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Had a good day yesterday. I finished all my interviews for Article #1 and had time to field a client call and get some work done on two books. Plus I got some LOIs out to some companies. I noticed it’s also time to follow up with a few more, so that will be today’s job.
Then I made dinner. Kung Pao Sliders, miso soup, and lo mein. We were stuffed.
It’s time once again for our This Job, Not That Job, where I compare seemingly similar gigs side by side and we tear apart the imposter.
Here’s a job that’s pretty typical of a smelly, slimy little attempt to get work for nothing:
Writers for a Global Travel Destination Guide
I am looking for multiple writers that are interested in getting some travel writing experience. This is a great opportunity.The articles are short. You can do just one and get the byline for it, or do one per week and be able to put on your resume that you are an associate editor for the site. Bylines are given for all articles.Please let me know if you are interested.
Compensation: bylines and resume experience.
Oh, where to begin? How about the “multiple writers” wording, since that’s listed first? It should be your first red flag, for any client looking for “multiple” anything and not offering “multiple” assignments isn’t serious about finding a professional writer.
Here’s another fun phrase: “This is a great opportunity.” That’s probably true, but it’s not great for anyone but the person getting all the free writing. Red flag #2.
Ooo, did you see the third red flag? “…be able to put on your resume that you are an associate editor for the site.” Right. That and a slice of bread will get you, er, a slice of bread. While this may sound appealing to new writers, know that if that site isn’t impeccably edited or even marketed with any sense of business savvy, you’re going to look like the same kind of rank amateur that this job poster obviously is.
You get a byline. Be still my freaking heart. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that line, I would make more money than this clown intends to ever fork over. Bylines attached to worthless sites are just that. Worthless.
Instead, try something like this:
TRAVEL SMART
Monthly travel-related newsletter focusing on travel values.
Pays $150 maximum for 100-1,500 words.
Seriously, it’s not a ton of money, but it’s not free. My suggestion would be to aim much higher up the food chain, but if you’re starting out, this is a legitimate market.
Do you know of better markets than this one? Share it here.
What bad stuff have you seen lately?
Even my *mom* doesn't care about my bylines anymore.
Travel is a rough sector, because there are so many people who are willing to write for free or pennies. The compounding factor is that many FLers fantasize about winning a Condé Nast or Travel+Leisure golden ticket. Which is why my vision of Hell would be an eternal stint as the submissions editor for one of those magazines.
My success querying in travel has been for trade or custom mags, golf (because I've got a deep resume in it), and the sailing magazine that I told you about during our coffee klatch.
Jake, I do remember. Sounded like a super plan, too. Interested in putting that together for a guest post?
I saw one similar to your approach – a healthcare travel magazine. I'm curious enough to go back when I have time and explore that!
Jake's experience, and the healthcare travel mag you mentioned, prove how with a creative pitch you can slant specialty articles for what on the surface are unlikely markets. Just because a magazine focuses on, say, lawncare doesn't mean they might not love a creative pitch on lawncare tips from the person in charge of the lawn and garden at some huge, famous resort. The result: a hybrid lawncare/travel piece.
As for the bad ad, it didn't help to see them refer to writers as "that" instead of "who." Writers are more than providers of (in this case, free) content. We're people, too.
Sure, LW, I can cook up something for ya.
Yay! Jake is guest posting! :))
Paula, there's that to consider. LOL
Wow, what timing. I read an article earlier today about what not to say to your employees, and "This is a great opportunity" is one of them. If it actually is a great opportunity, that fact will be easily recognizable in the job. If what you have to say needs the preface, whoever you're saying it to will know they're getting a crappy job dumped on them. Putting sprinkles on it ain't gonna help.
I had someone tell me recently that "this would be a great opportunity to get your name in the masthead." I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I wanted to say, uh dude, I have my name in the masthead of magazines all over the city. But I restrained myself. Barely. Go me!
Love this article— and I had to add my two cents. Don't you just love these "great opportunities?' How about ads to write for the whopping sum of $1.50 per 500 words– with the enticing promise of lots more work! LOL— really, I can work for peanuts for a long time?!
But Paula, you don't believe them? LOL
Denise, glad you added your two cents! (And by the way, that's probably more than you'd be paid per word for those articles you mention!) I've often wondered too how writers can be enticed by such crap. I love how you say it – can you really work for peanuts for a long time? Answer is definitely no, but there are writers who will try!