Yes, unfortunately. Depending on the editor you get stuck with, "acceptable" work can range from a soulless, boring drag that leaves readers with what amounts to an initial promise to solve one problem only to attempt to sell a solution for something only tangentially related, to fun stuff that you'd be surprised qualifies as such a dirty word as "copywriting" (thank you, cat blogs).
The job is only as hard as the client makes it to be honest. Sometimes a client that doesn't understand SEO (search engine optimization) will want you to stuff an article with enough keywords and links to guarantee that it gets buried by Google, then turn around and curse you out after what you warned them would happen happens (but you already have their money at that point and you are NOT obligated to give it back). Other clients, the best kind, set you up with one or two broad objectives "make X product look good," "explain X concept," "make a top 10 list about X," and just leave you to your own devices.
If you're going the freelance route, charge at least 30% of the project cost up front if possible, (sometimes private individuals and magazines take up to a month to pay) then deliver on time every time. If life happens and you need to delay, tell your client, they're usually understanding. More importantly,
know how to choose your clients.
Unless you currently have no other options, don't work for anything below a livable rate. Refuse to work with clients that have a history of stringing you/others along or ask for multiple free samples (I don't even like giving free samples at all, a lot of bad actors harvest article briefs from more expensive writers then give them to chumps they already have in their pockets to produce at a penny per word). No is the most powerful weapon in your arsenal, be prepared to wield it. The more chaff you cut through, the less time you waste, the more money you make.