:  Fill-in Writers.  The Substitute teachers of the Journalism field.

Something that people who aren’t solely looking for a payday can proudly parade around like our press passes that we have with our notepads.  Something more than a dirty look and a piece of paper.  Something worth bragging about as much as our by-lines in newspapers, magazines and websites.

Something more!