Hack writer is a pejorative term for a writer who is paid to write low-quality, rushed articles or books "to order", often with a short deadline. In fiction writing, a hack writer is paid to quickly write sensational, "pulp" fiction such as "true crime" novels or "bodice ripping" paperbacks. In journalism, a hack writer is deemed to operate as a "mercenary" or "pen for hire", expressing their client's political opinions in pamphlets or newspaper articles. Hack writers are usually paid by the number of words in their book or article; as a result, hack writing has a reputation for quantity taking precedence over quality.
The term "hack writer" was first used in the 18th century, "when publishing was establishing itself as a business employing writers who could produce to order."[1] The derivation of the term "hack" was a "shortening of hackney, which described a horse that was easy to ride and available for hire."[1] In 1728, Alexander Pope wrote The Dunciad, which was a satire of "the Grub-street Race" of commercial writers who worked in Grub Street, a London district that was home to a bohemian counterculture of impoverished writers and poets. In the late 19th century, Anthony Trollope's novel The Way We Live Now (1875) depicts a female hack writer whose career was built on social connections rather than writing skill.[1]
Many authors who would later become famous worked as low-paid hack writers early in their careers, or during a downturn in their fortunes. As a young man, Anton Chekhov had to support his family by writing short newspaper articles; Arthur Koestler penned a dubious Dictionary of Sexuality for the popular press; Samuel Beckett translated for the French Reader's Digest; and William Faulkner churned out Hollywood scripts.[1]
A number of films have depicted hack writers, perhaps because the way these authors are "prostituting" their creative talents makes them an interesting character study. In the film adaptation of Carol Reed's The Third Man (1949), author Graham Greene added a hard-drinking hack writer named Holly Martins. In Jean-Luc Godard's film Contempt (1963), a hack screenwriter is paid to doctor a script. In the film Adaptation (2002), Nicolas Cage depicts an ill-educated character named Donald Kaufman who finds he has a knack for churning out cliché-filled film scripts.[1]
Use as a pejorative
In the US, the term "hack" is used as a pejorative description among writers, journalists, bloggers, and comedians. It is especially used for journalists that are perceived to take partisan sides.
The term "hack" has been used by some UK journalists as a form of humorous, self-deprecating self-description. The term was popularized in the UK by Private Eye magazine, which refers to male journalists as "hacks" and female journalists as "hackettes."
^ abcdeRobert Fulford (19 August 2003). "When hacks attract: Serious artists are drawn to tales of mercenary scribes". The National Post.
January 30, 2023
hack, writer, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Hack writer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Hack writer is a pejorative term for a writer who is paid to write low quality rushed articles or books to order often with a short deadline In fiction writing a hack writer is paid to quickly write sensational pulp fiction such as true crime novels or bodice ripping paperbacks In journalism a hack writer is deemed to operate as a mercenary or pen for hire expressing their client s political opinions in pamphlets or newspaper articles Hack writers are usually paid by the number of words in their book or article as a result hack writing has a reputation for quantity taking precedence over quality Contents 1 History 2 Use as a pejorative 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditThe term hack writer was first used in the 18th century when publishing was establishing itself as a business employing writers who could produce to order 1 The derivation of the term hack was a shortening of hackney which described a horse that was easy to ride and available for hire 1 In 1728 Alexander Pope wrote The Dunciad which was a satire of the Grub street Race of commercial writers who worked in Grub Street a London district that was home to a bohemian counterculture of impoverished writers and poets In the late 19th century Anthony Trollope s novel The Way We Live Now 1875 depicts a female hack writer whose career was built on social connections rather than writing skill 1 Many authors who would later become famous worked as low paid hack writers early in their careers or during a downturn in their fortunes As a young man Anton Chekhov had to support his family by writing short newspaper articles Arthur Koestler penned a dubious Dictionary of Sexuality for the popular press Samuel Beckett translated for the French Reader s Digest and William Faulkner churned out Hollywood scripts 1 A number of films have depicted hack writers perhaps because the way these authors are prostituting their creative talents makes them an interesting character study In the film adaptation of Carol Reed s The Third Man 1949 author Graham Greene added a hard drinking hack writer named Holly Martins In Jean Luc Godard s film Contempt 1963 a hack screenwriter is paid to doctor a script In the film Adaptation 2002 Nicolas Cage depicts an ill educated character named Donald Kaufman who finds he has a knack for churning out cliche filled film scripts 1 Use as a pejorative EditIn the US the term hack is used as a pejorative description among writers journalists bloggers and comedians It is especially used for journalists that are perceived to take partisan sides The term hack has been used by some UK journalists as a form of humorous self deprecating self description The term was popularized in the UK by Private Eye magazine which refers to male journalists as hacks and female journalists as hackettes See also EditAccreditation mill Author mill Churnalism Content farm Essay mill a ghostwriting service that provides university students with essays and term papers for a fee Ghostwriter a writer who is paid to write books or articles that are credited to another person Vanity publishingReferences Edit a b c d e Robert Fulford 19 August 2003 When hacks attract Serious artists are drawn to tales of mercenary scribes The National Post Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hack writer amp oldid 1108695377, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
