Craigslist Writing Ad of the Day: The Vague Ad
October 8, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Deborah Ng
Could this person BE any more vague???
article (Midtown East)
Reply to:
Date: 2008-10-08, 11:30AM EDT
I feel that i have two issues that i would love to put out in the world.. please help
- it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
- Compensation: no pay
He has issues alright. And he wants us to do what with them? I’m thinking he’s looking for writers but since he doesn’t actually come out and say it, that’s only speculation on my part. Looking at how much he’s willing to pay, however, I’m also thinking the person he hires might be as good a writer as Mr. Issues himself.
And how are we supposed to get these issues out into the world? Walk? Drop them out of an airplane? Hire a guy with a sandwich board?
Details, dude, details.
Sounds like a 10 year old.
Maybe he’s trying to start a magazine, since he has two issues he would love to put out in the world.
Gotta love posts that LITERALLY make you laugh out loud. Thanks, Deb!
wow!
Most adds on craigslist are pretty vague but this guy takes the cake!
Just two issues? What sort of issues does he have? I mean, I have issues but I’d rather keep those issues to myself. Man, now I’m going to have to look this up.
Well I have more than two issues if he would like to swap issues.
Interesting how he wants “something for nothing” isn’t it? Makes you wonder what sort of person he actually expects to attract for this position. I have freelanced for years now both online and off, and have extensive experience with online communities as well. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was “recruiting” for one of those “share your writing with us and we’ll pay you in pennies” social websites! LOL Maybe someone ought to go “undercover” to see what/where the articles would end up!
Pardon my french, but what a dumbass.
Yea, I busted out with a laugh, too.
Nice.
Are we having an issue swap? Or are we dropping them from airplanes? Either way, I’ve got some to contribute. lol…
I could be more vague. But I’d have to work at it. However, since there’s no pay, the author will just have to struggle along without my abilities in super-charged, ultimate vagueness.
Maybe skywriting, while I am a writer, I’m not sure if that trumps a pilot’s license :0)
This is so typical of CL postings. Please flag them to spare others from wasting time, as you already did.
It is, indeed typical of CL postings. I feel compelled to mention, as I believe others should be forewarned that a CL poster whose ads frequently appear among the job listings here and elsewhere, states that he is looking for writers to meet the needs of his burgeoning client list on a variety of subject matter.
Said poster does not disclose the fact that he uses this ad as a vehicle through which to charge writers $6.99 for the job listings.
His ad (and variations thereof) reads as follows:
Description: This is a part-time, on-going opportunity to write articles and website content, product descriptions, etc. Our freelance writing service is currently expanding, adding new clients weekly, and needs additional writers to take on writing projects.
You will work in concert with our clients to produce written website content for a variety of websites and on a variety of topics.
We are looking to work directly with writers, rather than with writing services, or middlemen, etc.
Pay is dependent on experience and requirements, and is commensurate with standard writing rates for these types of projects.
~fini~
He then directs you to http://www.thewriterfinder.com where you are asked to submit the yearly fee of $6.99. While this is not by any means exorbitant (assuming he actually delivers on the client list), he is misrepresenting his intent in his original CL ads.
Yet another to flag, IMHO.
I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten flagged and removed yet.
Perhaps what he’s really looking for is a counselor?