Freelance Writing Jobs for August 24, 2007
August 24, 2007 by Jodee
Filed under Writing Gigs
Leads…
- Contributing Writers for Green Site ($10)
- Science, Tech Writers Wanted for News Web Site
- Seeking Freelance Writers Now - Brooklyn
- NYC Blogger Wanted (up to $20 per post)
- SEO Article Writer
- Assistant Writer for White Paper
- Freelance Writer for Self-Help Articles
- Article Writers Wanted – Need 5+ Daily ($50 per 500-word article – I e-mailed the company this morning to confirm the rate of pay. They e-mailed back right away and this is the correct figure)
- Blogger for Online Mag
- Secret Shopper-Style Story Needed – Raleigh ($400)
- Restaurant Critic Needed - Toronto ($25 per review)
- Grant Writer Urgently Needed ($250 + 5-10% of grant total + possible bonus)
- Pop Culture/Creative/Humorous Writers ($20 per article)
- Write Reviews for Strip Clubs – Texas and Other Locations
- Fashion/Entertainment Magazine Looking for Writers
- Copywriter & Content Writer for Startup Financial Website
- Creative Writers for Events & Party Industry
- Writers/Photographers/Designers for Hollywood-Themed Website
- Freelance Bloggers Wanted for Paid Positions
- Miami New Times Looking for a Reliable Freelancer
- Witty Writers Wanted for New Miami Blog
- RX Magazine Hiring Writers ($10 per page)
- Copywriter with Character – Orange County
- Website Product Content Writer (Pay is on a per-word basis; 25,000 words/month needed)
- Freelance Medical Writer ($60-$75 per hour)
- Magazine Publisher Seeking Sewing/Quilting Expert
- Web Editor/Design Contractor
- Community Newspaper Reporter – San Diego ($30 per approved story)
- Freelance Technology Abstractor – San Francisco)
- Website Content & Blog Writing - Washington, D.C. ($20-$40 DOE)
Good Luck!
Jodee
Thank you Liza for being rational about this.
I will definitely be in touch.
and who verified the personal acquaintance??
Katharine, did u submit any articles?
Stephanie says:
“Katharine, you may think whatever you like. Frankly, your opinion of Quincy Carr means VERY VERY little to me.”
Right. That’s why you wrote me a three-page email ranting about our “blanketed statements, assumptions and generalizations.”
The personal acquaintance knew Quincy Carr’s birthdate, which was how the commenter above was able to pull his report. The report, which was pulled with said birthdate, verified his various addresses and phone numbers, not to mention where the company name came from.
The information is self-verifying, you might say.
No I didn’t…but I’ve said that at least a half-dozen times already in this thread.
Uhm, I know his birthday. How? Because he’s throwing a huge birthday party that most, if not all of Laray Carr editor’s,designers and consultants have been invited to. It was scheduled to be a big launch/birthday celebration.
Oh, so you didn’t submit any articles…
hmm…
You sure are dedicating a lot of time, effort and NEGATIVE energy to something you have absolutely nothing to do with.
I guess that makes sense. =/
Well, Stephanie, I guess that means the “personal acquaintance” could very well be a member of his own team. Wouldn’t that be good!
Stephanie,
As my post from 30 minutes ago should have made obvious, I don’t think this kind of thing is a waste of time:
Personally, I think it’s more about the morality of the issue. I have had to chase only three clients for payment before, and one of those times it was over $25. Still, if you don’t go after them you send the message that it’s okay to treat writers immorally. You’re setting the next writer up for getting shafted the same as — or worse than — you got.
I’m not going to stand by and watch a bunch of newbies get screwed, and shame on anyone who would.
It could also be someone he fired or someone who quit.
You have had one train of thought since the first day you posted, this is a scam, this is a scam, and everything you read you twist around in your head to fit your logic.
Stand by and watch a bunch of newbies get screwed is one extreme.
The position you’ve taken as mob leader is the total opposite extreme.
At some point, there needs to be some balance if you’re ever going to achieve anything more than being a pushover or a tyrant.
Oh you two play nice
If they launch 40 new magazines next month, I will gladly admit our wrongs. Until then….yeah. Anyway, Stephanie you are spending a lot of time defending him! I don’t know if he is an ex-NFL or Quincy Carr or what? I am beginning to want to throw this laptop out of the window. That letter ruined my day. I’m glad you have 100 grand, but I got stiffed out of 500 that I really needed so forgive me if I am a little bitter…
I’m not defending him or the company.
I am trying however, to put this to rest the best way possible. I’ve also, tried to be an open ear to all the folks who feel they have been wronged. I have also encouraged those folks to email me their contracts and any other emails that state anything different from their contract. If you have such things, Nicole, I encourage you to do the same. and furthermore, seek legal counsel if you believe you may have a case against them.
I’m trying to help, the only way I know how.
And Nicole, trust me, I understand your sentiment.
Me too Nicole. Freelancing is difficult in the first place to make money, but than to deal with this makes it worst.
Awwwwww…are we not invited to the whoop-dee-dooo birthday party?
That money for the party would take care of some of the money owed to the writers.
Bitter is the word.
Stephanie:
I’m not twisting this:
http://www.glowhost.com/hall-of-shame/
We haven’t twisted the fact that early on, writers who requested that company information be added to the contract were subsequently threatened with being dropped from the “list of writers.”
We’re not twisting the fact that LCP has used legal threats to scare writers away from exercising their right of free speech.
We haven’t twisted the fact that until we said something on this thread, Laray Carr was not even legally filed as a company in Texas.
You don’t have to twist these facts to get them to add up to “potential scam.”
and you too micah. If you have emails from anyone stating anything different than what is in the contract, forward them to me.
I think Liza is bitter as well, as she may have right to be. But your comments are just flat out immature.
Micah, do you have emails from Hope or anyone else saying you were going to get paid and that your articles were definitely be used?
GOOD NIGHT FWJ! Until TOMORROW!
From what I have read, no one was dropped for asking for the contact information to be added to the contract. What *I* have read, suggests that Hope actually understood their concern about the contact information not being on the contract and her not being certain if or how long it would take the company to make those revisions, so she decided to not waste her time dealing with that.
See, one track mind, one track. You see it one way, I see another.
And yet, *I* can still understand both parties sides.
One track mind Katharine.
It took my state almost three months after I submitted all of my documentation, incorporation papers and payment to have my company in their system. I know this because it bugged the hell out me because it held up my ability to bid on government jobs.
I have the same contract as everyone else. Pardon my immaturity with my juvenille jokes. As far as I’m concerned you are too little too late. My articles will go elsewhere where I know I can get paid. I’m not stupid enough to ask for more help from someone within the company. I don’t need it since I already lost the payment I was expecting. If I were to get duped again I would be too angry at myself. I have no concern over what you say Stephanie or what you are trying to do because honestly, it won’t change a thing.
You get paid. Good for you. I didn’t and neither did a bunch of others. However, I’m not jumping in for you to do anything for me because my trust with anyone to have to do with that company is gone.
I can see what you are trying to do and sure..good intentions…maybe.
The date given in the records is September 30th.
Another point I have made is that LCP didn’t have a website until we complained about the absense of a company presence. That, too, can be proven by date, as the WHOIS information reveals that the domain wasn’t even purchased until August 30th — AFTER we started questioning the legitimacy of the company.
As for the contract issue, this is what Kori Ellis said near the beginning of the thread:
“They sent me a contract with no company information – name, phone number, address, on it. I questioned it and asked for more info on the company. They refused to give it to me and told me they were ‘taking me off the list’ if I had to have that information in a contract.”
I don’t think I misinterpreted that at all. Moreover, I think your accusations of my having a one-track mind are either because 1) you are trying to distract everyone from the points I am making, or 2) you really are naive enough to think that 2 plus 2 doesn’t equal 4.
And besides, juvenille jokes are funny.
Micah, I’m sorry you feel the way you do. If all you have is the contract stating that payment would not be made unless the work was published, then you didn’t even get duped or scammed or lied to or anything. You signed the contract with those terms.
So unless you have something else from the company ensuring that you’ll get paid, I can’t even bring your issues to the attention of the company, as I will do with Liza.
I guess, that is what is so hard for myself and the company’s core staff to understand. If you signed a contract stating you wouldn’t be paid unless the work is published and they aren’t publishing it- how can you be upset about it?
Did someone else tell you that you would be paid despite what the contract says?
There obviously is more than one contract floating around, so when you say you’ve received the same one as everyone else, I’m not certain which version of it you signed.
Katharine, I am not concerning myself with what you think or have to say anymore. I am however, concerned about the writers who feel they have been unjustly done.
So please just shut up and let me try to understand why the writers feel the way they do and figure out if there is anything on my end, that I can do to be an advocate for them.
Thanks!
The contract with the statement that payment would be made on Sept. 20th and that “assigned” articles would be paid for. I was “assigned” articles.
Hope also stated in a couple e-mails to me that I would get paid at the launch on Sept. 20th.
Katharine has been a great help with finding out information on them. It’s not about picking sides, it’s about standing up for freelancers who get duped and not tolerating it.
Here’s another little observation for everyone.
1) When Stephanie first posted on this thread, she said LCP was NOT her client. That means they hired her AFTER she said that she would help any writers who were scammed by the company.
2) Stephanie was paid $100 grand as a consultant to LCP.
3) As part of her consultation, she recommended that LCP ditch all the writers and “start from scratch.”
In other words, AFTER she had already said she would provide company information to help anyone who didn’t get paid, Stephanie then recommended that the company NOT pay you. Moreover, she received $100 grand for ensuring that your worst fears of nonpayment came true.
And now she says she wants to help?
Of course, she’ll no doubt respond that I have a one-track mind or that I’m twisting the facts, so I’ll point that out myself and save her the trouble.
Your rudeness to Katharine is unacceptable. She is one of the main reasons this blog has such a good sense of community. Looking out for other writers is a GOOD thing.
If you don’t like what she has to say than go somewhere else.
Some advocate.
See above comment.
Micah, I know its hard for you to trust me. And like I said to Liza, I can’t promise anything more than what is legally binding. But if you can please, forward your contract and those emails to me, I can at least be an advocate. And I do believe that my word and advice to them holds some weight. or I would’ve never agreed to work with them.
She may very well be God to you, but right now, her comments are not helping ME help YOU or anyone else who feels unjustly done. Her comments are not even pertaining to the issue of writers not being paid. They are for her sole fulfillment of further perpetuating that her belief that the company is a scam is true. She has turned our discussion into her against me vs. dealing with the issue of what your contract says and what you were told, so that I can figure out all that is going on and take it to the attention of the company.
I would hope, that a person that had MY best interests at heart, could put aside THEIR INTEREST so that MINE could be heard and understood since the two interests accomplish nothing fighting at the same time to be heard.
I am working for the sole purpose of finding resolve here. Not being “right” or making someone else “wrong”. I’m not selfish or egotistical.
Where did I ever say I was paid 100 grand???
(”Some advocate” comment in response to Stephanie, not Micah.)
Micah –
Thank you. I appreciate you standing up for me very much!
You guys can’t see how she twist things to fit her theory?
I never said I was paid 100g.
In my previous statements, yes, before I was hired to consult LCP- I did say if any writer wasn’t paid I would assist in fighting their case with them.
But, that is under the condition that the terms of their contract was not met. You don’t have a case against a company who says they will only pay you when your work is published, if they don’t publish it. So yes, if that happened or hell, if it happenS anytime in the future, if any writers work IS published and they are not paid for it, I’ll take the stand myself.
But that has not happened.
Tonight, is the first I am ever hearing about “you will be paid for assigned articles, these are assigned articles”
and about hearing about this assigned article business, I have said over and over again, that I will look into it.
In your email.
And I’m not the only one who caught it, either, as Nicole stated in a post above:
“I’m glad you have 100 grand, but I got stiffed out of 500 that I really needed so forgive me if I am a little bitter…
As for your claim that you’re trying to help — you’re forgetting that you entered the thread tonight with a rant that, among other things, accused this community as a whole of “blanketed statements, assumptions and generalizations.” You started out fighting, and then suddenly you want to help and I’m the one fighting. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.
Just because Nicole said it doesn’t mean I said it. Because I didn’t.
and I didn’t start out fighting anything. I started out stating how I felt about all of the comments that have been made and I also divulged quite a lot of info that I’m not obligated to.
Once, people started posting (thank you Liza) and rationally explaining why they feel they have been duped, I was better able to understand that emotion. So I offered to help. When I could’ve just walked away from all of this and been in the bed cuddling with my sweetie since 10 o’clock. But I am concerned about people feeling upset, when they have a right to. And I will do whatever I can to assist them in either getting over it, getting justice and even at the bare minimum reaching a mutual understanding.
Shoot me for empathizing and volunteering to spend so much time here tonight trying to get to the bottom of people’s emotions and defending myself in a battle that’s not even mine to fight in.
I’ve come from a place of peace and resolve. Not anger, not bitterness, not resentment. Let me understand why people feel the way they do and figure out how I can assist them in resolving it all.
That’s all I’ve tried to do here.
Shoot you for empathizing? Oh, like when you recommended that LCP ditch all their writers when you knew full well that people were concerned about not getting paid? That kind of empathizing?
Quoting you from your email…
I could post “I was just paid over 100,000 dollars by Laray Carr. I can assure you they are not a scam.”
Now, once I typed out “cuddling with my sweetie” I really wished I had been all of this time.
I’m going to bed.
I won’t be back responding to any more posts.
If anyone has a contract or emails stating anything they are definitely getting paid regardless of their article being published or not- please email me that information.
If not, I’m sorry you feel misled and I wish you the best of luck.
If anyone feels they may have a case against the company, please seek legal advice.
Yeah I said “I could….” I didn’t say that I did. You stating that I said I DID receive 100,000 dollars, is called a LIE.
And yes, without having any knowledge that people were “promised” payment regardless of whether or not their articles were published- I full well told them to ditch all the articles, editorial visions, editorial calendars and design templates and start from scratch. Because that was in the best interest of my client. Without having any knowledge that people were “promised” payment regardless of whether or not their articles were published, I could not understand why anyone would be sitting around waiting for a check, when they did not know if the articles they submitted would be published or not.
Does that make sense??
And also, I advised them to ditch the editorial visions, editorial calendars and design templates as well- knowing that the contract for the editors and designers would still have to be paid, because their contracts did not say “if your work IS published”.
and also, the company had absolutely no problem paying the editors or designers for work that was INCOMPLETE and work they will never use.
because they were full aware that the contracts for them said they get paid to do the work, not if it is used, published or not.
I’ve heard various numbers of magazines throughout this whole ordeal. At one time Hope told me there were 17, the contract material showed 37 and now I am hearing 40. I received a rejection letter also. This came after I emailed that I was going to submit elsewhere. The rejection intimated that these articles were copied from other sources, which I know couldn’t possibly be, since it was an original interview with local that never has had anything written about them. So I figured that everyone got them. I just posted the article at A/C. The best I ever got there was 8$ but something is better than nothing.
A writer,
I agree. Something is better than nothing. Good for you.
I’ve been watching this thread with interest. I have no ties to LCP nor did I write anything for them. I’m drawn to this thread the way one is drawn to a television show. As soneone who has been visiting this blog since it was about a month old, I’d like to make a couple of observations.
It appears the majority of you were rejected. sucks but that’s the way it appears. I’m not trying to minimize what you’re going through. Some of it may have to do with what is going down here but we don’t know for sure, just as we don’t know this is really a scam. It’s suspicious but it’s not a scam. I feel for all of the good people who worked, but I do believe some people here have crossed the line.
Katherine, I’m sure you’re well intentioned but for someone who didn’t write for LCP, you’re certainly stirring up the pot. In fact, there was absolutely no reason for you to contact Stephanie tonight. Nor was there any reason for you to come running back here to report againsit her. You told Stephanie you don’t wish for newbies to get screwed but she’s right in that you’re taking it to the extreme.
In fact Katherine, of all the people posting here, you’re stirring up the most trouble and you didn’t even write for them. You’re like the junuior high school gossip who stirs up trouble on the playground by running to each different clique and telling them what everyone said to them.
In other words, MYOB Katherine. I don’t know if you realize that what you did to Stephanie is considered bordlerline harrassment and it’s the sort of thing that can get Deb’s blog shut down. This has nothing to do with you and you may have cost other writers their chance to get paid.
Stephanie was nothing but professional but your confrontational nature has put her on the defensive, and rightly so. Katherine, you probably can’t see the forest but the trees, but read back each comment. Notice how you’re incing the crowd?
I’m sure you’re trying to help everyone out and I can see it’s appreciated but in your glee over this possibly being a scam you’re losing site of several things:
- This may not be a scam. Indeed it’s odd, but it is so far not a scam.
- You are being oblivious to what all of these unfounded accusations can do to Deb’s blog and her reputation.
- You many very well be wrong.
- This is none of your business.
MYOB, Katherine.
I too have been watching this thread from the git go and think the previous poster Tenley is right on the money and I actually wondered the same thing about Ms.Swan I wasn’t completely sure whether this was a scam but Katharine sure was based on here say and negative info. The real problem here I think is that if work was as bad as LCP states, why not decline immediately instead to stringing everyone along? That’s the biggest rub. Since every article submitted was supposedly accepted of course these people would expect payment. LCP probably was scared of this thread whether any of it is true or not it’s all over the internet and rather that deal with a mob type situation, they chose to cut and run. Maybe this would have turned out differently if things here hadn’t gotten so out of control from very early on. I wondered why everyone was in such a huff when writers seemed to be aware of Sept 20th release and payment schedule. Also, it doesn’t seem unlikely that they would have to delay release either. As I stated in a much earlier post I think these people don’t have a clue what they’re doing rather than running a scam. But againg, this whole mess could have been avoided if LCP had not eluded that articles were accepted. It’s that simple.
Amen, Tenley.
If we do not band together and fight this company, this is only the tip of the iceberg. We have all been involved, some deeper than others and ALL kicked. I have concrete evidence. We should contact the police in Terrel and the DA in Dallas. This company will morph and do it again to many others, maybe even some of us if not stopped. They have collected a lot of good work….for nothing. Commitments HAVE been made by several members of the staff IN WRITING and after we fulfilled our end of the contract, they suddenly rejected all our work. I susoect we will see a plaigerized, slightly changed version of our writing in other places. I don’t think we should just walk away. If we all compile our evidence, maybe we all won’t get ripped off.If anyone wants to get involved in this, there are attorneys waiting for a shot at this company. This man will go to jail for a very long time. Post comments please.
“In fact, there was absolutely no reason for you to contact Stephanie tonight. Nor was there any reason for you to come running back here to report againsit her. You told Stephanie you don’t wish for newbies to get screwed but she’s right in that you’re taking it to the extreme.”
Unless I misunderstood, Stephanie asked to be contacted when writers actually didn’t get paid, so she essentially requested the contact.
Secondly, with fake mock-ups and not one single writer coming up to say he or she has been paid, I think it’s pretty obvious this is a scam.
The launch of that number of magazines at once with zero publicity makes it a scam. With circulation numbers already listed when they haven’t even been launched is more than suspicious as well, it’s flat out lying.
The only thing suspicious here are random people that never post on this blog jumping up to defend this company and attack someone who is trying to help, the rest is obvious scam in my opinion.
Tiffany said
“The only thing suspicious here are random people that never post on this blog jumping up to defend this company and attack someone who is trying to help, the rest is obvious scam in my opinion.”
For the record, Tenley is a good friend of mine. she’s not much of a joiner but she has posted at FWJ once or twice before.
Honestly guys, I’m getting ready to shut this thread down. Really, some people are carrying it too far. All of this suspicion and finger pointing is starting to wear thin.
I apologize Deb, but it just seems like no one should be defending this company at this point since not one writer has come forward to say he or she has been paid yet.
Sorry for jumping on your quote, Tenley. I just feel for all of the writers who may have been counting on the money from this gig who will never be paid.