Ugly cracks of Online Writing

"I know you don't like online writing...but we have to do the things we don't like right now before science starts paying"

Her words after I reacted to the online writing fast feedback in the form of a Mpesa message. Maybe it was because one of her long-time suitors owned the website. The article wasn't in my niche of writing but allowed me to write my honest review on three phones. After writing the 2000 words, I was happy and satisfied with my work. I was not expecting any pay and if any not within 4 hours of submitting.

The intelligence of most Kenyan minds has been absorbed into doing assignments for lazy or busy students otherwise known as academic writing. Maths and other technical subjects that require numbers are also 'written'. "I have stopped writing because I can't imagine working doing dishonest work for some pennies". This was before I convinced her to join me in an attachment position that was paying in terms of skills hoping to get a job. She got the job offer but her direct supervisor advised her not to take it and start a masters education instead. Someone who barely survived to pay her undergraduate fees is required to advance her degree so as to 'survive in the science field'. Last week she managed to gather her registration fees through online writing.

A lot of Kenyans give up on looking for jobs making them survive on an online writing job. Others like my ex quit jobs that pay peanuts and prefer online writing peanuts. This works for people who know the people they are working for and actually get paid. It's even better for people who have online writing platforms and accounts with a good relationship with good writers. One gets paid per page which is on different rates according to the subject. The 'complex' the subject, the better the pay. This is the kind of writing I hate. I used a lot of time to do my own assignments just to get the perfect outlay and most comprehensive work. I couldn't imagine doing the same for someone else. It's like cheating in an exam. To be on the same page, I never cheated on my exams.

The first kind of online writing I fell in love with was a one-time project that I got in too late. It gave you one word such as gift and one is to write 20 no-repeated articles surrounding the topic. Well, that was fun. That's when I knew I wanted to blog and write my own using my own rules. I guess that explains my writing style. I started writing a free plan on Wordpress randomly. One in 20 articles was written satisfactory but most people loved all my blogs. It kinda boosted my writing esteem making me have a website for science communication.

For new writers who meet people online always ends up in misery when they get exploited by mannerless website owners. Their sample articles or project articles they wrote in days always ends up in tears. A few lucky ones get an honest individual and fly with it. With my past experiences, I chose to sleep hungry than do a free online job. I am always sceptical about anyone approaching me with a writing proposals. I have lost count of people in LinkedIn who wanted me to write for free. People forget that people use data to be online and research or even sent the article. Personally, I can stay out of the internet for days. It would be foolish of me to invest in something that doesn't bring profit. I was tired of writing for people. I looked for an active science writing site in Kenya and I couldn't find one. So, invested in one called sciencecast.co.ke . As much it doesn't bring money, it brings satisfaction. I use it to share the knowledge I learn every day in science instead of keeping to myself.

To the website owner who wants to use me, I see you.