Freelance Writing Is It Really That Simple? How Not To Get Scammed!
Freelance Writing so why do I feel trapped?
I have got so used to being able to do my own thing when writing for the Internet that I thought Freelance Writing would be easy peasy. Yeah right! I actually stumbled upon a site when I was looking for jobs. I thought that if I could earn some money elsewhere, then I wouldn't be so panicky about this Google AdSense hoo ha. So, with all the mind power that I could muster up, I kept telling myself that, yes, I could do this. How hard could it be? all you have to do is write, isn't it? Well, the answer is, sort of.
I actually signed onto this particular site about four months ago. I sent in my pay pal account, gave my name address and email, and then I panicked and didn't do a darn thing. I think it was because I felt intimidated. To me the word Freelance meant really highly skilled writers who wrote for magazines and TV etc, and there was little me trying to dip my toe in the pond. The trouble with ponds is that there are usually very big fish swimming about. And I do love my toes. They fit my feet. If I didn't have them then I would fall flat on my face. Which after my first sojourn into freelance writing I actually nearly did.
Help!
When will I learn?
The trouble with me is that I suffer with lack of patience. I sit there in front of the computer saying to myself, 'yeah, yeah that's easy, get on with it'. Well let me tell you, that does not work. The trouble was that my head got bigger than my body when my first article sailed past the winning post and hit the goal. I received my first email from the firm saying how good it was to have me with them and after studying my writing though I would be a great asset to the team. Yeah, look at me, so brilliant. Not.
When I started getting reject letters back saying 'You have to re do this bit, or type that bit' I got quite indignant! So, what was wrong with my writing? Well, actually nothing. Not if I was writing for hubpages or another site, but evidently to do freelance work you had to have rules. Strict rules. So I thought, here we go. Back to school without a satchel.
Freelance Writing
Let me out!
Now I know that millions and zillions of you have gone down this path before me. In fact I bet you are sitting there smuggly drinking your Pina Coladas thinking to yourself, Ah Ha, so she thought she was good did she? Well that will get her. The truth is that I went in head first, not thinking. And that is the point. If you want to start Freelance Writing you have to learn some rules. Big ones. I have never been good at being told what to do. In fact I tend to go head first into the ending before I even look at the beginning.
And this is exactly what I did. For any of you who haven't gone down this road yet, let me tell ya, it's a bit like sitting in a box with someone prodding you in the back with a red hot poker. Hubpages is the opposite. That is like running through a field stark nekked and shouting eureka!
Hubpages Freedom!
Rules in a simple way.
First of all there are pages and pages of rules. Tons of the little darlings. A video for this, a Video for that and so on. And I get impatient. I like to look and see for myself. The one thing that they don't tell you about freelance is the fact that you have to write each article three times. Yes, three. Obviously not all of them, but most of them. This sounds okay as, after writing the first you can look at it as you write the second and third to make sure you don't get the words in the same order as the first. Especially the key words. Now, I know some of you are screaming, 'It's not worth the money'.
But in my case it is a bit desperate because I can't find work at the moment so any little helps. The disadvantage is that if I was American it wouldn't be so bad. Why? Because it is paid in dollars. England is one of the most greedy and rich countries in the world. Rich because it makes everything so darned expensive. For example if you bought something for a hundred dollars, in England it would be about one hundred and fifty pounds. Not to bad you might think. Until you realise that a dollar is only worth about half a pound!
Learning slowly!
But that's by the by as they say. The main problem is that you are not allowed to add any question marks, exclamation marks, the words I, you, or me! Imagine that! Evidently it has to be precise and informative. The writing itself is not so bad, even the re-writes. It is when those horrible little Warning signs come up at the bottom of the page! Too many words. Too many gaps. Too many frigging repeats.
It is a bit like taking your clothes of in the dark, standing on one foot and spouting the six times table at the same time! And then when it eventually says the word 'Clear', you take a deep breath and sigh with relief. That's fine, it has only taken me five hours to do an article that should have taken only about an hour. But don't worry. I have earned five dollars! Yippee! Oh yes, I forgot. That's about two pound fifty pence! One thousand five hundred words later, I am dying for a cuppa. My neck has gone stiff, and I need to sit down on a cosy chair and watch TV.
But am I giving up? Oh no! I ain't done yet!
The point I am trying to make is....
Make sure that you watch every video before you start. You will save yourselves hours of redraft and swear words.
Make sure that you read and re-read every darn thing put in front of you.
Don't go hairing into it like a rabbit down a hole. I did this and realised that instead of writing it on the simple instruction page, I went jogging along on the harder one! Meaning I had to keep scrolling to the top of the page to see what I had written before! That's the thing. You have to make each re-write exactly the same meaning in each paragraph!
And finally. Make sure you pick a topic that you have a slight clue about. For example, don't write about something if it is called ' Rogo's in Tulsa'! No, I made that word up, but you get my meaning!
These are the sort of stupid titles that you have to write about. And do they give you a clue what it is? Oh no, of course not! Stick to what you know. Even if you only earn thirty dollars a week, it is better than having to re-write twenty different topics again because you got it all wrong in the first place!
So, am I going to keep Freelance Writing ? Yep, I don't give up that easily!
Want to try Freelance Writing? Then check out these great sites.
- The Best Freelance Writing Websites
So youre a freelance writer, and youre good. No, youre really good. Youve written dozens of articles, short stories perhaps even a novel and you know that some of the words youve... - Best Websites to Get Freelance Writing Jobs UK, US &...
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Comments
AUTHORThere's too much of the 'want for nothing' going on these days, it makes me so mad! I am trying desperately to get another job, long story, but can't at the moment as there is nothing out there. so need to earn on here really, drives me mad! lol! thanks Robert.
I remember reading an article recently where a new business model is to get people to work for nothing, or next to nothing. I specifically mentioned an online news site that gets people to write so the writers could get the name recognition. The article said it's like getting someone to build a deck for you for free so people could see what a great job they did.
- AUTHOR
I gave up any of those 'helpful write for us' rubbish a long time ago! lol! Thanks Robert!
Good information in this Hub. Are you still writing for that organization? How is it going?
- AUTHOR
Thanks Eddy, great to see you as always, hope you are having a wonderful day! nell
Interesting, well informed and useful .Thank you once again for a great hub and wishing you a wonderful day too.
Eddy.
- AUTHOR
Hi Sue, thanks so much for reading, and good luck with the Freelance, nell
Great tips Nell. I'm trying to do what you did but haven't a clue where to start really. I'm going to have a look at the Freelance sites you suggest though. Feel free to give me feedback on my hubs, I value your opinion.
- AUTHOR
Hi, sofs, sorry! lol thanks for reading, cheers nell
Oh LOL :) I was going to follow your example. :):):)
- AUTHOR
Hi, sofs, I gave up in the end! it was just to regimented, maybe I will try another site! lol thanks nell
Great hub, tells it as it is. Loved the humor and the advice, read, read, read some more and watch all the videos. Makes sense to do the learning bit first before plunging headlong to the job itself. Thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Hi, tsmog, good luck with the magazine, I am sure you will get there in the end! lol thanks so much nell
THANKS (I capitalized, probably against some rule) , , ,what an education presented with the flare of humor. I will go on adventure soon with your site recommendations. I hear you saying use caution or look before leaping. I will heed your words of wisdom. I have a goal to be published once, just once in a particular magazine. Hopefully here at Hubpages I will learn and learn and learn from others as mentors and reading other articles for style, format, etc
- AUTHOR
Hi, 6hotfingers3, this nearly drove me mad! lol I have got the impression that my writing skills sorely lack in the 'do what I say' department! thanks nell
Thank you for this informative hub. I've written for officials and it was a brain-drain. Could freelance writing be more painful? Something to think about!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Lidian, thanks for reading, I had to give up in the end it drove me mad! lol cheers nell
Yes, this is all SO true! I swing between my creative writing - which I love but it can get frustrating for different reasons - and the freelance stuff which has all these rules etc. And the grass is always greener - or the pen freer - on the other side. Or something like that :)
- AUTHOR
Thanks pan for reading it, cheers nell
very informative hub.
- AUTHOR
Hi, thanks Joe, glad you liked it, cheers nell
Wonderful information. Thanks
- AUTHOR
Hi, shygirl, I think I went into it with my eyes shut! lol never again! well, at least not on that site! thanks for reading, cheers nell
Hi, Freya, I never knew it could be so difficult and awkward, what annoyed me was the standard of some of the other writers! the spelling was appalling and the actual content was bizarre! never again, I am so pleased you wrote back to them and had a go at them! ha ha well done! cheers nell
Hello, Nell. I was down on that road before too and oh God, I hate every second of it!
I had to write 10 articles a day with 500 words for each article, followed a specific keyword and just like you said, no me, you, I, question marks, etc, etc, etc... with of course no explanation at all!
I did go as far as 7 days. Got my articles returned with several warned and still no explanation about what kind of article they want me to write at all. Somehow, at the article number 7 at day 7, my mind decided to get jammed. I got awful headache and of course couldn't able to write anything anymore for that day, realized that I will never able to write anything anymore on the next day, the day after the next day, and so on.
I sent those 7 articles with personal note which said, "I will never make it. You have too many demand but lack of information about what you want. Whether you tried to trick me or I just really hate what you do. You can have these articles because I don't need it. Find somebody to help you, because I won't! Never again!" It is long before Hub Pages. Glad Hub Pages is different. ^^
Very enlightening hub! It sounds like it could be a bit intimidating too! Gees, you better be good at the game, or you wouldn't want to start out looking foolish and green, huh? Like you said...knowing the rules is the key. Great job, Nell Rose. Bookmarked, useful and up on this one! : )
- AUTHOR
Hi, CMHypno, thanks so much, I wish that were true! lol I actually got asked to leave this site, as 'my writing wasn't up to their standard'! in plain English I think this meant that I was writing too detailed articles, in the rules we were told to 'write general sentences without to much detail'! when I went to check some samples, they were appalling! the spelling was terrible and it made absolutely no sense! and even though my work had been accepted by the original contractor they didn't pay me! so Myams.Net can go jump as far as I am concerned! 5 dollars for 1 original and 2 copies? that's less than 3 pounds! never again, lol cheers nell
Hey Nell, I can see you having a big fat publishing contract one day soon and waving the $5 an article days goodbye! The only freelance writing I do is writing the blog for my friend's company, and I find it hard enough being told what topic to write on. Maybe the freedom of HubPages has spoiled me, and as the nuns at school always used to tell me 'you need a bit of discipline girl, or you will never amount to anything' LOL!
You have such a wonderful, unique writers voice Nell, so please don't lose it entirely in the rules
- AUTHOR
Hi, Sarah, glad it was useful, cheers nell
Great information, thanks for writing this :)
- AUTHOR
Hi, DzyM, sorry it took so long to get back to you, my fingers don't go as fast as my brain typing! lol I have decided that I won't give it another go just yet, I might just kill someone on those sites! hee hee
Hi, Polly, I never knew they could be such a pain! lol thanks as always, nell
Hi, Genna, well done for being able to keep at it, I found it very annoying! lol maybe it was my fault, I hate to admit to not being able to do it, I will just blame the site! lol
Hi, Jenny, yes you are so right! thanks so much, nell
GOod points, especially write about what you know. That's VERY important!
Nell, you are one of the best writers on the hub, but I can relate to your frustrations. Writing "on demand" and "with this and that" is still something I have wrestled with for years. Up and awesome.
Yep I been here, lol. Almost 3 am I better get to sleep.
Oh, boy! I hear ya! I write for one of those sites, and let me tell you, "nit-picky" would be an improvment. There are all sorts of rules, rules, rules and conventions and formats that are "musts," including the most infuriating one, use of something called "AP style," which contradicts the one main writing format with which we were all brainwashed throughout school: "TWO spaces between sentences; ONE space between words." Oh, no--that's WRONG on this site--"AP Style" uses only a single space between sentences as well. TWO spaces is so automatic that I end up using the MS Word "find and replace" tool to find all instances of double-space-bar hits and substituting singles.
Worse, you only get a single chance at a re-write. If the copy editor sends it back, you have 3 possible scenarios: Do the re-write; let the deadline expire (no penalty) or, do the re-write and risk it being rejected for still not being 'right.' (hurts your score).
Some of the rewrite requests (I've only had a couple) are stupid--meaning the CE obviously has no clue about the topic, and is talking through his/her hat. If I am confident I was right, and they are not, I let them expire, then according to their rules, I am free to post them elsewhere (such as here on HP) as long as the title has been changed.
It is a can of worms, for sure! Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective.
- AUTHOR
Hi, BeatsMe, lol thanks, I thought I wasn't bad, but then they knocked me back! ha ha oh well start again! thanks for reading it.
Nice hub about the difficulties of freelance writing. But you're good and you know it! :)
- AUTHOR
Hi, Katie, thanks for reading it, it was certainly hard, never again on that site! lol
Hi, Brenda, welcome back! I hope to find another site that is a bit more amiable! never again on Myams! ha ha
Hi, Green Lotus, I never realised how hard it could be, your personality gets completely lost writing on sites like Myams, it was terrible! lol thanks as always nell
Hi, Docmo, nice to see you, I try and make it amusing as it was a strange experience writing for them! lol thanks again
Hi, Ashley, I am glad you found it helpful, be careful which site you join if you want to do freelance, this one was terrible! lol
This is a great hub. Loads of useful info, especially for me, who has no clue about any of this. I really enjoyed reading this. Your hub is personable and informative.
This is a brilliantly written take on freelance writing and a honest and funny account of the effort it takes. Enjoyed reading this Nell, your writing is really warm and talks to the reader so well. Voted up!
Wow Nell, so that's what's out there in the new world of on-line writing. And I thought tv episode script writing had rules! The scary thing is, what you've described is a cyber-editor rather than a real person! Yikes. Anyway, this is a clever, funny riveting read - no editing needed! Cheers
i remember you from long ago when i was a bit more active on hub pages, and am delighted to see your score of 100.... Hubpages and it's helpful hubbers are a god send. It is hard world out there, and there are so many wanting to write now, i so enjoyed this hub, hope you find the write,, site for you.... oops i mean right. Brenda Scully x
This is wonderful, how true keep it simple and follow your voice. This is a great and to the point guide on freelance writing a simple guide indeed, thanks this will be a big hit! :) Katie
- AUTHOR
Hi, SilverGenes, that was quick! lol I did feel annoyed though, then I realised it was my pride hurting as well as my pocket! thanks again, nell
Nell, it's their loss - bigtime!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Izetti, thanks for reading it, I thought it would be easy! lol never again, well at least not on that site!
Hi, SilverGenes, I was going to try and write for TV, but it was one of those things that I never got around to learning properly, or how to submit it etc, I was so mad with Myams freelance, because they spent all week telling me how great I was, then whoomp! sorry we don't want you!! what got me was that they had about five articles of mine but only paid for two! grrr! never again! I totally agree with you! lol cheers nell
Hi Nell! Great article if somewhat disconcerting. I've been a writer for many years and all that time doing horrid boring things like explaining why you needed things you really didn't need at all. Then I wrote scripts for TV and now that I am home and desperately in need of income, the world has changed! When did writing become worth nothing? What you went through is ridiculous! We writers should band together and stop letting these stupid companies (not HubPages - no no no!) pick up our work for peanuts. They are betting that we are all going to behave like chickens in the farmyard scrambling for the same bit of feed and so far, they are right! Writing is a skill and requires research, thought, and time. We are worth more than this. Nell, I feel your pain!
useful info and sounds a little familiar. I've been down that road too. I'm going to check out one of your links- thanks.
- AUTHOR
Hi, prasetio, thanks so much, I have actually left this site I was writing on, long story! lol it's always nice to see you, cheers nell
Hi, Golfgal, if you don't laugh at yourself then you are doomed to be miserable! lol seriously this was a pain in the dooday, never again on this site! thanks, nell
Thanks Nell, I am a new follower of yours and you made me laugh out loud, yes LOL!!! with exclamations. It is good for the soul to laugh and find humor in the situations we find ourselves in most of the time. We are much too tense in today's world. Best to ya.
Useful information, Nell. Thanks for share this with us. You are one of my favorite writers. I hope I can learn from you and your passion in writing would never end. I always pray for you...amen. God bless you.
Love and peace,
- AUTHOR
Hi, thanks everyone, I have to be quick because my computer is playing up! I have just found out that the site I was writing on is one big fat con! I will explain on my rant soon! arghhh! be careful what site you join, because even I who never trusts anyone fell for it!
Great advice! Glad I found your hub page! I want to explore freelance writing online for the next chapter of my life.
wonderful hub! $30 bucks a week? still it sounds preferable to working at Mcdonalds- thanks for the links; I have been discussing the feasibility of it with myself as my current job ends in May.
Oh Nell I love your hubs and it is no wonder you have such a great following.
I can relate the lady in the box screaming !!! "HubPages freedom.
I am bookmarking this one so that I can refer back to it easily.
Thanks for sharing your talent with us all on here Nell.
Take care
Eiddwen.
I could not write for a living can't spell and it takes me a month to write a page in english, however hubpages is great for that. Thanks Nell you were right when you said "you will enjoy it".
I wish i could write like you do!!!!!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Tina, I am sure you would be great! give it a try, and let me know how you get on, thanks again nell
- AUTHOR
Hi, Polly, I hope to get to that stage, but at the moment I am just doing the cheap sites, its good practice, you never know I might earn loads yet! lol
Hi, Chatkath, thanks so much, I just like learning new things, I am having a well earned break on hubpages at the moment! lol
Thanks Hello hello, I think they do the same to everybody, but it seems to be okay now, and I got paid today!
Hi, Teylina, ha ha I still would with animals! thanks so much!
Hi, Martie, thanks and good luck with the adsense!
- AUTHOR
Hi, AC, give it a go! honestly it is just my humour! if I had done it round the right way in the first place it would have been fine! lol good luck!
Hi, tebo, thats exactly right! I always take a while to get started on a job, then after a while it just gets easier, thanks so much nell
Hi, Fossillady, I am getting there, I hope! lol where we going on our next trip? lol
- AUTHOR
Hi, Ruby don't worry I am not going anywhere! lol I love it here, just trying to earn a few bucks, is that how you spell it? I am getting very Americanised on here, it's great! ha ha
- AUTHOR
Hi, Felicia, I may change the site to an English one, evidently they are better money, but we shall see, thanks again nell
Hi, Spirit, thanks for your comment, I do understand, I got so used to being in an office even working my way up, but of course redundancy comes along and bang! I am seeing it as good practise so I can branch out on my own, hopefully! lol
Hi, Koffee, thanks I never realised it was a con! 2 dollars for a 300 article or 6 for a 5 hundred, oh and with two copies! umm!
Hi, Sufi, wow your site is amazing! you do proper freelance, in other words the ones with higher money you can pick and choose, I am just on the 'churning them out for dollars one' at the moment! If I get as good as you I will be very pleased! thanks for the offer, I may just take you up on it! lol
Hi, lilyfly, thats why I love writing for hubpages, you can use your own way of writing, but I think with practise I can churn out a few freelance ones! lol thanks
- AUTHOR
Hi, Audrey, thanks as always I jumped in head first as usual, but to be honest I am loving the fact that I see money straight away. I am on the bottom rung of the ladder, in other words the articles are only about six dollars each, but it is good practise, maybe one day I will be as good as the top ones!
Nell, another great hub. I have not tried writing yet. I do not think I am good enough. I will bookmark and be back.
Tina
voted up!
Nell, you have a unique style of writing, revealing a beautiful personality. Thanks for these links. I’m looking for some extra sources of income and I would love it to be in some department for writers. I have ages of problems to get an AdSense account. Don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Will have to make time to solve it. Take care!
Really liked this hub! And since I've been in somewhat a similar situation, but feel much less qualified--the hub (and Sufi's comment) hit dead on. I've got to have the humor, and especially if I'm the one that caused it, but this is an area where I don't want to be the butt of jokes! Somehow, I see you making it, though. You do have a "unique voice" and I wish you the best. Anyone who would wade into a mess of men to save an animal (tho' a human might not be worth it--hah!) has got to have what it takes to make it!
How dare they critizise you and I mean it. Thank yhou for the great information.
I just love your fun writing style Nell, you make reading and learning enjoyable with your touch of humor in all the right places...Great Hub!
My daughter-in-law started writing for some places, none in the US yet and gave low bids to get it, like $300 and then after what I guess you call proved herself she got two offers in the thousands and of course none of it is hers once they pay her which is divided as she writes it. Is this the same thing? I just hear what my son tells my husband I don't ask to get nosy since I know I am not going to do it.
So I didn't catch if you're still freelancing. It doesn't sound as much fun as hubpages and I'm sure you can't use the term nekked! That would be a tragedy, tee hee. I'm sorry you haven't found any work, hang in there. PS. I enjoy your writing and I think it is very good!
- AUTHOR
Hi, furnitureman, thanks so much, I try and write it so that people see the human view, I am sure that others have tried freelance but I just thought I would say how I felt! ha ha
Hi, Chris, thanks so much, I just hope it makes me so good and professional that I end up earning thousands! ha ha yeah right!
Another enjoyable read. Sounds like you are starting to make sense of it from your latest reply comments. Good on you. I guess you at least know how much you are going to get paid, and its a bit like starting any new job you nearly always get faster with practice.
- AUTHOR
Hi, lyjo, thanks for stopping by, I make myself laugh sometimes! mainly over the silly things I do! ha ha
Hi, Daisy, ha ha well done you remembered! oops sorry no exclaimation marks! talk about annoying! but it is just brain training, if I can get my brain to work!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Emma I think that with all my moaning I forgot to say that it is probably my fault for jumping in and not learning it properly! lol you will be fine! there are so many sites to start from and the one that I am on is low paid but good practise for the bigger ones later!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Ingenira thanks so much, I try and find the humour when I get in a muddle! lol
- AUTHOR
Hi, Qudsia, oh my goodness!lol to be fair though it was really my fault with this, I am actually getting used to it now, and now that I behave myself and get it done in the right way, I am definitely speeding up a bit! I am on my way over now!
This hub is so incredibly useful, Nell! I am interested in clicking that link to the freelance writing site just to see what it's all about, but I will wait until I have time to watch all those videos. I don't think it will be for me, but I am still going to have a look.
Nell, your writing is really good and you have a sense of humor, to my way of thinking, that's what makes a good writer, so if you want to freelance, go for it but please don't leave HP.
Cheers
- AUTHOR
Hi, Fay I think you have to laugh when something like this happens! lol but I am not giving it up! thanks again nell
You will get there, Nell - writing for clients is a step up in quality, with a very steep learning curve - you need a thick skin. Once you are over that, you will do just fine, especially if you find the right clients. There are a few customers who like exclamation marks and a little craziness.
One tip - if you do decide to use books and videos to learn, try to make sure that you don't lose your unique voice. Anybody can learn to churn out articles to formula - the best freelance writers do it with their own, individual style.
Best of luck - Feel free to send me a PM if you need any advice :)
- AUTHOR
Hi, Enlydia, thanks for reading it, I love writing on here but I needed the pennies! lol cheers nell
Hi, christopher, its not so bad, it just feels not natural to write like that! lol
- AUTHOR
Hi, emily thanks so much, I try and keep my sense of humour when all else fails! ha ha
- AUTHOR
HI, editorsupremo, thanks for reading it, I think it is because we write so freely on here or in a day to day basis. our personality comes across in our writing, however professional we have to be at work. with this it is like having to write like a robot! thanks nell
Nell, your my lodestone! I haven't yet got myself there, as it were- I have to sooth my worst tendencies, expletives especially, but thank you again. When I see what I thought was one of my best poems go down in ranking, I realize my Mother was right, writing is hell!, But it's the only hell that suits me, and so many here on this site I think agree! I can't give up on writing; it hasn't let me go, nor will it, I suspect. Much love and kind thoughts I send your way, voted up, and awesome... of course.
Nell, thanks for the laugh. I know what you mean about the rewriting. I don't know who started that rumor about writing for a living being easy but whoever it was we need to hoist them up by their feet. Great job. Voted up and awesome.
You are a wonderful writer and you make everything you wrote about sound so interesting. There is no reason in the world that someone as creative as you could give me to justify selling your soul like this. I found your hub very interesting but its content upset me. I felt sorry that you had to do this to yourself but then again you are you and I am me and perhaps I must learn to accept the decisions others make for themselves whether or not I agree with them and not be bothered no matter how destructive I view their actions.Sorry Nell I couldn't help speaking my mind but do not wish or mean to offend.
Thanks for the heads up on that Nell. Was thinking of trying it but after writing my own I know a bit how time consuming it can be. Enjoyable to read!
Cheers
Great hub, Nellie - I have to come back and re-read this and re-read this! As usual, well written !!!! and enjoyable!!!
Nell,
Great hub (no exclamation point, even if I really wanted to put one there...)
I went through the same frustrating journey until I realized, I love to write, I am not a "content provider".
The idea of restating copy so someone else can claim it is original and get paid pennies just got me angrier and angrier. The final straw was when payment went from pending to withheld without an explanation.
I hope you have better luck than me, and keep your wonderful sense of humor intact, and continue to write for those of us who love to read your work,
C
Nice hub especially for beginners like me. Thanks, Nell for giving me the much-needed points. I am trying hard to write good hubs and I don't stop reading hubs that inspire me to work really hard. More power, Nell, and may God bless you.
This is so funny, Nell, and it does absolutely fit my own experience - (dare not use an exclamation mark). I only tried one article, and unlike you - gave up immediately - for the moment (aargh, dashes, part sentences, no verb even? Question mark and I,I,I).
Do let us all know how you get on Wish you lots of 'luck'. Apostrophes!!!
Once again, well done, I, and many others love reading your writings...you make me giggle every time...there is much to be said for that...voted up,awesome & funny!
Fantastic hub and loads of good advice.
I have been learning about how to get into freelance writing for a couple of months now. I have spent a lot of time reading articles and looking at videos, but it's overwhelming. All you need is some straight talking advice from a realistic point of view.
I shall let you know how I get on....
Great humour, Nell. :) I enjoyed reading it. You are an awesome writer indeed !
God oh dear Nell! I know exactly what you are on about. Only difference being freelance writing discovered me, after I published, every one wanted me to write content, the thing is at 13 writing about 'things that make your mind go numb' is rather droll.
Honestly, then I was added to this site, where as you put it, it took me a WEEK before I was done reading the rules! By the time I was done, I received an email saying they have changed the rules a little without mentioning where in God's name was the change...
2 weeks later I was like, "Uh, what have I gotten myself into" because I was told that I would be paid only after 6 months have passed, irrespective of how well my content was.
I think that was my breaking point. Cursed under my breath and said 'hell' with it.
I would rather write creatively for my soul then writing this crap for no money.
Then I found another online write fests that enticed me, I worked on it and when payday came, behold apparently the site was hacked, "How perfect..."
Told myself I was never writing for any one with out giving them a set of my rules and contract.
Little things teach you so much.
Great article Nell, much love.
Qudsia Pervez.
P.S: Do stop by, I have this infatuation with poems nowadays. Let me know what you think. :P
Thank you for all the excellent advice. I love your sense of humor.
voted up/useful
Looks like it might be a type of nightmare scenario. I bet you Shakespeare and Dickens didnt have that hassle.
Good luck, and thanks for the warnings.
Nell, it sounds too much like school...
Speaking of school, I spend 6-7 hours a day in school on the computer and have no $ to show for it...but like the hubby says "we are buying time".
Very nice hub Nell, love your sense of humor. Great job, voted up.
That's the thing Nell, I thought exactly the same "writing for a living, how hard can that be?" I soon found out that it was harder than I thought. Qualified as a Lawyer I also got a bit big headed and thought if I can write legal documents I can write anything. But writing for the US market is a different ball game, and minus the expletives, I learned the hard way.
Thans for the freelance links
Editorsupremo
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