In the previous post, I shared a pitch for a book on self-publishing. Unfortunately, the information used to try to sell it to you was out of date at best, misleading at worst.
Recently I got another pitch from the same source (Trent Steele, editor, Write Street Newsletter, part of the Self Development Network). This time the pitch is for a book called The Wealthy Writer (not be confused with one with the same title, by Michael Meanwell).
This one starts by painting a picture of the idyllic life you could have if you were earning $100,000+ per year writing for the internet. That's what the book, by Nick Daws and Ruth Barringham, will show you, apparently.
The pitch screams:
"TODAY the Web is Literally BEGGING for New WRITERS!"
Not figuratively, but literally. That means somewhere the Web is on its knees (who knew it even had knees?) beseeching the gods for someone, anyone, to please write for it. Because, as we all know, there's a big shortage of writers willing to put their words on the web.
NOT MUCH TALENT? NO PROBLEM!
The pitch goes on:
"Right now, ANY writer, living ANYWHERE, with almost ANY level of talent, can begin a career writing online.
It requires absolutely NO experience – and you could start earning BIG, in just DAYS.
We’re not kidding. Right now, you could be just a couple of days from your first paycheck.
Work quickly – and you could have earned your first payment by TONIGHT.
From article writing to affiliate marketing... From blogging to copywriting... From e-books to self-publishing... From auction websites to sales copy...
It’s EASY – and right now the industry is BEGGING for NEW WRITERS!"
Apparently there are loads of secret websites that offer big money even to low-talent, inexperienced writers. I haven't heard of these sites, have you? No? Well, the sales letter explains:
"The "worst thing" is that "regular" writers don't even know these sites exist!"
I'm not sure why there are quotes around "worst thing"--maybe to indicate that in this instance they mean figuratively, not literally, the worst, since I can think of quite a few worse things.
There must be some kind of conspiracy to keep this information from us, because in my experience, word normally travels pretty fast about people who are willing to pay writers any money, much less $100K a year.
The pitch asks:
"Are YOU ready to begin making at least $100,000 a year by tapping away at your keyboard?"
Tapping away at our keyboards...reminds me of what a member of the aristocracy said to Gibbon when the latter issued another volume of his The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: "Another damned thick book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble, eh, Gibbon?"
The disclaimer
There is a smaller-print link to a disclaimer that says the examples they use are not typical, it's all down to how hard you work, etc.
THE GUARANTEE ALMOST GUARANTEED NOT TO BE REQUESTED
They say that if you haven't earned at least $25,000 after three months of using their manual, they'll refund your $47...but only betwee three and four months after purchase. How many people do you think remember that? And if they do, how many will remember where they put the address to which to send the refund request? It's not a fake guarantee, but a clever one.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE $100K PLUS WRITING FOR THE INTERNET?
There are copywriters, authors of ebooks, and others who make that and more. However, I doubt very much that they are writers "with just about any level of talent" and "no experience." They also are in the top 1%, maybe the top .5% of all writers trying to earn money through their craft. And I doubt that they would think of what they do as "tapping on the keyboard for a few hours a day."
I understand that sales letters have to get you excited about the thing they're selling. A little hype is expected and accepted, but I think this pitch goes too far. OK, the most you're going to lose is $47, but these days that amount can be a lot to lose for somebody who is unemployed and buys into the fantasy of riches presented here.
If you happen to have ordered this book and have any comments, please let me know. I'm on the road at the moment, but maybe when I'm back home on a secure internet connection I'll order it and do a follow-up report...I just have to remember to put a reminder of that guarantee three months in the future on my calendar.
