Website Articles Needed
May 27, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Writing Gigs
Thrifty Mamas’ looking for a writer who is passionate about saving money!
Basically I need one 500+ word article a week on a thrifty topic (Fun and cheap activities, teaching children about money, where to find free things on the internet…etc.) I am paying $40/month via Paypal.
Traffic bonuses are definitely an option.
I need you to choose the article topic and develop it on your own each week. As long as it has to do with families, and saving money, I will be happy. All articles will need to be approved and edited prior to going live.
New writers are welcome to apply as long as they have a love for the topic, and a good command of the English language. Please send me your resume, and links to any similar content that you have published previously.
Applications can go to: Connie@ThriftyMamas.com
Wow, I should apply for this one! If I am anything, I am a thrifty mama.
Once again, I’d like to ask everyone to be respectful of the people who post jobs here – even if you don’t like them.
The reason we don’t have more jobs exclusive to us is that the clients don’t like to be ganged up on.
By all means, continue to discuss jobs that appear to be scams and schemes, but when a legitimate client comes to us with an ad, please be respectful.
The rule to post jobs paying $10 and above is mine – so if you have issues with the pay address me – deborahng@gmail.com – instead of insulting the client.
Thanks so much and sorry for the deleted comments.
I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?
Not at all Kathleen, you’re fine. I deleted several comments regarding the pay.
For what it’s worth, I don’t mind a discussion of pay here as long as it’s respectful. I know many of the regulars feel $10 is too low and I understand. I also understand how $10 an hour is a decent wage in some parts. So by all means, discuss wages without offering a direct hit on the client.
So Deb,
Do you spend more time explaining respect, manners, and common courtesy to your kindergartener or the yahoos on this board who can’t follow your simple request to not be rude
I’ve got an idea for the complainers. When you see a post here that you think is not worthy of you, instead of whining about it, go find a job that you think is worthy of you and post it here. Help out your fellow writers instead of making things more difficult for Deb who spends a great deal of time helping us out.
I usually try to stay out of these discussions because I know Deb is scrappy and she can take care of things herself, but today I feel like getting into it.
Thanks Robin. I don’t know if I’d call anyone here a yahoo, they’re just passionate and want fair wages. I do understand but I also think people forget sometimes the repercussions of what is said here.
In addition to scaring away people who might want to post jobs here, I already know of one person whose name has been sent around in a private forum because she likes to complain and scold a lot. I don’t want to see anything like that happen to anyone here.
If I were to complain about employers or wages on a regular basis, would my name stand out in a group of applicants later as someone who might complain a lot? I just want people to think about what they put out there and how it affects the clients, the other writers and this blog. Which has been labeled in the past as having a “hostile” community, a label which is finally starting to wear away.
We have a store around here called Cheese Traders. They go around and buy up beer, wines, cheeses and groceries at ridiculous prices – usually from stores going out of business. In turn, they sell these items at ludicrous prices. I went in one year and bought a full case (12 750ml bottles)of Penguin’s White Shiraz for $15. I’ve enjoyed a number of wines I wouldn’t have ever purchased because of the normal retail price.
Last weekend, I went in with out-of-state relatives and bought Barbieri Wine’s Mediterranean White for $3 a bottle and Foster’s lager for $5 a six-pack. The area grocers and beverage stores hate them because they are consistently the best wine retailer around.
Can you image how the general public would react if these grocers or beverage marts complained about the much lower prices and tried to shut down Cheese Traders? Competition is the nature of any business.
I don’t see why people can’t understand that writing is a business and that companies will keep paying what they can afford to pay or think is fair and writers will keep accepting services at wages they are comfortable earning.
As I said last week, the company that hired me after getting numerous emails from writers complaining about their low rates. The company honestly had no idea what a fair wage was and looked at job ads they’d seen posted at Craigslist and went with it. I don’t see what the negative emails were all about – $40 per article of under 500 words was perfectly reasonable when you actually learned about the work required.
Meanwhile, the company also kept a list of emails, IP addresses and names to make sure they didn’t ever deal with these people if at all possible. So while some might think they’re being clever, it’s damaging their reputation in the long run.
Ann,
For the record, I’d be absolutely delighted to get $40 for 500 words. When people talk about standard rates for web content being 25 cents a word or more, I can’t help but feel like a loser
But I do make a good hourly rate, usually $20 and up, and I’m happy with that. I’ve only been doing it for a year, and I hope to make more in the future, but for now I have to take jobs that allow me to eat, live, have electricity, etc.
Deb, you have a great website. You have good informational pieces and good job postings. If you look at the big picture, Thrifty Mamas’ looks like it would be fun to do and you could use it as a learning tool. It helps discipline you for a weekly deadline; much like writing a weekly column. You never know, it may be just the experience you need to land a job with a large publication writing a $500 to $1200 weekly column. Besides, it gives you plenty of time to take on other writing jobs during the week. I am interested in the position.
@ Robin
You go girl!
@ BooBoo
I believe the rate is 1/4 of that, i.e. $40 a month for one 500 word article a week equals 2,000 words for $40, plus bonuses.
Okay, I take back the yahoo comment. I’m in a cranky mood today, and it came out in my response. But I still am amazed at how often you need to give the same “let’s be considerate” lesson over and over.
@ hedley – That wasn’t the job I was referring to. I was replying to Ann.
I teach online, and I find that I beat the drum about netiquette over and over as well. Indeed, everyone has a bad day, but we do have to maintain some control over our passions.
A agree with Deb that it’s okay to discuss the issue of low pay, but it can be done in a more productive and professional way.
I also tend to agree that $10 is low, but it’s a starting point, and if it builds your portfolio then it can be a good stepping stone. Every person is at a different phase in his/her career.
Thanks!
My comment was deleted because I asked a question that had a word that loosely defined the job as insignificant in pay, (.02 per word).
I originally was going to use the word paltry, but thought it was too rude, so I found a different word that seemed less offensive. I suppose I was wrong, though I don’t feel it was rude or insulting and don’t feel I owe anyone an apology for the post. It was an honest question. It wasn’t disrespectful. It wasn’t that I “didn’t like them”. It wasn’t that I was “ganging up”. I was simply shocked that someone would offer what appears to be 2 cents a word OR traffic bonuses.
So be it.
I’ve been coming here for a couple years. I’ve made donations to this site. I’ve promoted this site and it’s services time and again.
I’ve also had the utmost respect and appreciation for Deb, until now that is. Perhaps it’s time to remove FWJ from my bookmarks.
Actually, Matt, you did use the word paltry and that’s why your comment was deleted. It’s not that you, personally, ganged up. But when when a dozen people comment to complain about the wage and use words such as “cheap” and “skinflint” and yes even “paltry” there does appear to be a gang up mentality. Would you want to post your job at a place where so many people called you names?
I’m sincerely sorry you feel the way you do and even sorrier you don’t want to come back anymore. Between this and the people who feel I need to offer guidelines so a client’s ad will be more detailed I get so disheartened.
Every day I’m removing comments and insults…and I’m not even making much money off this joint. What used to be a labor of love is now somewhere I have to come to explain myself all the time. On the backend I’m dealing with clients who want me to post their jobs but don’t understand my policy of $10 or more a gig. I just can’t please anyone.
It’s just not fun for me anymore.
Edited to add: Actually Matt, someone else used paltry. You used “picayune”.
Deb, I went to the trouble of going to Thesaurus.com to find a different word because I didn’t want to be insulting. My intention was NOT to insult anyone, you should know that.
I did edit my original statement, Matt. You didn’t say paltry, you said “picayune” a word that, in essence, means petty. So you’re calling her petty, someone else is saying she’s paltry, someone else is saying cheapskate and someone else used the word skinflint – and those were the polite comments. Do I leave them up for future clients to see? Do I leave them up so I can read on online forums how my community is so hostile?
I understand you didn’t intend to insult anyone and I appreciate that, but tone is sometimes difficult to convey online.
I had posted something that got deleted. According to my calculations, this job works out to be $.02/word. I am a new freelance writer (just since the start of the year) and have been coming here since March, I think. I’ve found one job through your site, which pays $.04/word, so not a lot more (well, double actually, but still not $.25/word or anything like that). That said, I think the problem with featuring an ad that is especially low paying is that the newer writers among us (of which I count myself) think, “Well, if Deb is putting it as a featured job on her site, then maybe this really *is* what I can hope to earn.” I get that lower paying jobs make it into the daily lists, but featuring them — to me — says that it somehow has your stamp of approval on it. At least that’s how I see it.
You know, Deb, this is what happened at Absolute Write a couple of years ago. Back when Jenna owned the site, she allowed comments on job posting threads. The comments got so nasty about pay that she eventually had to make it an announcements only board, which is unfortunate because it seems the number of jobs posted there dropped, too. I’d hate to see that happen here. What I really don’t understand is that plenty of the jobs Jodee posts are at the $10 pay rate. I suppose ones like this one stick out more because they’re individual posts.
I appreciate all that Deb and Jodee do for this site. If something about the job doesn’t appeal to a person then they don’t have to apply.
@Julie –
The jobs that have their own post were emailed here by the client. It’s not necessarily that I singled them out as feature gigs.
Deb,
Sorry I didn’t read your comment carefully. I saw something about being disrespectful and was worried that somehow I was misunderstood.
For something like this, it would be a fun gig. I can do it in my PJs. I can use an extra $40 per month. If some feel the pay isn’t good enough, don’t apply. No one has a gun to your head.
Julie – that is an interesting point:
“Well, if Deb is putting it as a featured job on her site, then maybe this really *is* what I can hope to earn.” I get that lower paying jobs make it into the daily lists, but featuring them — to me — says that it somehow has your stamp of approval on it. At least that’s how I see it.
Maybe these comments will discourage lower paying gigs – but not people with higher paying gigs? Who knows … just thinking … as I type …
Deb,
You didn’t say paltry, you said “picayune” a word that, in essence, means petty.
I’m not going to argue my intentions, Deb. I meant insignificant. Not petty.
Irregardless, the premise is the same; I made a reference to the “thrifty” paying job that was taken as an insult which I did not intend.
Truth be told, I was asking simply because I considered the job worthy of consideration, even at that low rate, because it is a beneficial (not to mention fun) topic, that would reap benefits to whoever took it, likely enough to offset the time needed to do the required research. (FYI, I volunteer my time for a cause that I support, meaning I literally work for less than what this particular job is offering…)
On a side (and hopefully unrelated) note, I’m sorry you feel the sense of discourage in your work here. It is now, and always has been, key in my motivation to pursue my writing. Without Freelance Writing Jobs, I simply would not have the motivation to be where I am now.
If my conscience decisions and actions to NOT be offensive were offensive to you or the poster, there’s not much I can (or am willing to) do about it.
I’m not sorry I made a comment about the low paying job. I’m just sorry it offended you (or anyone else) because that was not my intention.
Best,
Matt
Wow. While I don’t want to add fuel to the fire, I want to say:
1 – Thank you for having this blog and promoting jobs for writers. While the pay rates vary from low to high, you provide many people with an opportunity to earn money.
Some need it very badly. Very badly. I will never judge anyone who works at 2c or 1c or even 50c if it means the difference between feeding kids and paying rent or a cardboard box.
2 – Writers have to learn to shut up with their opinions when it can hurt others. Like someone said here, no one’s putting guns to your head to take on jobs you don’t want to do. Be thankful that people are coming here to Deb’s site to advertise, because they could easily go to Get a Freelancer and pick up someone for 10c for 1,000 words.
3 – Writers have to learn a ton of diplomacy. We’re all good with words and know exactly how to wordsmith a real insult into creative adjectives and synonyms. That’s not a gift, people, when you’ve put your talents to that type of slap in the face. Grow up.
James said it perfectly. I make what I NEED to make and I don’t care how many other writers have told me I could be earning much more if I spent more time looking for higher paying jobs. I need to keep food on the table and bills paid.
If you go to http://brendahiatt.com/ and click on Show Me The Money! you can find out what most fiction authors are earning. When you look at their advances, you’ll quickly learn that rates vary. That’s just a fact of life.
As a writer you should know you will NOT keep from offending anyone when you write ANYTHING.
Doesn’t matter what it is either.
I had no intention of “hurting” someone, especially Deb. Unlike you, James, telling me I need to “shut up” and “grow up” out of one side of your face while saying you “don’t want to add fuel to the fire” out of the other side of your face.
@ Matt – I didn’t address my comment to you in any way. I wrote a general comment of my views and opinions. Why did you see it as a personal attack when it wasn’t?
And as a writer, I know the power of words and I do make a great deal of effort to offend no one. I disagree that everything a writer writes offends.
Deb Says:
Ok, that’s it. No one needs to be told to grow up or shut up, we’re all adults here. I just ask for respect towards each other whether you agree with me or not. This post doesn’t have to turn into a giant group hug or love fest, but I don’t want it to end up in fisticuffs either.
Thank you.
James, if I took it the wrong way I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s the case.
My comment was deleted for being offensive, and you came right by and said people that can hurt others need to shut up.
You, in essence, are doing the very thing you accuse me of doing, without saying my name.
But it doesn’t matter. I’ve clarified my intent, and it’s time to drop it. Trashing Debs job board is not the way to solve this, she goes out of her way for us.
^
Sorry Deb.
I started a reply and walked away for a while. Didn’t see your last comment.
Several people comment on the pay per word, but the real issue is pay per hour. In my state, minimum wage $7.95/hr. Given >4 weeks per month, each article pays about $8. I’m not sure it’s possible to write 500+ words of non-fiction in an hour. If you’re able to do so, the quality can’t be good.
I’m sorry Connie, but I doubt this offer is even legal. You cannot offer work that pays below minimum wage.
Regarding the issue of people who complain about sub-minimum wage work hurting those who want it, I believe that’s the reverse of the problem. People who take such work hurt the profession and hurt all of us.
I have a degree and 30 years experience. If I had no experience and needed exposure, I’d volunteer for a non-profit organization. If I had a medical degree and was desperate for work, I wouldn’t practice for sub-minimum wage. Instead, I’d respect the profession.
Hey guys,
Out of respect for Deb, I am not going to respond to individual comments. However, I would like to thank everyone greatly for their feedback. I am new to contracting writers, and I will certainly take your comments into account the next time I need writing done.
Thanks,
Connie Brooks
I have been trying to apply for this job but my email keeps getting returned because it was read as spam. I’m not a spammer, I swear! Can anyone help?