Jann,

Just wanted to quickly record my strong agreement!

There are two terms which I assiduously avoid using professionally to describe what I do (ghostwriting for clients):

• ‘Freelancing’. This is because I think that using that term is a quick way to devalue what we do and open the door to exploitative clients looking to underprice our services.
• ‘Content writing’. For a combination of the above (I like to say that the back of a cereal box can be considered ‘content’) and for the same reason as I avoid using the term ‘freelancing’.

Unfortunately, I fear that a critical mass has gotten beyond the trend to label each and every piece of written work ‘content’ — such that, as well-intentioned as we might be, we are unlikely to be able to affect change.

But we can only do our best!