Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Thursday, June 5, 2008

By: Therese

Therese — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:42:33 +0000

@Kelli – if you are writing “content” you are pretty much going to have to sign over the rights to the web site owner (I write content for an alt. health wellness site). You mentioned the blogging for the company–I highly doubt you’ll be able to negotiate that one. The company is basically paying you to “ghost write” for them and I doubt they are going to give you a by line. I’ve worked with REALTORS and wrote content for a real estate blog. I basically knew I was ghost writing for the guy and for me, it wasn’t a big deal. I still used him as a reference though.

You mentioned this is your first writing gig? The newspaper? Do you have more writing clips? A syndicated columnist usually has some long time writing experience. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but a syndicated columnist usually has a “rep” behind him or her. If you are on good terms with your editor, you could approach her about it. If they aren’t hip to it, you could ride out your contract and look to see if any other outlets would want to pick up your column and syndicate it. Although, to be honest it sounds like you really don’t have the experience quite yet to branch out as a syndicated columnist (unless you write for a huge media market in a big city?)

I’m not trying to be a downer or anything but I have a journalism background and it’s a competitive biz out there (especially if you are looking to break into writing for newspapers). If you are still getting your feet wet with writing and building your clips, you may be jumping the gun a little with going the syndication route. For the most part, if you are working for a newspaper, magazine or web site more than likely when you sign on the dotted line your writing will be owned by them (especially if you are working for a media company that owns multiple publications).

You probably should review the contracts more in depth or if you have a friend who is a lawyer ask him/her to review it for you and seek their advice.

By: Therese

Therese — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:23:25 +0000

Getafreelancer.com and GoFreelance.com are major rip-offs. I’ve done a few gigs through Getafreelancer.com I had a few good clients who paid me timely but in the end it was a wash because they tap into your profit and take a fee right off the top of your payment (it’s a rip off!)

I signed up for GoFreelance.com and then when I realized I had to pay, I said NO WAY!

I got pissed off with Getafreelancer.com after I saw all these “spammy” type ads wanting writers to write 300-500 words for only $1 an article. I complained to the web site owners and said they were running a spam site and not a legit. freelancer site. I was NOT impressed. Also, the bidding thing is lame. I got ousted by other people who had FAR less writing experience–you get what you pay for (crappy writers!)

I’m so tired of the spam and crap that’s floating out there on these bid type sites. I knew there’s a reason I should have been an investigative journalist. I always love busting these spammers and impostors!

I was given very good advice by an author friend: NEVER EVER pay a company to read your writing (a reading fee) and never pay money to a company, editor or publisher for your writing. They should be paying YOU!

Words to live by!

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:39:55 +0000

@vivian and connie. I tried gofreelance and was not impressed with it. at all. in my opinion, it seemed fishy. send me a private e-mail if you’d like further elaboration.

i like this site much better.

By: Julie F

Julie F — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:36:35 +0000

I took a chance and sent an email to the Homeworker, just in case they were putting up a legit ad.

Nope. Spam comes back.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:34:33 +0000

@ Maryam: I’m glad you guys are digging the magazine listings. I’ll be sure to keep including them. Sometimes I don’t know exactly how I get to the web sites; I just pull up Google and play around with different search terms.

If you want to find travel mags, try this search term:

magazines + travel + query

(You’ll get over 2.4 million hits!)

The web sites for the New Yorker and Rolling Stone are

http://www.newyorker.com/
http://www.rollingstone.com/

@ Wendy: I can’t be that psychic, or I would have won the lottery by now, LOL!

@ Amanda Nicole: You are most welcome!

By: Vern

Vern — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:15:58 +0000

Hi. This is the best freelance writing site out there…Thanks.
Among the subscriber sites that post jobs that may or may not exist is Virtual Vocations… They show a whole lot more projects in places like Idaho, where I live, than I believe exist. I haven’t paid for leads yet.
I’m perfectly willing to pay commissions but not for leads.

By: Kelli

Kelli — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:43:56 +0000

Hi all,

I’m not sure if this is the appropriate portion of FWJ to post a general writing question, so my apologies if not.

My question: How do you deal with contracts and copyrights & contracts?

I’m new (Sept. 07) to the freelance writing scene. Isn’t it interesting that the words “new” & “naive” start with the same letter?!? Any help with the following two scenarios is appreciated!

#1: I currently write a bi-weekly parenting humor column that appears in three local weekly newspapers that are owned by one media company. I really enjoy it! This was my first writing gig, and I hastily signed the contract that says the company owns all rights to my column. I must get written permission to publish elsewhere.

I would love to pursue syndicating my column, but don’t want to bite the hand that feeds me. How do I approach my editor about the syndication idea without her dropping me? We have a good relationship, she’s expressed wanting to help me achieve my writing goals.

#2: I have been offered another position, weekly blogs for a real estate company about things to do in our region. The contract sent to me states the company owns all rights to submitted articles, now and in the future. I don’t want to sign this. Can anyone suggest negotiating skills?

Again, the column is my only current consistent client, and the blog would be my second client. I don’t want to put myself in a corner, but feel limited in saying no to opportunities.

Thanks for any assistance. Sorry for the lengthy post.

By: Angelique

Angelique — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:15:01 +0000

The first one (blogger from home making $1-2K/month) just takes you to a site that asks you to become a paid subscriber so you can get these great jobs they’re peddling.

Yeah. And I’m selling the Brooklyn Bridge.

Just wanted to alert everybody!

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:07:11 +0000

Thanks for drawing my attention to Coastal Magazine, Jodee! Being a Vancouverite, I can already feel the query ideas percolating!

By: maryam

maryam — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:04:31 +0000

hey love the magazine writing bits, jodee where do you find the websites and stuff, none of the magazines you have put out are really my type, but i need to find travel magazines and magazines like the new yorker…where can i find their websitesÇ( i only know the big names like the new yorker and rolling stone, er don;t think i have snowball chance in hell for those…)
By the way the blogger job leads to a website, and thats it i dont get these ads which lead you to a place to advertise their site, maybe i am missing something