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’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.

Sorry Deb.

I started a reply and walked away for a while. Didn’t see your last comment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

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.

I understand you didn’t intend to insult anyone and I appreciate that, but tone is sometimes difficult to convey online.

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”.

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.

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!