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.