Content analysis blog, Pricenomics, claims the Internet is now overrun by poorly managed content mills. Content mills—or farms as they’re sometimes called—employ droves of freelance writers to generate original, SEO-packed content specifically designed to reach maximum readability and share-ability potential by automated search engines. Mill content may be annoying for readers looking for more thorough investigations on a subject, but it’s fantastic for aspiring writers looking to break into the game. But now that Google recently starting blocking junk-content and SEO-focused sites, the mill business model is going under, which means less work for writers, and writers having to adapt to launch a local citation service or a local reputation management building service. So how can writers find work?
Today on ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ the topic of how to make a profit from other people’s words was discussed with authors Laura Morton—celebrity ghostwriter—and Kate Siegel of ‘Crazy Jewish Mom’. Along with us is Kate’s infamous mother, Kim Friedman.
“My name is on almost every book I’ve written. If you want my name off the book, it costs more.”
“I was in TV production paying people to write scripts. They were terrible. I thought I could do it myself.”
“I pioneered the celebrity exercise video market. I did a lot of work with Richard Simmons and Muhammad Ali.”
“I’ve always had a knack for interviewing. It was always about great story.”
“I did Joan Lunden’s workout video. After she went through her divorce I told her to write a book. It was my first.”
“If you wanted to reach a celebrity at that time you had to write them a letter. Andy Cohen wrote a letter to Susan Lucci wanting to have lunch with her.”
“I’m an idea person, I’m a great storyteller and coming from production, I know how to put all these things together.”
“I liken it to going to summer camp. You get to know these people on such an intimate level and then they go away.”
“Sometimes they tell me I’m the most expensive therapy they’ve ever had—but also their best therapist.”
“I have to believe in the subject. The superfluous celebrity story doesn’t work for me anymore.”
“The trick is making each of those voices different. Dog the Bounty Hunter and Justin Bieber are not the same voice.”
“My skillset is to completely remove my voice.”
“I write 7 books a year.”
“Generally I can get someone’s entire story in about 25-30 hours but I don’t like to do marathon sessions.”
“I take people a lot deeper than a reporter. I ask the hard questions because they allow me to.”
“Any element that brings their life story off the page and makes the reader feel like they’re only talking to you.”
“Authenticity in what you’re doing in the writing is so important, even in the corporate world isn’t talked about enough.”
“Authenticity will always serve you. People get lured by the Almighty Dollar.”
“They were teaching the Girl Scouts how to spin plates. That’s what I do. Luckily my deadlines never come at the same time.”
“Any writer knows they aren’t feeling something or have writer’s block. Busy people are always busy.”
“The more you work the more work you get.”
“You’re responsible for your income. You have to make it happen.”
“I garner life lessons and cherry pick this material to now have a well so deep I can share with others.”
“I started doing a lot of speaking. There’s such great value in storytelling.”
“In my second half I feel like I have so much to do for myself. It’s like starting at Ground Zero.”
“I don’t believe in the traditional path anymore. I think publishing is predatory lending. It’s an unfair business structure.”
“Its not just content anymore—it’s context. Story first and foremost. Publishers rely on authors to do all the work.”
“The most important element is your audience.”
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“There aren’t any professional women emojis.”
“I’ve been screenshotting the insane things my mom texts me since texting began.”
“One of my mom’s main concerns of my life is anything ovary-centric.”
“I’ve gotten good at understanding what’s going to work with my audience.”
“For content creators, social media allows you to have an audience you would’ve never had before.”
“I never thought I’d work with my mom.”
“At the beginning some of those off-brand things were paying my bills. But it’s about trust with the audience.”
“I have never worked this hard as I have with Crazy Jewish Mom.”
“’Mother Can You Not’ is about our insane adventures.”
“Mom was working directing television when there were only 2 women directing TV.”
“The book in itself is something I did establish my own voice. The stories are my stories and my experiences.”
“There are a million excuses to do anything. There’s no time like the present. Consistently write and publish.”
“She asked if I’d mind if she posted to her friends. I didn’t know it was 800,000 friends.”
“I was unhappy because she quit her job for Crazy Jewish Mom. I thought she should to do both.”
“Our relationship is our relationship. It was World War 3 in high school.”
“Anything you do is story. You have to tell a story.”
“One of the things I’m proud of with Kate is she is a writer. She translated my words into writing her own book.”
“I would’ve preferred her to stay in the tech building and started an app. Or being a lawyer.”
“Having struggled as a woman director it was very hard. The last thing I wanted her to do was be in entertainment.”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks of me anymore. My advise is to go with your heart and passion and be authentic.”
“Begin with who you are and what you know.”
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