From now on I’m taking Eileen’s approach to job listings – I’m not going there. For here’s what happened last week when I did.
The ad was for a business article writer. The poster did write back. Let’s just say for once, price wasn’t the major issue. Here’s the response:
“In most cases, you’d need to Google to find source articles/posts to blend & rewrite to 60% original. Then you would add a few sentences you think will give the piece more quality thinking / a good flow.”
For those of you new to freelancing, that’s called plagiarism. Making it “60% original” does not make it your work. It makes it someone else’s work with edits. You can call it “blending” and “rewriting” all you want, but if it’s not your original copy, you’re stealing it. And don’t think these freaks who post these ads are going to take the heat should the authors sue. You, my friend, are going to be the primary target.
I sent back a response to the poster, who also wanted to pay me a whopping $6 per 420-word page. I made sure to point out the plagiarism concerns that this person should also be considering.
You already know what the response was, don’t you? Yes, the job poster sent a note full of justifications. “I’m afraid you don’t know the entire process, only the set up that I was asking you to handle. There’s quite extensive work that I do to edit and improve what’s you would have given to me. If you had re-worked it to the extent I asked, I then would have had something fairly unique with which to do my own deep embellishes and improvements.”
Whatever. Your own misspellings aside, you’re proposing that your contractors steal someone else’s work, rewrite parts of it, and you’re paying them garbage rates to do so. Put whatever spin you want on it – it’s still illegal and unethical.
Thanks for the link love, Lori. It boggles my mind that so many people think that changing a percentage of the words in an article makes it okay. How do they not get that it’s stealing? As for answering ads in general, even the honest ones, they’re such a cattle call. Usually you’re competing with dozens, if not hundreds, of other responders, most of whom are willing to work for peanuts.
Eileen, look at the comment I added (just heard back from them). It’s an attempt to justify regurgitating someone else’s work. It’s still unethical and damn if it’s not illegal on some level.
I see ads like this all the time too. I’m a writer, not a plagiarizer, dang it!
Oh, and I’ve been kind of busy, what with work picking up and a weekend that was finally nice. However, I will be giving your Writers’ Worth Day a shout-out as soon as I get a chance. I’m ALL over its intentions.
Note to all the doofuses who’d consider taking this kind of work:
If this person is this openly unethical at this stage of the game, do you think his ethics will improve when it comes to paying you?
This is just plain wrong, so let’s get that out of the way first. But even if you’re desparate and rationalizing taking on this kind of assignment for whatever silly reason, it’s a bad business investment for writers! You will be left holding the bag legally and financially.
Oh, why do we have to keep explaining this to people?
yep, another scammer out there… sigh
glad you tried to educate him… it was a him, right? 😉
Anne Wayman
I can’t tell from the name what gender, Anne.
Good point, Gabriella. Payment collection would be a problem!
Kathy, glad to see you around, hon. 🙂
Gabriella – hear, hear!!!
This kind of thing makes me so angry. Especially his response. As if another round of edits significantly changes the article. Whatever. And besides, if he’s so interested on putting his own spin on it, why is he hiring writers? I know a lie when I smell one.
So maybe I shouldn’t feel left out by all the jobs I’ve bid on and haven’t heard anything back? Sheesh.
Kirk, it’s just brutal out there.
I love the use of “deep embellishes” and “something fairly unique” to try masking the fact that this is theft. I don’t care how “extensive” your work is, you’re still starting with a piece that ISN’T YOURS.