These are the jobs I won’t post
September 10, 2007 by Deb Ng
Filed under Writing Gigs
Almost every day I receive an email or two asking me to run an ad for a gig. I turn away about 95% of the people who make this request. Why? Because I feel their ads are trying to get over or they’re insulting to the writer. Here are why these ads don’t make the cut:
They want free samples – As far as I’m concerned, attached clips show off a writer’s style. If a potential client can’t recognize your talent from your provided samples, he’s welcome to ask you to audition, but he’ll have to pay.
They want you to pay an enrollment fee – One person wanted to me to post an ad for his content writing site. You have to pay for a membership though. He feels that weeds out the riff raff and allows him to only deal with the serious writers. WRONG. By charging a fee, you only deal with the desperate. The rest of us know only scammers want you to pay for jobs.
They pay less than $10 – Wait. Don’t yell at me. I know $10 isn’t a lot of money either but I do have to draw the line somewhere. Many of my readers live in parts of the country where $10 an hour is quite the decent wage. Since I started this blog to show writers there were good jobs to be had, I felt $10 to be a fair cutoff.
They’re too vague with the details - I once turned down someone who wanted to post an ad that supposedly paid pretty decent money. He refused to give me any details other than it was a well-paying gig. He basically told me his contact info, company name and even the type of writing required was none of my business. I don’t think so. If you want to post a job on my blog, you best be open with the deets.
They’re not quite ethical – I turned down term paper mills, homework services and other such sites. I’m not going to publish any job that goes against my beliefs.
There are plenty of places online listing all the jobs regardless of pay. They also don’t care who posted them or whether or not they’re legit. I do. I ‘m interested in seeing everyone succeed. Hopefully some of the jobs listed here help you to achieve your dreams.
P.S. – Someone added an interesting link in the comments for the Laray Carr posts. You might want to check it out.
Sponsor this Blog:
Your ad here: freelancewritingjobs@gmail.com for details
I, for one, appreciate the screening service provided by this website. It’s not as though a dash of common sense can’t help us to avoid time-wasters on our own, but it is nice knowing that the writers are looking out for each other. I have been in cut-throat businesses where the only way to survive is to lure your competition into wasting their energy on lost causes. That kind of soul drain just doesn’t fit in my life anymore.
Kudos for all of your hard work!
This is exactly why I keep coming back to your blog/site. Thank you for your honesty and integrity.
Deb, you made that shoe blogger guy agree to pay for sample posts, didn’t you? ; )
I agree with you that $10 is a fair cutoff. That weeds out all the ridiculous $1 and $2 per article jobs, without overly limiting the number of jobs you can list. Some ten dollar jobs can be quite fair — it all depends on how much work the project requires.
hey Deb, big thanks on my two new jobs: parentingdiva.com and the about.com freelance writing job. Your blog is a godsend. I just don’t know many good things to say about it!
@Peggy – Yes I did. I told him I wouldn’t post his ads unless he paid for samples.
I have said it before and I will definitely say it again…I get up in the morning looking forward to the job posting from this site. It is a major big deal that I look forward to it.
I also look forward to what topic Deb posts for the day and refresh often (smiles sheepishly)during the day.
Weeding out the icky-caca gigs is much appreciated!
@Allycat – You’re very welcome. And congrats on the About.com gig – Ladies and Gentlemen, our own Allycat is now About.com’s Guide to Freelance Writing. Woo hoo.
LOLs at Peggy’s comment. Hahahaha~
@Katharine>> I agree. For some topics which require little research to none, $10 is fair, especially if you don’t like in a high-cost location.
And thank you, Deb. I always try to discourage students into having their homeworks written by others.
WTG Allycat! What great news!
Congratulations allycat!!!
A big celebration is in order, I think. Open up the champagne bottles! 
Congratulations Allycat!
Thank you, Deb. Your hard work on this blog is very appreciated for the listings and the advice. I just got a nice paid blogging from one of your listing! Thanks again.
That’s why I love ya, Deb. And all the rest of ya. This isn’t “Oliver Twist” or something.
I do think that while it may be a lot to ask Deb to use minimum $/word, it would be nice to have some agreement among us. There are also minimum wage laws to consider here.
I really think that around $10 an hour has to be a minimum, and to me that is about 8 cents a word (edited) or so.
I think that about 5x that is more like it, and if I tried to get the gigs with the local alumni mags and the like you can get a buck an hour, so I’m not way out of line. But for starters, it should at least pay as much as a cheap bartending gig.
Hey! I sincerely appreciate all the hard work you are doing for your fellow writer’s and fervently hope you will continue!
Thank you,
Alicia
Hey AllyCat!
CONGRATS MISS LADY!! How long did it take you to hear back? What is the application process? I have been wanting to be an About.com guide…forever!!
I am jealous…HAPPY…jealous…HAPPY!
Just kidding…Congrats girl!!
Starting out or if you can do a few an hour, $10 isn’t bad. I’m involved in writing that typically takes interviews which take time to conduct, so writing more than 250 words an hour isn’t very realistic (includes time for interview).
But remember $10 an hour at a job — even a job without benefits — is more like $10.63 because the employer is picking up half the Social Security and Medicare. Not a huge difference, but over several hours, the difference can be considerable.
When pricing yourself, remember to budget for taxes, benefits, sick time (you tend to have expenses when sick — even if it’s just utilities), overhead like equipment, utilities, etc.
As the main income for the family, $10 an hour certainly doesn’t cut it for me, though I think it’s a legitimate cutoff point.
I am curious as to whether anybody has received the confirmation email when applying for the About.com job??
Erik,
I basically agree regarding the word rate, but some writing, like press releases, pitches, and marketing don’t fit well into that model.
I prefer a word rate because I find that usually the $1 a word gigs take about twice as long as the 50-cent ones (more sources required, sources harder to reach). But I have found that the PR work doesn’t fall well into that because it needs to be more creative and tends to have one or more reviews necessary.
Additionally, those who haven’t come from journalism — and I’m doing an increasing amount of PR support work — don’t relate to that. So, since this board is read by people like you and me and others with a heavy journalism background, other visitors come from an environment where the hourly or project rate make more sense.
Heck, I tend to think in terms of project rates anyway because my per-word clients will pay xx per article and I’ll typically write a little more to give them a little room to cut.
Ten an hour is at least something. I’m hoping I’m not the only one but I find I’m not a pump ‘em out kind of writer. Maybe two an hour but I reflect and research while writing.
Nicole, the time I applied I did get a confirmatin e-mail and it took quite awhile…maybe couple of weeks before I recieved my rejection letter.
Micah,
$10 an hour is something, but one can sling burgers or push coffee and make that (once you include benefits).
So while it is fine for starting out, look to get higher paying clients to replace lower paying ones.
While I’m sure you’re writing because you enjoy it, I think you’ll find you will enjoy it more if you can do it and make money.
My first year, I just paid the bills. The following year, I had more business — nothing really better paying — and made more. It was a lot more rewarding and seemed less stressful because I was able to some of the additional revenue to take my family to Disney World.
Phil,
I certainly agree with that. Writing is much easier on the joints! Since I’m a beginner I was thinking more so of adding to my portfolio with a small payment and thought of when Deb was starting out when she took 20.00.
I find I won’t bid on gigs that are 10 articles for 20.00 or 25.00 because it’s draining and not worth the time.
I’d rather hold out on something better and write about topics I enjoy than do that.
Thanks Deb.
Is there a way to contact you (email?) other than comments?
I wanted to ask you about a response from one of these ads.
Hi Deb,
I’m pretty new around here but I wanted to thank you for all the care and hard work you put into your website! I’m just starting out in freelancing and really appreciate your insight. Thanks again!
Deb:
Last month, I was on this freelance Website that talked about loads of new jobs daily to apply for–writing, data entry, proofreading, etc. Think of this Website times five and you get the idea. Well, when I signed up, the option for yes was this box with the caption, “H*ll, yes, sign me up!”
Unprofessional, I thought, but worth the risk.
I was a member for a month, and after investing almost $25, they only had 1-2 new jobs offered every three days. Nobody ever contacted me. I went into the archives and couldn’t find any new jobs except for maybe 10. I felt it was a total rip-off and cancelled.
A friend of mine from college is a freelancer. Among his many clients are People magazine. He has also interviewed countless celebrities. He recommended one Website to me, and I’ll probably sign up for it once enough money comes in.
How ironic is it–I paid for a site and got nothing, and I check out the jobs here for free and have had lots of contacts and am currently working with several clients.
Richard –
That site wasn’t by chance Freelance Work Exchange or GoFreelance.com, was it?
Richard -
Yes, yes, do tell us seething masses the website URL so that we may invade, drive prices down, and generally cause the freelancing apocalypse. *Rubs hands together in an evil gesture.*
But in all seriousness, what’s the URL?
On topic, I agree with Deb’s parameters for what ads she posts. There are MORE than enough “Less than $10″ jobs to be found around the net and on craigslist. What I like about this site is that it sifts through everything and actually provides links to what appear to be legit jobs.
One gig I got from this site is writing Xbox360 game descriptions for .7 cents a word. The descriptions run about 80-140 words on average and I’m writing about 32 descriptions. So, while the per word isn’t that much, its really easy writing for me and I can turn them out real quick. That, and since it is a new website I’ve been asked to contribute reviews, previews and various other items at higher pay in the near future. So in that case, the lower pay is worth it.
Chris, I got a feeling Richard is talking about Gofreelance.
Have I ever told you people that this is where I got my 25cents+ per word gigs? It might not be much for the more seasoned pros here, but remember, I’m a newbie (4 months into freelancing) so that, for me at least, is already an accomplishment.
Actually, I was going to comment that I have heard similar complaints about GoFreelance.com and Freelance Work Exchange (same company). It’s an ongoing problem that seems to be half-scam, half-ripoff: There aren’t many jobs listed, and/or the ones that are listed can be found elsewhere for free; AND when most people try to cancel their memberships, they have problems doing so successfully.
I have written at least half a dozen posts on GoFreelance.com and Freelance Work Exchange on my own site, but here is the most recent one.
Well, I guess I should say “when some people try to cancel their memberships,” rather than “most.” However, I have heard A LOT of complaints.
Mariella -
Thanks! I’ll gather my online minions and plan the takeover.
That’s great about the 25 cents a word gigs after only 4 months! I’m in a similar position with a few other people I’m in contact with. I potentially have a 6 week contract for very good pay that could turn into a long term freelancing relationship. I’m seriously happy about it.
*Bows to Deb* Deb, you’re going to have a cult following if you keep this up. Just remember that no matter how great your blog gets, you won’t get me to drink the punch.
-Chris
Count me in with the grateful cult! I found my first blogging job via this website. I have my own blogs, but I never thought blogging jobs until Deb’s site. Thanks!
can you please help me in finding a job related to advertisement or in some website administration/customer support?i want to work from home.
regards.
Chris>> Think you could spare me some when you raid their vaults?
Thanks so much! And congrats to you on the 6-week contract.
That’s great! Now that’s what you call long-term. Some clients think 1 month work is long-term. I’m still looking for a client willing to sign me up for a lengthy period of time too. I currently do have clients I’ve been working for, for a few months now. But there’re no contracts involved so I might get booted anytime. The risk of working without job security is bad for my heart, but I’m not complaining, really. As long as I have gigs, I’m happy.
Thanks Deb
Everyone on here really appreciates your insight. You really put the writers first by not accepting any old offer that comes your way. It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality that counts!
When I’m looking for jobs to post here, I don’t include the ones that only pay a share of advertising revenue. I had one gig (which I have since left – Deb used to work for them a long time ago) and it really wasn’t worth it.
Jodee, thanks for your good work too
Shell – Thank you very much!
Congrats to AlleyCat on the new gigs!
Thanks for all your tips Deb. I’m just starting out in the freelancing business so I really appreciate it.
I was looking through the comments and couldn’t find a link on the Laray Carr posts. Could you or someone direct me to it?
http://www.writersrow.com/deborahng/how-can-you-tell-if-your-content-has-been-ripped-off/
I’m sorry! I put Aug. 24th when it’s actually the 22nd.
Sorry about that but that is the link.
I appreciate the work Jodee and Deb do here. I’m at a point in my career where $10 per article isn’t going to wash, but I have found some decent paying work on the site. Personally, I’d like to see those jobs under $50 eliminated from the site, simply because I feel it allows new writers to under estimate their work and be taken advantage of. But it isn’t my call and I do understand Deb’s reasoning. For some, that $10 article is bread on the table. But I always encourage everyone to strive higher.
Speaking of rates, I’ve come across a very funny job post in GetAFreelancer earlier (yes, I am a member of that bidding site, but I don’t bid). The client did his thing, open the post with a bang:
Announcing a launch of next successful, high-paying, dotcom!
Who Else Wants to become a part of team of next internet multi-millionaires?
…typed in his sales pitch and talked about how he’s a big internet web master and that he’s created three web sites earning more than 10 grand a month each. He was advertising for copywriters and web programmers who are “hard working individuals who are willing to work for their success, who wants to earn every cent of their big paycheck”.
The best part of all, however, is THIS:
“I need guys who can work at least 8 hours a day without a payment for about 6 months until this project become successful. I am NOT looking for Average Joe to start working at this in his free time. Serious money is in game, I need serious people for it.”
Excuse me…if you own three web sites earning 10 grand each month, I think you could afford to pay a couple of people in their internship, if you should want to call it as such.
Mariella –
That is mind-boggling. Thanks for posting that.
What amazes me is that he expects writers to put in 6 months of full-time work without pay, while he (supposedly) rakes in $30 grand a month. Ha, ha.
Mariella – I wonder what he expects the writers to live on? Does he really think people can work for 6 months without paying any bills… reality check, it just isn’t going to happen!
I know! And the worst part of all that is, people are actually bidding!!! All at the promise of USD$10,000 monthly income after the web site becomes successful. And if it doesn’t? Well, you just spent 6 months working full-time for NOTHING. Sheez.
They must be really desperate, may be some still live at home or have someone to help with the bills but for the majority of us, we just couldn’t do it!
People are actually bidding? Well, they must have some type of resources I don’t, because I simply would not be able to exist for six months without pay!
Did he even say in the post which websites are making him $10 grand a day? That way you could verify his claims. I bet it’s not true, though.
I’m not cynical about scammers, am I?
Katharine> hahaha~ no, I think we should all be wary of scammed all the time, what with the nature of our business and all.
Oh wait, let me get my facts straight. He doesn’t make 30 grand a month. According to him:
“Well, I am CEO of 7 successful dotcoms and last 3 have made their goal of over 10 000$ per month for each team member.”
Take note, that’s 10 grand PER each team member. Whoa…he must be super rich. Wonder why he can’t spare even a dime for six months.
And in response to your question, no Katharine, no links to web sites have been posted at all. :/
Well, I’m not digging to deep into this, I’m not planning to work full-time without pay for the next six months. I just had to share my disbelief over that ad.
Shell>> I think more it takes more than just being desperate — they must be uber-desperate!
Let me tell you this – your site is the only site I find legit and always come back to. I know before I apply for a position that it is 99% safe and reliable.
This is the best site for freelance writers and you can take that to the bank! Thanks!
Mariella:
Can you just imagine these kinds of ads posted during the 18th Century?
“WANTED – go-to people not afraid of a little bit of work for the exciting field of SUGAR CANE CUTTERS.
We’ll pay your passage to the exciting West Indies where you can start your exciting new career right away. We need people that are willing to work for no wages of any kind ever because they know it’s the opportunity of a lifetime (and those of your descendents).
If you’re motivated and work hard, you may even qualify for our special incentive program where we keep the manicles not quite so tight!
Serious inquiries only.
Allright, now a serious post.
This is how I bill as a grantwriter / consultant / strategic planner. It’s how I make most of my living.
My headline rate is $80 an hour. I estimate the number of hours and come up with a total bill.
I ask for 25% down, 25% is based on completing milestones in the workplan, and 50% is based on achieving several goals for actually raising money.
That means I’m taking a lot of risk, but I only think it’s fair. A lot of the reason I ask for a retainer, BTW, is to make sure the check clears.
This way I price by project, even though it’s really based on an hourly rate. And it’s all tied to the client getting something.
If we’re not raising money and just doing strategic planning or something I still ask for 25% down and do all of the rest based on milestones.