Dear Deborah,I read about your blog at WAHM because you show people jobs. I want to work at home except I don’t have skills in anything. I think I can write because you can do that at home and you don’t need skills. Please tell me what do to start writing at home and earning money.Sincerely,Brandy G.
Dear Brandy,
Get yourself some skills.
Good luck,
Deb
Hi, Deborah.
Can you shed some light on this for me? I see so many ads posted by people who want already existing articles “re-written,” and I can’tthink of a legitimate reason why they would hire somebody to do this. Is it plagiarizing without really plagiarizing?
I see these ads on sites such as GetaFreelancer.com and Elance.com.
Please pardon my naivete; I am truly serious. Why do people want to pay others to rewrite existing articles?
Thank you,
Beth
Hi Beth!
One day this week, I think I’ll talk about bidding sites. I won’t get into it too much now except to say they have mostly low-paying gigs and a lot of this rewriting stuff. The reason they want people to rewrite articles is because they only have to pay the “writers” to change some words around rather than write and research a whole piece. They want the articles to pass the Copyscape test. Rather than outright steal someone else’s article, they change some words around and voila! Cheap content for a new website. It’s a slimy way to stock a website. There’s even article spinning software where one can enter one article and have several others “spun” from them. So in other words, we don’t learn anything new, we just see the same content rewritten many other ways.
Hope that helped explain it!
Deb
Hey Deb,
What precautions do you take before sending an employer your social security number? Do you always give it over phone and never email? Should I call people listed on the company website that I’d be writing for?
-Matt Gould
Hey Matt,
You’ll need to give clients your Social Security Number in order to get paid. There’s really no getting around it. I know it’s a dangerous world and identity theft is a problem, but you have to do it. With that said, I do believe there’s a time and place to give out your number and it’s not on the application or your cover letter. I wouldn’t give out your Social unless you know for sure you’re hired.
Best,
Deb
Hello Deborah,
I just discovered your Web site and wanted to subscribe to it, but do not use Outlook. Is it possible to sign up through this email? Also, can you recommend a favorite Web site or document that comprehensively addresses the art of blog writing?
Thank you,
Shirley
Hi Shirley,
We actually have a Google group! It’s nothing major, I just alert you every time you update. If this interests you, subscribe here.
Thanks for your interest.
Deb
From the Comments…
Listening to Deb harp on and on about this over and over reminds me of the record industry lecturing people about downloading in 2000.
Deb, I’ll tell you what I told that distinguished panel, it is never going to stop, and if you can’t deal with it, then get out of the business.
BTW You never respond to e-mail, but seem to still want our sympathy on this issue. Sorry, I don’t follow that logic. Why should we care?
- Camera Obscura
Welcome to FWJ, Camera Obscura. Thank you for your welcome and cheerful contributions. I get hundreds of emails each day and do try to respond. Sometimes people fall through the cracks and I do apologize. If your email takes the tone of your comments here, the reasons for my not responding are obvious. As for why you should care, you don’t have to. The beauty of having my own blog is that I can discuss the issues that affect me, and you. Care, don’t care, at FWJ we like to offer the freedom of choice.
Oh wow, the old “work hard” lecture, never heard that before. Zzzzzzzz……
- Camera Obscura
Apparently not since you’re posting from your office. I like to think it’s good advice, but if you can offer us suggestions for not working hard and earning money, do share.
Hugs and kisses.
Deb’s writing is not that great (ever read her about.com page? good cure for insomnia), I can’t imagine anyone actually lifting her work. They must be new to the web.
-Camera Obscura
Well aren’t you just the joiner! A few weeks ago we never heard of you and now you’re just a chatty little bird. You should have come a few weeks earlier, in time for our comments contest. In fact with all of your insightful contributions, you’re sure to stimulate plenty of thoughtful discussions. I can’t wait until you return to work Monday so you can continue to dazzle us with your brilliance and wit.
I’m so glad to know you’re reading my work and it serves a purpose.
Love,
Deb
See ya later Writer’s Row, Deb is too big for you…
Camera Obscura
Au Contraire. We do appreciate your concern, but I’m still part of Writer’s Row. It’s just difficult hosting this blog as a subdomain. I’m still a member and hope to contribute some wonderful things in the future.
Dear Deb,
You have lots of blogs. Which one is your favorite?
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
This one is my favorite. It’s a lot of work and I barely break even but it’s worth everything I put into it. Each of my blogs has a special place in my heart though. I love them all.
Dear Deb,
Why do you insist on pimping your blogs every chance you get? Who cares about how many blogs you have or how many of your sheep nominated you for b.s. awards?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
My blogs didn’t succeed through lack of promotion, I do try not to be spammy though. As for why you should care, as I told my new BFF Camera Obscura above, you don’t have to care. I promise not to let it upset me.
Do come by again!
Deb
October 7th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Yeah! It’s letter day. My favorite day of the week.
Brandy, no offense but I’m insulted that you think writing doesn’t need any skill. And Camera Obscura, I don’t understand what makes people want to come to blogs and leave mean comments. Why not just stay away or keep your thoughts to yourself? Why be mean?
October 7th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Those who can, do. Those who can’t, troll.
Thanks for the morning giggle, Deb.
October 7th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Re: the social security number, you can apply for an Employer ID Number (EIN) to give out instead of your SSN - http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html
It’s one of the (many) things on my own to-do list…
October 7th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Echoing the sentiments of comments in past weeks, this is my favorite section of the blog. I always enjoy reading angry, annoyed and poorly written e-mails. It really gives all of us an insight into the digital courage made possible by the Internet.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Deb,
Teresa is right. You can use an EIN instead. Or, you can go one further and get an FEIN that becomes a corporate tax number. All of my work includes FEIN, and I’ve NEVER provided an SSN — this is over 16 years of freelance work and more than $1 million in billings.
Also, though I can’t say for sure, the whole issue with identity theft (I write about data theft on a monthly basis for a natural publication), I would think that most firms using contractors would be a little more receptive to EINs for sole proprietors.
For those that are a little newer, the reason the SSN is requested is because the company must report fees paid to any contractors that exceed $600 a year. Most will report even if it’s below that threshhold. So they can do this, firms will have contractors fill out a 1099, which asks for a SSN OR an EIN. But, as Teresa points out, you need the EIN before you can fill out the form, you can’t do it after the fact.
On an unrelated issue, good responses to Camera. Next time she comments, you might want to respond “oh, you again (yawn).”
On second thought, you’re too classy to bring yourself down to the level Camera displays in his or her letters/posts.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I love coming to email day. It is a day of the week that I find a good laugh. Kind of like humor Sunday.
I enjoy reading your blogs and about.com page as well as Ally’s new about.com page. I do learn many things from the blogs and about.com’s and think that you do a great job of informing people on the issues.
Keep up the good work.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:17 am
All I can say is that I knew I made it to the big time when I started to get nasty e-mails.
Well, intermediate time. Perhaps big-side-of-small time. Whatever.
My point is that for every person that hates you, you have 2-3 people that like you, maybe more. It looks like you have a lot of people that hate you. Mazeltov!
October 7th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
From Brandy’s email:
I think I can write because you can do that at home and you don’t need skills. Please tell me what do to start writing at home and earning money.
Brandy sounds like a perfect candidate for one of those “Make $1,000s working from home… Enter credit card number here” sites.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
What’s up with that Camera Obscura person?
Deb, I’ll tell you what I told that distinguished panel, it is never going to stop, and if you can’t deal with it, then get out of the business.
Take some of your own advice, dude. If you don’t like what Deb has to say, don’t visit her blog.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I think I can write because you can do that at home and you don’t need skills.Poor Brandy, I hope she doesn’t find herself milling out hundreds of articles each week at $.50/each.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I agree with Erik Hare - you know you have made it when you start to get the hate mail and the disagreeable people. Actually, I find that if I am not ticking someone off then I really am not saying anything worthwhile. Why say anything at all if it doesn’t stir the emotions to some degree?
Keep up the good work and the great site.
October 7th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Deb,
Thanks to you and your new BFF for the Sunday laughs.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Now, didn’t I discuss something the other day about people who say “I can write too” as if it’s such an easy thing to do, without having to put any skill, thought or effort into it?
Usually that type of comment comes from people who have no idea how it’s done at all!
October 7th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Deb,
Thank you for making me grin from ear to ear today! I needed that!!!
Thanks for all you do!!!
October 7th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I am assuming that Brandy is a troll…?
I mean, how bl**dy insulting can you get?
Brandy, if you are reading this, try taking some English and Composition courses at your local community college, for a small start.
Beth
October 7th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Fun fun fun on e-mail day.
signed, just another non-skilled writer at home.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Great responses. I´d like to add though, that not all re-written articles are stolen. A lot of them are actually private label rights articles which are sold to hundreds of people and HAVE to be rewritten in order to turn them into unique content in Google´s eyes. Not the most glamorous way to get content, but I don´t complain because I run a PLR article pack site and earn part of my living off it.
October 7th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Genesis –
You’re right that not all rewritten content is stolen. But does that make it appropriate or moral to flood the Internet with different versions of the exact same article?
Plagiarism is defined as copying/using someone else’s work or idea without attributing it to them. You can have permission to do so and still be plagiarizing. Copyright infringement, on the other hand, occurs when the person doing the copying does NOT have permission.
I’m not passing judgment on PLR article packs, so please don’t take offense. I understand how they work and I don’t think they are necessarily immoral, particularly as — from what I understand — each set is only sold so many times before it is retired. However, I wanted to make the point in general that just because it is LEGAL to copy something doesn’t mean it is RIGHT to do so.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:21 am
I just came in to say what Genesis did- most of the time that I see those rewriting assignments I think that’s what they are doing.
And, I love the email days! I used to love getting hate mail when I was in print, and I hope to one day start getting it again.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Thanks for the replies concerning the SSN.
October 8th, 2007 at 2:11 am
You have such a great sense of humor, Deb! If they ever get you down, just know there are hundreds of us out here who appreciate you more than we can express in WORDS! (little joke…it’s early here…!)
October 8th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Get yourself some skills.
Deb, that was priceless!
That’s right up my list along with your “I’m sorry, I was busy doing a vanity search…” reply.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Letter day is a great start to my day!
I just don’t understand some people though. If I don’t like a website or I find it insulting, I just click the “close” button and never return. Oh well, I guess if you have nothing better to do but read and comment on a site you hate and find useless, at least you’re giving the rest of us a good laugh.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Oh Deb! I just recently started reading your posts instead of just looking at the job listings. I can’t believe how entertained I am each day. Thank you.
I just wanted to say how sorry I am that people feel they can be so nasty to you just because they are hidden behind the Internet mask. That being said….the nasty commentors sure bring out your humorous side. I was seriously laughing out loud reading your comments to Mr. Camera.
October 9th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Wow, the BFF forever comment almost got my screen covered with coffee this morning. Thank you for brightening our day by taking negative and insulting comments and creating humor from them.