Civil War Writer Wanted
June 3, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Writing Gigs
Civil War Pictures (http://www.civilwar-pictures.com), a website with an important pictures gallery, now wants to add some text content. We will order 20 articles first, with 500 words minimum, at $10 each. Payment must be done through PayPal. We need only 1 writer. The topics of the articles, American civil war related, will be provided by us. After that, it’s very possible that we require more. Examples and information can be sent to julian@inicioglobal.com
Two cents per word. wow.
In light of gas prices, rising food costs, etc., I really think FWJ should raise the minimum pay for individually posted ads such as this to jobs paying $50 and above. It’s still peanuts, but $10 for a piece including historical research is absolutely ridiculous. It’s like writing about the 1860s and getting 1860s pay. Please rethink who gets this spotlight treatment. This one should have just been in Jodee’s daily list.
When Deb posts these, it’s not that they get spotlight treatment. It means that the job has been sent directly to her to post on the blog as opposed to being on another list.
I agree that the pay is low but as many have stated, in some parts of the country and world, it’s a decent wage and for a Civil War buff who won’t have to do much research….
@ Jaqueline – As mentioned before, this isn’t “spotlight” treatment. These are the people who email their ads to me as opposed to being relisted via Jodee. If more $50 people would email their gigs I’d post them. If there was mostly $50 gigs out there, I’d consider changing my under $10 rule. As it stands now, nothing is changing.
Now, before we bad mouth the gig or the client, do we really know how much historical research is involved? A friend of mine is a re-enactor. He can recite facts and figures off the top of his head like no one’s business. For him, he can write up a 500 worder in about ten minutes.
Many of the people who visit this blog want me to post the $10 gigs and I will continue to do so. I will also continue to show the same respect to the people who post the $10 gigs and the people who post the $5000 gigs. Especially since one day the $10 people may be in a position to spend a lot more money.
@Deb,
I appreciate your explanation, but from a FWJ user perspective, a separate blog entry for one job absolutely spotlights that particular gig. I was unaware that you had a policy of posting solo blog entries for jobs individually sent to you. Bottom line, if that job had been in Jodee’s daily roundup, I would have cruised on by and said nothing.
I agree that it is too little money for the work, but I do love the subject matter. I figured if they hire me and I do one batch of text, maybe I can negotiate for more. I get upset with low priced gigs too, specially since I have been writing for 25 years and made that little back when I started. What can anyone say? When you need to eat, you need to eat.
@Jacqueline,
How would Jodee have posted it? It doesn’t link to anywhere because it’s only posted here. That’s what Deb means by people posting EXCLUSIVELY on this site.
@BooBoo,
Through the magic of technology, I’m sure she could have figured out a way. Maybe there could be a blogger blog where these could be posted and a link can be provided to that. Voila, problem solved.
Why say something? Why not just move along if you don’t like it.
It would never occur to me to go to problogger or perez hilton or Gawker or Huggington post or one of the other blogs and tell them how to run their blogs. I can’t believe how many people are so nitpicky and forget their manners when it comes to a free service.
The same people are the ones who get all huffy and offended when Deb comes back and asks them to play nice.
I am SOOOOOOO tired of this debate. The bottom line is: if the job doesn’t suit you, keep your mouth shut and pass it by. Not only are these complaining posts an insult to the people posting the jobs, it is an insult to those people that are more than happy to take on a job with lower pay.
We all have our personal situations to deal with and no one should be judging whether or not a job is worthy of being posted on the site. Not only that, this is a free service that makes the job hunt much easier for many freelancers and no one should be telling Deb how to run her site. If I was a history buff, I would love this gig. As Deb said, if you already have the information in your head, you can pop out 500 word articles in a matter of minutes.
@ Jacqueline,
Why would she bother going through all that trouble? Just so you wouldn’t have the mistaken impression that these are “spotlighted jobs.” Does that really sound reasonable to you? Come on.
Yes we can just pass them by and I do.
However, when experienced writers do accept these types of jobs, does that hurt other writers? (companies may get the impression that these rates are the norm)
Also – if you do have that info in your head, my opinion is that you should get paid more for that expert knowledge.
(ie – doctors have that info in their heads and they are paid for it)
Ah well!
@Scribette,
To me, that is an entirely different argument. That is like saying Wal-Mart should be closed because it offers lower prices. I know there are many people that do hold that belief but, to me, that is the nature of business. We have said many times on this blog that this is a business, so we should treat it as such in every aspect – and that includes having to be competitive with our prices. Or, offering a service or product that is so superior that it is worth paying more to have.
I had posted a similar thought before, as I thought it was a bit of a double standard for the blogs posted on this site to complain about low rates while simulataneously posting jobs that are offering lower pay. So, I know where you are coming from. At the same time, I personally don’t have a problem with the postings for lower paying jobs. I routinely take jobs that would be considered low pay and I made a substantial amount of money last year while doing this on a part time basis.
If Deb’s site was dedicated to the unionization and advancement of pay for freelance writers, I would agree with the complaints. But, it is not. It is an informational website that provides writers with job leads and thoughts from various writers. It is up to each writer to determine which jobs and which pieces of advice work for them.
Interesting Elizabeth!
I’m not complaining though … I am discussing the issues.
@ Scribette,
I know, just sharing my point of view. Thanks for the discussion!
Sounds like a fun project but the project pays so little… I’m wondering if this would have been better off posted on a Civil War reenactor’s site or message board. This definitely looks like a labor or love! And to the consternation engendered here, remember Honest Abe’s wise words, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Surrender, people! This is not the place to recreate Picket’s Charge, blog-style!