Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Are you more of a cranker, or an inker?

01.07.2010 by David Murray // 9 Comments

A local university thinks it is looking for a writer.

"The right person can crank out exciting ad copy, then turn around and ink an article for the alumni magazine."

As my writer pappy used to say, "Son, there's a difference between a writer and a typist."

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // crank out, hack, hiring, ink, typist, university, writer

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    January 7, 2010 at 7:25 am

    What do you expect from an “institution” of higher education? After all, they never have any money . . . well, except for the football programs . . . and most of the “tenured” people who work in them are about 25 years behind the “real world” and how things are done out here.
    N.B. I’ve been, and done, both of these in my career – sometimes even at the same time! In this economy, a job’s a job, but I doubt that whoever gets THIS job will be staying very long once the economy improves.

    Reply
  2. Diane says

    January 7, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Your father was a wise man; I’ve said the same thing to a co-worker.
    I am fed up with hearing “crank out copy.” I’m not a machine, but a professional. I don’t crank out copy any more than you crank out strategy. Respect me, and I may respect you.

    Reply
  3. David Murray says

    January 7, 2010 at 7:36 am

    Oh, I’m not above either inking or cranking, Kristen. It’s just that in a job description, I’d hope for a slightly loftier context.
    And Diane’s right: This “crank-it-out” business has to go.
    I used to have a boss who would envision an article he wanted me to write by roughing out the lead sentence and then summarizing the rest of the article merely by saying, “You know, just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”
    I said, “Hey, I have to write those ‘booms’ of yours, one by one.”

    Reply
  4. Ron Shewchuk says

    January 7, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    I am neither a cranker nor an inker. A crinker, perhaps.

    Reply
  5. David Murray says

    January 7, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    A dranker, more like it.

    Reply
  6. Joan H. says

    January 7, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    drunken wanker? is that what you just called rockin’ ronny? David!

    Reply
  7. David Murray says

    January 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Hey, if the shew fits ….

    Reply
  8. Amy says

    January 7, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    If only our bosses and companies understood that we’re not typists.

    Reply
  9. Ron Shewchuk says

    January 8, 2010 at 1:18 am

    I resemble that remark. Hic.

    Reply

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