The Word Wrangler

“I tell it like it is.” - Howard Cosell

I’ve always been attracted to folks who tell it like it is, which is why I have an affinity for the unabashed, and in your face, ramblings of Kathy Kehrli, author of the freelancing blog Screw You!

Kathy says what many of us think, but are often too afraid to publicly express for fear we’ll lose respect - or worse - our valuable clientele. She’s not afraid to expose the sickly white underbelly of the freelane world, and gut it with one quick swipe of her middle finger.

So, what makes the Irreverent Freelancer so irreverent? Let’s find out.

Word Wrangler: Tell me a little about your background. What got you into becoming a freelance writer? What’s your niche or specialty?

Kathy: Interestingly enough, I come from a mathematics educational background and an accounting/finance professional background. I have, however, always had a penchant for the written word. So, when the company I was working for closed up shop and decided to move operations 1,000 miles away, I opted to stay put. That’s when I started exploring other career options, and with more free time on my hands, my love for writing resurfaced. Some of my specialty areas include press releases, educational math content, product descriptions and book-marketing material.

Most blogs that deal with freelancing or writing focus on the art of writing and the aspects of running a freelance business. Screw You is unique in that the focus is on the things that drive writer’s nuts. How did your blog come about? Was it a conscious decision to do something that different or was it more of an evolution?

I owe my initial foray into blogging to my friend Tammy, a fellow freelancer. Her personality shone brightly in her posts and I thought, “Hey, I could do that!” Blogging quickly became a cathartic process for me, whereby I could vent my frustrations and then walk away from them rather than allowing them to fester. That said, I really don’t think there was anything conscious about the decision to begin Screw You! At the time, I was a total newbie to the blogosphere and therefore had no idea I was introducing something groundbreaking.

Many of your posts deal with bidding sites like Elance and Guru because they’re such a sore spot for freelancers. These sites are clearly not good for the writing community or writers in general. Why do you use them and why do you think so many writers continue to keep paying for the opportunity to write for such low wages?

In regard, to freelance bidding sites, I have a love–hate relationship with them, one that strongly leans toward hate nowadays. However, I was very fortunate to get in on the whole concept almost at its inception, when both joining and bidding were free. That timeliness enabled me to establish some long-term working relationships without shelling out a penny in fees. In fact, my first Elance client is still a client today. All that said, the only reason I currently maintain a limited membership there is because of the 270+ positive feedback reviews and $100,000+ in earnings I’ve racked up over the years. Thanks to my track record, I can still compete at solid rates. I don’t, however, have any insight into why so many writers continue to prostitute themselves through such arenas.

You say things on your blog that we all think, but dare not post on our blogs, out of fear of offending potential clients. Have you had any negative reactions from clients? Lost any work because of your outspoken nature?

Most definitely! I’ve taken some flak from both fellow freelancers and potential clients for my sarcasm and “transparency.” As a perfect example of both, view this post and its accompanying comments: Screw You! Paranoia. At the same time, I’ve gained clients because they like my attitude, so in the end, it all balances out. When you dare to speak your mind, you’re bound to arouse controversy.

You recently outed a non-paying client. We all experience difficulties with certain clients who are late or simply don’t pay, but usually don’t make that public. What’s the goal of posting this information and do you worry about being looked upon negatively by other potential clients?

In most cases, I do maintain client anonymity. It’s only when the working relationship reaches the point of no return that I’ll actually name names. At that stage, I know I will never work with the client again, so I have no qualms about going public with the details of the experience. If I can save others the grief I’ve endured with a particular client then all the better. I’m not one of those writers who looks out only for number one. I believe in making a statement for the sake of the greater good. And as for potential clients who are scared off because I publicly air my dirty laundry? Well, let’s just say I’m of the mind that those clients are likely to become future fodder for a Screw You! post.

Have you ever posted anything you regretted or would take back?

Honestly, no. I may press some generalized hot buttons without thoroughly thinking the whole thing through first, but I carefully weigh a personal situation before pressing the “Publish Post” button. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I believe in standing up for what I believe in, and if you’re operating under the guise of anonymity, in my opinion, you’re really not standing up for anything at all.

I read once, on your blog, that there was talk of you putting out a book, kind of the best of Screw You, what’s the status of that?

Actually, that book is still brewing in my head. Finding the time to follow through on it is the hard part! I envision it, however, as more of a how-to type book. So rather than being a “best of blog” type deal, it would be more a detailed account of all the tricks of the trade I learned the hard way prior to launching Screw You!

Any closing thoughts? Something you want to plug or let readers know about?

No self-promotion, but I do hope that I will inspire others to stand up for the writing profession and to not be afraid to demand what they’re worth … and rightfully owed. end

I’d like to thank Kathy for taking time out of her busy schedule to do this interview, and I want to encourage you to check out Screw You! everyday for a healthy dose of irreverence.

Mike Sieber - The Word Wrangler