Is the internet becoming over-saturated with writers and opinions?
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
December 20, 2009 6:23pm CST
10 years I started writing online for side-income. It's far from my real job as a web designer, but I did it for fun and for a few pennies here and there. Over the years I went from writing product reviews to writing advice to writing other types of articles.
In the past year, however, I've found that for every article I want to write, there are 100s of other similar articles. Sure, I could still write mine and hope someone likes my different opinion. However when there are 100s of articles to compete with it makes it harder to get hits. Often times I click on other articles that are way better than mine, and then a lot of other times I see articles that stink!
So now I'm wondering if the internet is simply getting over-saturated with writers. Anybody anywhere can sign up for these sites now to write about whatever they want. Anyone can start a blog and write all day and night about the same news stories that everyone else is covering. Just search for "Brittany Murphy" right now and you'll see what i'm talking about!
What do you think? Are there too many writers out there trying to make a penny? Do you get frustrated trying to compete with the millions of writers out there? Or if you are a reader only, do you have a hard time finding an article that gives you the info you want because there are so many out there?
All this over-saturation has made me less into writing lately to the point that I'm ready to take up some other hobbies.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Dec 09
While the computer and internet has opened up a whole new bunch of possibilities, not only for writers, but other artists such as photographers, it has also been a tremendous downfall. It used to be if you were a writer, you would submit an article, short story, etc by snail mail directly to the editor--same with photographers...one would submit a portfolio of photos (this was before the digital format) usually 35mm slides and send it to the photo editor of a magazine. There was a more one to one interaction between the writer/photographer and the editors. Also the pay was a heck of a lot better if one was published. While the internet gives a lot more people opportunities for writers/photographers, it has also in a sense "cheapened" the market...there are just too many of us out there and all the markets are over-saturated with work, and consequently, the rate of pay has gone way, way down. Well yes I do get frustrated, but I'm not completely giving up..though I have to admit I've had a writer's slump for awhile...LOL
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
22 Dec 09
All very true. Now-a-days these content editors won't even talk to you. They'll accept or reject your article and not even tell you why. Then they'll accept someone else's crappy article just because they think it will do well in search engines. They don't even care about "quality" anymore.
Do you write for a living? I only did it for side money so it is much easier for me to just quit! I don't plan to quit entirely though. One thing I can always right that is always unique is my opinion :-D So while I plan to quit doing recaps or any type of "news", I will continue to write reviews (products, hotels, etc), and share advice whenever I feel like I can.
Other than that, I really want to start spending more time on my offline hobbies.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Yeah it gets hard to find time and then if you force yourself to write, it feels too much like work and loses it's luster.
I made goals last new years :) I started small - like 2 articles a week, then tried to do more. Don't make the goal too big or it might just feel like work in the end.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Like you I write my articles mainly to make a little extra money. Haven't for awhile though since like I said been in a writer's slump. Maybe a New Year's resolution? To get back into writing again? I would also like to manage to find time to write my fiction work that's been on the back burner for way too long
1 person likes this
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
21 Dec 09
That's very true. I think that since even radio and television were invented, ideas and communication has just totally blew up- theres just so much stuff in the world now a days that people are getting jaded and uninspired;nothing feels new anymore.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Reminds me of my thoughts on movies. I keep finding out that every movie I see is either a remake or inspired by or based on some other movie. I say "can't they come up with anything original"?
I feel bad for the real writers out there, b/c it's hard to compete with this over-saturated world!
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
21 Dec 09
I think the internet is overly saturated with many things. Atleast you are safe from me being a writer online to compete with. I've thought about starting a blog but then thought what the heck would I write about? What is off limits? (rules to blogging?) Who would be the slightest bit interested in what I have to say? 
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
21 Dec 09
I actually want to BLOG rather than write :) I currently write reality recaps under a website, but they don't let us do personal opinion so it's starting to get boring. I think I might start a BLOG in 2010 about reality tv. I might even do it just for free and fun! Although it's nice to make some money off of it so I'm going to try that first :)
Blogs don't have many limits, you can write whatever you want and whatever you think. That is what makes it nice! The site I write at now doesn't want Blog style articles and therefore it limits how I can write. They don't even want us to say "I" or "me" in them. They are trying to make us act like we are a news source but I don't feel like I am!
If you started a blog, I'd be interested in what you have to say :)
@edu4625 (188)
• United States
21 Dec 09
No I don't think we're becoming over-saturated with writers. I think the internet is providing an outlet that has been needed for a long time.
The internet is just allowing more people to have an opportunity to write professionally. It is much easier to sign up with a site in the convenience of your home and get approved right away.
I think all of these different writers is giving the world an opportunity to read and experience many creative styles. To me this is good thing.
Yes, absolutely some of the writing we will be exposed to won't be that good. But even then it gives other writers a comparison. You can see what your level may be compared to people who are submitting the same type of writing or genre.
I'm interested in writing part-time myself. If you have a suggestion about a good site to sign up with I'd appreciate it.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
22 Dec 09
You can try Associated Content, that is one of the better sites I write at.
But please, if you do start writing, don't just re-write other people's stories. Come up with something unique and your readers will appreciate it. Sure you get more page views if you post a story about Brittany Murphy right now, but would you feel good about it if all you did was quote another article?
@alwayzzcitra (1861)
• Indonesia
21 Dec 09
Well, competition out there should not let you down. If you love writing, then for God's sake, write! There are no more original piece in writing world, take love for example, you will get from Romeo and Juliet to Titanic. Both of them are about love, but what makes them different is how the story tellers tell it. You do not have to worry about the same theme you find on the internet. Just write what you want to write, and if your write good quality articles, you will build circle of readers who will loyally read your work from time to time 
I am a beginner in writing articles online, but I have to admit that I really like writing. I started to write my own poem at the age of 9. I know that my articles may not be as good, but if I keep on practicing everyday, sure, I'll be better. Good luck!
I am a beginner in writing articles online, but I have to admit that I really like writing. I started to write my own poem at the age of 9. I know that my articles may not be as good, but if I keep on practicing everyday, sure, I'll be better. Good luck!1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
21 Dec 09
Great advice. I do tend to think my work is original because it is from ME. However some of the sites I write at actually will decline or delete articles if they feel there is too many similar ones already out there. That is discouraging. But I've learned from these sites that I should just write what I feel like writing and not try to get paid for it. I get paid for hits at most sites, but I haven't been selling as many articles as I used to. Perhaps I should just stop trying to sell myself and instead just write for fun and earn a few pennies here and there :)
@sderringer (303)
• United States
21 Dec 09
Like everyone else so far, I agree with you too Vivasuzi. Too many people are out there submitting articles, content and opinions and a lot of the content isn't worth reading. The situation reminds me of an old saying "garbage in, garbage out". Sometimes I am not even sure if I can rely on most of what I read online anymore because for all I know it was written by some novice like me (or worse)!
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
22 Dec 09
It is getting to the point that the only way to find reliable news is to go direct to cnn.com (for example) or another news site.
So when I was searching for Brittany Murphy, all I found were hundreds of stories saying the same thing! I wanted to see if any had different info and none of them did. TMZ was the original news source, yet 100s of novice writers wrote about it and quoted TMZ.
Soon enough there may be lawsuits about this. I bet one day news places like TMZ will charge you to get in and then sue you if you copy/paste their content. They should. The original sources are certainly getting screwed now a days.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
21 Dec 09
i think so... so many people can access internet so easily and freely nowadays and so it is getting harder and harder to compete with other people to earn money here as well... and you are really right by saying that it is also become difficult for readers to choose a quality article from the internet because there are too many options... take care and have a nice day...
@cr0ssf41r13 (866)
• Philippines
21 Dec 09
Hello there, vivasuzi. It is indeed hard to compete with other people when there are many of you that are competing. However, their reason in writing in the Internet is probably the same reason why you do writing. They need money and it is not you who could limit them from writing what they wanted to write. People are not static beings. We move. We move on. We mature. Those writers who have written articles that stink would eventually mature and write better. This gives you another reason to develop certain strategies, to write better, and be more confident on your writing. If the Internet is over-saturated, are you part of the set that could be removed in order for the Internet to be just enough? It's not just skill in writing that you need in order to earn good money. Sometimes, you need strategy.
I get frustrated at times but I figured out those people write with the same reason I have.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
21 Dec 09
Yeah I know, everyone's trying to earn a buck online nowadays. And that is exactly what I'm thinking about - is it really worth it to me? It may be worth it to people who are currently unemployed or have low paying jobs. I don't make a lot of money in my real job but I make enough to pay my bills. The money I made online was good to make me feel better about our bills, but it wasn't required. So yes I do think I might just stop working for some sites and be one less article people have to read :)
