Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Friday, May 23, 2008

By: Jodee

Jodee — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:37:41 +0000

@ Chris C: Two words: We are!

(Yeah, I know I’m supposed to be taking the day off, but I couldn’t resist popping in for a minute….)

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:31:38 +0000

Chris – Feel free to send your ad here and I’ll post it. The best freelancers in the business visit this blog and people who have placed ads in the past are pleased with the response.

By: Chris C

Chris C — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:59:43 +0000

I need to hire some writers/editors for my brand-spanking new blog. I’m looking for top talent. What’s the best source for hiring? Thanks!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:07:55 +0000

@Deb – I agree with you 100%.

By: Jedediah

Jedediah — Sat, 24 May 2008 17:34:37 +0000

I got my first gig from here today, just wanted to say thanks!!

By: Jack B

Jack B — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:23:27 +0000

Thankyou Jodee!

P.S. I’ve always been the perfect child. That’s why my parents are so eager to kick me out to see the world… right?

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:35:12 +0000

@Elizabeth – We talked about why people flag jobs before and there are people who admitted to flagging jobs they don’t approve of – they feel the pay is too low. Though I used to be quite vocal regarding really low payers, now I’m more of the belief that if you don’t like something you should just move along. I’m not the Craigslist judge and jury.

Also if anyone here has posted a job on Craigslist and wishes to repost it here, just let me or Jodee know and we’ll be happy to put it up for you.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:48:37 +0000

@ Maryam: There may be 190 applicants, but if you don’t apply you have no chance of getting the gig. Just focus on presenting yourself in the best possible way and don’t let the fact that other people may have applied bother you. Someone is going to get the job and it could be you! (Sending some positive thoughts your way….)

@ Jenny B: You are most welcome. It’s very kind of you to take the time to thank me. It really does mean a lot.

By: Jenny B

Jenny B — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:10:44 +0000

Hi Jodee
Today’s list looks good for me too. Thanks so much for all that you do. I really appreciate your work.

By: Maryam

Maryam — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:14:22 +0000

i am glad people find so many good gigs, that’s awesome!
I just found out that oen blog i applied for had 190 applicants! Eghads, the odds are they won’t pick me that’s pretty intimidating!

I would love to write children’s books, that one about multicultural stuff seems right up my alley we shall see…

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:46:57 +0000

Ann G. just hit on something that I was going to come to this board and mention.

I have seen many people on this blog asking about jobs that Jodee listed that have already been flagged. Some people have said they think they are getting flagged by writers that are trying to narrow down the competition. I think they are mostly being flagged by writers that are unhappy with the pay.

I recently tried to post an ad on Craigslist because I needed some writers to help me out with some of my projects. My pay rate is not outstanding, but it is a rate that many writers are happy to work with. I tried posting a very detailed ad that included my pay rates. That way, writers could determine if working with me fits within their “big picture.” Yet, each time, it was flagged. I wasn’t able to successfully post my project until I left out my pay. Now, I see it has actually been included in Jodee’s list here.

Anyway, it made me think about those that have complained about job posters that do not give detailed job descriptions on Craigslist. After my experience, I understand why. My detailed postings were flagged, while my generic one was left alone.

I don’t feel that writers are helping the community by flagging projects they consider to be low paying. Each writer should be able to make that decision on his or her own. Now, I have had to waste my time and the time of dozens of writers (I have recieved over 70 applications so far) because I couldn’t successfully post an ad with my rates listed. I am sure some will be thrilled with the rates, while others will be quite unhappy. If my ad had been left alone, no one’s time would have been wasted.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:06:01 +0000

@Adam. No. Many writers work with an illustrator that either they find or their publisher recommends. Realistically of all the kid’s books I review, very few of them have illustrations done by the author.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:59:00 +0000

I always thought to be a children’s writer you had to also be an illustrator. I guess I havn’t read children’s books for a few decades so perhaps I’m out of touch with how things are done these days.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:51:20 +0000

@ Ann G: I’ve also got an almost-13-year old, and she is already taller than I am! It’s shall we say, interesting, over here these days….

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:47:51 +0000

@Jodee- wait until your 6 year old is 11! My 11 year old and her Aeropostale-only attitude is driving me nuts.

Oddly enough, my son went through puberty without any issues. No talking back ever. My daughter’s a whole other ballgame and one I don’t think I’m winning!

By: BooBoo

BooBoo — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:47:20 +0000

Wow, Ann. Nice job.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:27:54 +0000

@ Ann G: That writer’s comment was a bit over the top…am I the only one getting tired of the whole Drama Queen thing? I get enough of that stuff from my soon-to-be six year old.

@ Ann G. and Melissa: Congats on the new gigs!

@ Colleen and Kenna: You are most welcome!

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:16:36 +0000

Thanks all. In all honesty, I took a fiction writing course years ago, and if you don’t have thick skin, fiction writing is not a great career choice.

And thanks to Jodee. I just heard back from one of today’s postings and not only landed the job, but they decided after some rather rude emails from other freelancers to raise rates.

Apparently a number of people emailed them telling them they were flagging their post because they didn’t feel the pay was good enough. In the end, they upped their rates to $60 for each 500 word article and it deals with travel destinations, so it’s an easy job for me.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:52:56 +0000

Thanks so much, Jodee!

@Ann G. — Ouch on that writer and your review. I’ve faced some *very* disgruntled students unhappy with grades, so I know how unpleasant that is.

Lisa

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:51:41 +0000

Completly off topic, but too funny not to share. On a different site I saw an ad for a 3-5 page paper on academic honesty. Kinda made me giggle.

BTW LOVE your site. My first day as an official freelance writer (about three weeks ago) I got a gig that pays almost as much as my retail job did! And I have since gotten two more easier, lower paying jobs that I still love and am grateful for. Thank you so much! You are officially a working part of my dream. :0)

By: Mariella

Mariella — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:42:23 +0000

@Melissa> Congratulations! I hope you’re having fun problogging as the profession has really been good to me.

@Ann> That’s tough. Good for you for sticking to your review! (I do hope the writer gets over it soon and learns from your review instead!)

By: Kenna

Kenna — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:39:55 +0000

Excellent choices before a 3 day weekend. Thank you.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:04:19 +0000

Just had to say…while I only freelance on the side, I’ve gotten two gigs that have been perfect for me from this site!

I’ve been blogging for one since November, and not only enjoy the subject matter, but find that the women who run the company totally rock! I’ve been posting weekly on another blog and she just asked me to write content for her website!

Pardon the overuse of !!!!

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:30:59 +0000

@Ann G. – That’s crazy (that a writer would email you like that, not that the book was awful).

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:22:24 +0000

Hi Ann,

I have five year old twins and have read mountains of books to them.

I daydream about writing children’s books, but have it in the back of my head that it’s super competitive, really difficult to get a toe in etc. etc.

Is this true? Is there an obvious place to start if I wanted to go forward?

Thanks. And your review made him feel suicidal? As writers, we’re all sensitive types, but by telling you that he is laying his issues at your feet. That’s not playing fair at all and I’d argue it’s passive aggressive. I’m sorry you had to read that.

I have a good friend who writes prominently for a newspaper and you should see the emails he’s gets for really benign articles. They’re brutal!

Wendy