Comments on: Two Simple Rules Of Successful Freelance Writing http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/ Straight Talk About Your Writing Career Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:11:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-966 Sharon Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:35:04 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-966 Great points, ritecraft. Once you have published work, then often you can use those samples and clients can verify that you're competent independently if they care to. Great points, ritecraft. Once you have published work, then often you can use those samples and clients can verify that you’re competent independently if they care to.

]]> By: ritecraft http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-965 ritecraft Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:48:42 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-965 I am a freelance writer, doing web content and any writing work that comes my way. I, too, have been scammed by people asking for free samples and articles. Howwever, the other side is that how does a buyer check out your writing skills without a sample? How would they know that what you are giving as a sample is your own work and not a copy and paste job? At the same time, though I live in India, I feel there are too many people willing to write an article for a dollar and even 50 cents, which is totally ridiculous. Whether the article is original content or a rewriting job, these kind of pay scales are scraping the bottom on the barrel. It is no wonder that net writing is often dumbed down writing. The work I do for the print media is generally of a much higher quality because they pay better - not that I do the dollar articles. Once a potential buyer had asked for 10 original research based articles for $60 and when I said that that the money was too little and would do the work if the maximum bid was increased, he came back that in these recessionary times, how could I even think of asking for more money! I wonder how people in the US do work for so little money - they do, because I have seen on sites like gaf that people living in the western world also accept work at low rates! I am a freelance writer, doing web content and any writing work that comes my way. I, too, have been scammed by people asking for free samples and articles. Howwever, the other side is that how does a buyer check out your writing skills without a sample? How would they know that what you are giving as a sample is your own work and not a copy and paste job?

At the same time, though I live in India, I feel there are too many people willing to write an article for a dollar and even 50 cents, which is totally ridiculous. Whether the article is original content or a rewriting job, these kind of pay scales are scraping the bottom on the barrel. It is no wonder that net writing is often dumbed down writing.

The work I do for the print media is generally of a much higher quality because they pay better – not that I do the dollar articles. Once a potential buyer had asked for 10 original research based articles for $60 and when I said that that the money was too little and would do the work if the maximum bid was increased, he came back that in these recessionary times, how could I even think of asking for more money!

I wonder how people in the US do work for so little money – they do, because I have seen on sites like gaf that people living in the western world also accept work at low rates!

]]> By: A.A. Blue-Fleming http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-964 A.A. Blue-Fleming Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:28:27 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-964 As a novice, potential writer, I just want to thank all those whom have given advice through both blunder and bliss. Thank You. As a novice, potential writer, I just want to thank all those whom have given advice through both blunder and bliss. Thank You.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-963 Sharon Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:03:55 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-963 Yes, I'd add that to 'things I learned the hard way' too, Katherine, though sometimes even if you ask questions, you might not get helpful answers. Yes, I’d add that to ‘things I learned the hard way’ too, Katherine, though sometimes even if you ask questions, you might not get helpful answers.

]]> By: Katherine http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-962 Katherine Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:58:02 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-962 This is good advice, and something that can take some practice. Sometimes people are afraid to ask questions but I've learned the hard way that unless I do, I may not know what's going on and can't complete the project! This is good advice, and something that can take some practice. Sometimes people are afraid to ask questions but I’ve learned the hard way that unless I do, I may not know what’s going on and can’t complete the project!

]]> By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-961 Sharon Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:32:15 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-961 @ Derek: Sometimes it's difficult to know the right questions, but once you've had something go wrong. It helps you remember. I wrote an article on <a href="http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Freelance-Writing/Writing-Brief.htm" rel="nofollow">clarifying the writing brief</a> on Garden and Hearth. Hope it helps. @ Jamie: Yes, I'd love to try out that tool and perhaps review it on the blog. @ Valencia: Me too, and if you don't ask those questions, you can fall foul of the <a href="http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/whats-wrong-with-this-work/" rel="nofollow">hidden brief</a>. @ Chad: finding out what clients expect helps you to improve the work you do and your reputation. What questions do you ask? @ Derek: Sometimes it’s difficult to know the right questions, but once you’ve had something go wrong. It helps you remember. I wrote an article on clarifying the writing brief on Garden and Hearth. Hope it helps.

@ Jamie: Yes, I’d love to try out that tool and perhaps review it on the blog.

@ Valencia: Me too, and if you don’t ask those questions, you can fall foul of the hidden brief.

@ Chad: finding out what clients expect helps you to improve the work you do and your reputation. What questions do you ask?

]]> By: Chad http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-960 Chad Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:51:00 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-960 Asking questions is a great one! People too often think that because I'm the writer they don't need to provide me with all the details...kind of goofy. I don't like to feel pushy, but I do like to know what their expectations are before I start working on a project. Asking questions is a great one! People too often think that because I’m the writer they don’t need to provide me with all the details…kind of goofy. I don’t like to feel pushy, but I do like to know what their expectations are before I start working on a project.

]]> By: Valencia http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-959 Valencia Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:40:14 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-959 There is definitely truth to rule #2. I'll often receive assignments from new clients with missing details such as word count, preferred style, and due date. There is definitely truth to rule #2. I’ll often receive assignments from new clients with missing details such as word count, preferred style, and due date.

]]> By: Jamie Hoffman http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-958 Jamie Hoffman Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:14:02 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-958 Hi Sharon - I read your blogs about free lance writing and other important things to know. I was wondering if you have any experience with content editing tools. One of my clients just launched a website editing tool called Easy WebContent. I would great appreciate your professional opinion and like to offer you a free week to check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks for your attention. Best Regards, Jamie Hoffman Hi Sharon – I read your blogs about free lance writing and other important things to know. I was wondering if you have any experience with content editing tools.

One of my clients just launched a website editing tool called Easy WebContent.

I would great appreciate your professional opinion and like to offer you a free week to check it out and let me know what you think.

Thanks for your attention. Best Regards, Jamie Hoffman

]]> By: Derek http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-957 Derek Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:12:55 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/two-simple-rules-of-successful-freelance-writing/#comment-957 People that don't ask questions, are the people who don't know what questions to ask. I like that you've listed a few for us. I like to list all my questions out before contacting anyone. That way, I don't get all scatterbrained and hang up before getting the info I need. People that don’t ask questions, are the people who don’t know what questions to ask. I like that you’ve listed a few for us. I like to list all my questions out before contacting anyone. That way, I don’t get all scatterbrained and hang up before getting the info I need.

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