Freelance Writing Jobs for April 17, 2009
April 17, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Writing Gigs
Hi and stuff. So all day yesterday I’m walking around with the feeling I forgot something. What can it be? I remembered at about 3:00 a.m. Leads. I forgot to post the leads.
I’m one of those people who always need reminders. My Outlook is set to ping during certain times to tell me what to do next. Every hour I have another reminder set – so that each of my daily tasks is fulfilled. For some reason, I never set up yesterday’s Outlook and as a result I was thrown off schedule. It’s amazing how confusing things can get when a schedule is thrown off. I’m a firm believer in editorial calenders and reminders. What do you use to keep you on track?
Leads…
- Proofreader needed
- Blogging/Writing Assistant -Toronto
- Part Time Blog Manager
- Health Care Blogger
- General Financial Blogger - $150/6 articles
- Writers for Various Topics – $1500 – $1500/month
- Summary Writer for Banking Conference – $2 – $3K
- Are you a Foodie with an opinion? Atlanta
- Looking for Corporate Blogger – $10 – $50/post
- Resume Writer Needed
- Business Plan Writer
- Leadership Curriculum Ghost Writers – $500 – $700
- Article Writer Needed – High Volume
- Freelance Copy Editor - Santa Monica
- Writer for How To Guide - .02/word (yeah, I know)
- Insurance Continuing Education Writers - $600
- Ghostwriter with Culinary Experience
- Book Proposal - $50
- Blogger for Attorney’s Website – Los Angeles
- Book Editor - NYC
- Web/Marketing Copywriter
- Freelance Copywriter – San Francisco
- Writer for “The Feed” – E! Online
- Freelance Writers – Riverdale area, NYC
More coming later – have to get to work so stay tuned. Just didn’t want to forget you two days in a row!!!
Good luck!
Have a great day, all! Keep those tips and successs stories coming!
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Thanks Deb. Have to say that “high volume” article writer ad caught my eye: 90 articles a week and only $1 an article? Yikes. Can they at least compensate their writers in Red Bull?! At least they didn’t say they’d like you to submit three “test” articles first before they decide if you’re a good fit (so they can use your work for free and then not hire you). I know times are tight, but writers need to eat, too!
Hi Deb,
I was missing you yesterday and trying not to worry that the rudesters attacked you so badly you just went away for a while.
3 a.m. should be sleeping time …
I have created a calendar on my website that only I can see, and I keep it updated. Eventually I’ll program it to send me reminders … but in the meantime, I just keep the deadline calendar visible and hope I remember to look at everything else!
Have a great weekend …
Thanks Deb! The 3am realizations are never good, but least of all remembering the leads! Have a great weekend
The “Writers for Various Topics” is a paper mill…not ethical, IMO!
Did anyone else apply to the Freelance Web Content Writer in Ft. Lauderdale on April 14? I got an email yesterday saying they wanted “challenge” articles written to determine whether I was a good fit – no mention of pay for the test assignment. The email was a generic one requiring one 400-word article and one 250-word blog on a specific topic. They were both due within 24 hours. Um, yeah. I passed. Anyone else get this email?
Thanks for the leads!
That “High Volume” one was hilarious. $1 for a full-page article? Wow. I’m never one to look down on what writers do to get by, but you honestly can’t get by on that. Plus, you have to do so many, which consumes your time. Not worth the level of insanity that follows… not to mention the writer’s block!!
I don’t rely on an online calendar. I buy a yearly journal and write down all of my deadlines as they come in.
I’m seeing an increase again. Four jobs landed this week with the lowest paying $10 an hour and the highest, $40. So providing they work out, things might be improving.
Hi Deb,
I did miss the job leads, but life happens. You’ve got a lot of things to do and I appreciate you taking the time to put this list together. You make my job search easier.
As for reminders, I put everything in my planner and make sure to check it everyday. Work, writing or family – everything goes in there. 
Take care and thanks for all of your hard work. 
How unprofessional! How could you!? Just kidding, that actually worked out well for me because my computer was down and I didn’t have time to search for leads yesterday. I’m glad I didn’t miss anything.
What makes that $1/per “high volume” site even better is that you’re providing articles for the poster’s “clients”. Sounds to me like he makes all the money and you do all the work. Great deal! I’d love to know how much he gets per article, probably something legitimate–how generous that he shaves a dollar off the top to throw a bone to the person actually doing the work. 90 articles per week is potentially a full time job–nearly 20 per day? To rake in $90? Ads like that just make me angry–what are they thinking?? Alright, I’m done venting about that, hopefully he gets his money’s worth there.
Anyone know anything about “premiumwriting.com” ($1500-$1500 ad)? In general I have a strong distrust for any companies with a generic name like that, but thought I’d throw it out there to see if anyone knows anything different.
I use a Franklin-Covey planner system to track tasks… but since I don’t write down the mundane things like “feed family” or “do laundry,” guess what things I forget??
I’m a diehard Mac user, and I use the “Stickies” application (for all those PC users out there that don’t know what that means, it’s a program that puts post-it notes on your computer desk top) and I write a task list every morning on a stickie and keep the post-it on my desktop until I get everything done. I put a little start next to each item when I finish it, and if I finish early and have nothing else I could work on (back burner projects, etc) then I treat myself to an afternoon off.
I could use an actual post-it note, but I don’t like to waste paper. Plus, having a bright yellow box on your computer’s desktop is more ‘in your face’ and reminds you better than a paper post-it note that you can accidentally put papers or a book on top of, or move somewhere unnoticeable.
I think premiumwriting.com is a term paper mill. On their “about us” page is the following: “Also we offer writing services for students by completing essays, research papers, and book reports on any required topic.” They also claim to do research and business plans, but what legit company would order their business plan from a company that helps students cheat? Just my $0.02
The “Article writer needed- high volume” post offering $1/SEO Article is ridiculous. Most writers make $1 writing 3-4 words, not an entire article.
Lordy – I do apologize for that $1 an article job. That never should have made it on the list.
It’s posts like these that set a president to the brand new writers of what acceptable payment supposedly is. The writers should be setting the industry standard, not a few extremely cheap clients. Unfortunately a lot of new writers don’t know any better and are just happy to get a gig at all – so in the future they continue to charge this little and another catch-22 is born.
Correction: precedent, not president. I’ve been up since 4:00 am
Glad the leads are here today but I understand that life does get busy. I use a write on yearly calendar for some of my deadlines.
If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s services where students can buy papers online… I mean, it’s part of the reason that people like us can get jobs writing, because other people have never learned how… but I just feel so morally wrong about it!
The writer for various topics… $1500 a month… upon further investigation I found out that one of the services their company provides, “Also we offer writing services for students by completing essays, research papers, and book reports on any required topic. ” I just can’t apply for something like that.
Heidi, the way I see it, selling those papers to people that can’t write will ensure that the amount of real competition is limited and that you’ll be able to land more paying jobs.
“I’m one of those people who always need reminders.”
Shouldn’t the verb follow one rather than people?
Hi all–I need some assistance please–
I received a request from a client for editing services. I have done quite a bit of ghostwriting articles for them. They have been asked to submit monthly 750-word articles for an industry newsletter. Some I will write from their outlines but others they will write and have asked me to “rework” them.
I don’t normally offer editing services and my fees are quoted on a project basis. I have no idea how to present the editing fee as I have no idea of the quality of the article I will receive. This client is also known to seriously undervalue the time needed for services. Suggestions from experienced writers with editing services? Thank you!
@Cathy,
I’d ask to review a typical article that you’d have to rework and formulate a quote based on how long you think it will take. If you notice after doing a couple that the sample was in substantially better shape than the ones they are sending, be assertive and let them know.
Another option is to charge by the hour.
Also, you could charge a fee per word for basic proofing (punctuation, grammar, spelling), a higher fee for editing, and your highest fee for reworking/rewriting.
Most of the editing jobs I do are hourly, and I prefer this because I don’t get screwed if something needs a substantial amount of work.
Hope that helps.
This client is also known to seriously undervalue the time needed for services.
Yeah, I think we’ve all had our fair share of those clients.
Thanks, Krista. I have charged by the hour in the past with this client and they know what my hourly rate is but they ALWAYS come back and say, “Oh it shouldn’t take you that much time.” I have not once been paid for the number of hours I actually worked. And I know we have all been there! I do have a bottom line hourly charge in my mind that I won’t go under but with this client that almost always occurs.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling. I do like the idea of asking for a sample article. I have never seen anything written by this person but have done ghostwriting for her and found she often did not have a clear structure in her mind. So I would not be surprised that it would need a lot of “re-working.” Thanks again. I appreciate all comments!
Wendy,
I also applied to the Web Content Writer position, and I decided to complete the “challenge” assignment just because I had some time. It took me 20 minutes anyway. She emailed me back saying they had offered the position to someone else, but she could still offer me 10 articles and 10 blogs at $18 a pop. I emailed her back asking for the name of the company, and I haven’t heard back yet. It’s good pay if it is legit, but I’m not doing anymore work until I get some confirmation that this isn’t a scam.
Remember, writers…don’t allow yourselves to selfishly think that just because you live in the US that what you consider “fair” rates should apply to everyone world-wide. The pool for employees is global, not local, and while 1 dollar an article to you might be a pittance, for someone over in another part of the globe who has the same qualifications as you do, it’s worth five times that or more.
This is the 21st century, folks. You can’t allow yourselves to think in localized terms. The boundaries for gigs are no longer defined by geographical lines on a map. You are competing with writers from all corners of the globe. Rather than naively criticize what rates you think others should be working for, look to your own personal tastes and focus there instead.
I do not think you should be removing the 1 dollar per article posts, Deb. There are many writers out there to whom that 1 dollar is = five times or more of their own local currency, and it’s rather arrogant to assume that those jobs shouldn’t be in the pool for writers to peruse. Remember…writers in the US are not the only writers in the world. Anyone with an internet connection and the qualified skills can take the jobs. If you don’t want to do the 1 dollar work, that’s fine…but don’t take the opportunity away from someone who can, just because you think it’s “not fair”.
Global, not local. Writers need to remember that.
@TW – Actually I disagree. The pay has nothing to do with location. It has to do with receiving a fair wage for one’s work. $1 for a well written and researched article is insulting, no matter where you live.
@TW – Have to side with Deb 100% on this one. Even if a “dollar = 5 times more in another currency,” we’re still talking about $5 articles here, and that rate is insulting to writers in Africa, Guatemala, or any other village or metropolis in the world.
Also, what baffles me is why people would ever choose to work for less than they have to. If you live in an area where the cost of living is lower, why wouldn’t you charge the same as somebody living in New York City, especially considering that, in our global economy, you can! Working for less than necessary seems incredibly stupid to me. I live in an area where $10/hour is decent. However, if a client offers me $30/hour, I don’t say, “well actually, I can get by on $10, so please just pay me a third of what you would pay other writers.”
@TW – Just wanted to clarify that my post wasn’t meant to suggest in any way that you are stupid. I just reread it after posting and realized that may have been mistakenly implied.
It may be a global economy, but I have to eat locally.
My $0.02 — er — should that be my $1.00 per article?
@ John D – Well said!
What I think nobody is considering is that people who live in areas where the cost of living is low have the most to gain.
@ T.W.–If you had actually read the ad in question before going on your holier-than-thou rant, you would have noticed the following sentence:
“We are looking for someone to start out and grow with the company; does not have to be local, but must be in the US.”
Therefore, your worldly observations are rather misplaced. $1 per one-page article is pretty terrible anywhere in the US. Even if you could write an article in 15 minutes, you’re looking at $4 an hour for a discipline that requires education and skill. Compare that to a federal minimum wage of $6.55 that you could get for unskilled labor, not so good at all. Perhaps worse than the rate is the fact that this individual is looking for 90 articles per week, so it’d potentially be like taking on a full-time job and you couldn’t even supplement your income elsewhere.
And Deb has had a clear policy of not posting $1 gigs for as long as I’ve come here (about two years). I believe her cutoff is $10. There are plenty of other places that post cheap, sweatshop type gigs; go check there if you’re interested, rather than trying to change the structure here, which I believe most readers appreciate.
Local, not global. Read, not rant.