...no more citation from experience?
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
February 4, 2013 12:44am CST
I was writing for someone when he asked me to please cite some resources for my work. I can do it but more or less, I'm lazy to do it. More often than than not, I only do the formal citation for a research paper and doing for one article (unless I have a very imposing client) and text heavy article at that. But the one I'm talking about is just a sample article and somewhat a compilation of observation and from experience. As much as I am frustrated to source for a trivial thing ( in my opinion and who doesn't experience it anyway, perhaps, I might to do for the sake of being accepted by the client. But if this continues, writing won't be so fun anymore. After all, if papers or complied ones (books,magazine etc) can teach us, can experience not teach us as well?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
4 Feb 13
You only need to cite sources if you quote directly or state a fact that needs to be verifiable. General commentary does not need a source, especially if it's given in the form of opinion.
One of the guys who writes for me always quotes his sources because the content of his work needs it - and the variety of the sources always astounds me!
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
4 Feb 13
Oh, and if the client asks for sources, don't expect them to keep paying you for very long if you don't provide them. I know I wouldn't.
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
5 Feb 13
In which case, I'd simply tell them it's stuff you know from experience, accumulated knowledge, etc. Or drop in a verifiable fact and quote a source for it, to keep them happy. 
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
5 Feb 13
@spike. I agree but the material I am working is hardly considered research (by all meaning of that word). I can safely say it is a compilation of observations from my experiences. I don't know, in all honestly, if people would agree with my observations or not. But perhaps, the client wants to have a more credible source than my experience, hence, the ask for a source. I guess I also have standards when it comes to citing something for a material.
@spike. That's understandable enough. I would the same thing if I were the client.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
4 Feb 13
We were also reminded about it in our writing site. Even wikipedia is not a valid source because it is not a blog...I am not sure if that was written that way so even if I write it based on my own experience i am trying to find some source that I could somehow use.
Have a nice day!
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
7 Feb 13
For many, Wikipedia is just a starting ground. I got a light scolding on that issue, and was told that Wikipedia will never be complete nor published. Too many editors doing too many edits.
