There are days when it’s all I can do to keep from lunging at someone…
I love when you guys send me links that either enlighten me or get my Irish up. This week, it’s the Irish. Blog regular and chum Hugh McBride sent this link to an article that details a company’s offer to pay – are you sitting down? – one-fifth of one cent per word for magazine articles.
Another chum and blog frequenter, Meryl Evans, sent this link to AOL’s latest slap in the face in which story submitters (note I didn’t say writers, for they invite anyone with a story idea to submit) get anywhere from “nothing up front and a share of ad revenue to more than $100 per story.” Let’s guess which one that will be, shall we? Since their goal is, according to this Gawker article, traffic whoring, I guess viable, reliable content isn’t really necessary, is it? And while you may not think that’s important, just wait until you need some information for your next article. Don’t turn to the Web. In fact, where do you turn? Huh?
So I have to ask, and I ask this of those people who work for $5, $10, or $20 an article – how low is too low for you? Does this low-arsed rate unnerve you? If so, I have to say you have yourselves to blame for it. The only way ridiculously-low-paying rates can continue is if someone or a group of someones is crazy enough to take it. The farther down we force market rates, the less likely any of us can survive as freelancers.
I’m not here to beat you over the heads with this, but damn, people. Haven’t we had enough of this yet?
15 responses to “The Raw Deals Just Keep on Coming….”
As long as people are delusional enough to work for crap rates, that will continue. There IS decently paying work out there, and client who prize quality over quantity and aren't afraid to pay for it. I get much more satisfaction from a job that's pleasurable and challenging that makes me grow AND pays me what I'm worth than just "tossing off" a piece.
Lori, you and I and a handful of other professionals are always going to survive by our pens. We're getting into survival of the fittest territory here –those of us who are good enough, dedicated enough, motivated enough, and with enough integrity will continue to find the good clients who pay a fair and living wage.
You can't help people who don't want to be helped — it's like any addiction.
As far as finding reliable research on the web, I look for potential sources and then contact them, and/or go to the library or a university. Unless I know the origin of a piece of information and can verify it three separate ways, back when people taught ethical journalism, i don't use it.
I can't help but refer to the client who just returned and agreed without question to pay my rate. Their search for a competent (not even good) replacement went horribly for them. They realized the value in paying more for quality.
That's what I bring to the table, and that's what every writer should strive to bring to the table. Nothing less will suffice. Taking jobs like this that are clearly beneath you – clearly beneath fast-food worker wages – is foolhardy.
One thing I’ve noticed is that some people will apply for certain jobs or gigs without reading through an entire job ad or bothering to ask questions about the position before they apply. They only see a couple of key words in the ad and they’re applying. Then later on, after they started, they find out that it’s not what they anticipated.
Some of those cases, the ad had spelled it all out for them, but obviously, they wanted a job so bad they didn’t bother to read it all. One case was an ad for writers to make $300 a month by writing 150 articles every month. People seemed to think this was a good part time gig that they could do on the weekends.
Later, they found out that they had to write like 37 or so articles a week to make that money. If they read the ad-they would’ve figured that out. Yeah, some people do know what they’re doing and choose to do it anyway, but there are some who obviously don’t or don’t care.
Sometimes, as Lori proved, standing your ground really does pay off. I think a lot of freelancers are afraid that if they don't accept what little is offered, they'll be left with nothing at all.
It all plays into the idea, right or wrong, that writers are insecure and therefor willing to take what crumbs are offered. But wake up, content mill contributors: Crumbs are, well…crummy.
Writers don't get cost of living raises, so we have to build upon whatever it is we currently have, so accepting those crumbs sets a precedent puts you in a negative position from the get go.
There's an interesting debate going on over at Anne's site About Freelance Writing. A guy guest posted, implying he can drive a Porsche on what he earns with eHow. I wouldn't suggest posting as I don't want to bring additional grief to dear Anne, but do read it. I gave him an example based on his figures – he ignored them and made up his own. Clueless.
It's fine if you choose to make less than you're worth. Just don't try convincing the world your lousy math skills justify making ten bucks versus $1,500.
That guy has used the same "Writer A and Writer B" example before. It didn't make sense then and it still doesn't make sense now.
Yea, he thought we wouldn't notice, huh? 🙂
Being new to the freelance gig, your article has caused me to question what a fair payment for my work would be.
Recently, I was solicited by a local women's magazine to write an article about a historical home. The publication pays $200 for 1500 words. Is this fair?
Andrea, that depends. How much time will you put into it? Divide that by the hourly rate you've set for yourself. Also factor in if it's a market or industry you've been dying to break into. If so, it may be justifiable for you to take it despite the low pay.
@ Lori – This guy has been posting on Deb ng's site for some time, and his rant is always the same. Why somebody is so passionate about working for nothing is beyond me.
Also, I've come to the conclusion that he is, as someone implied on Anne's site, full of BS. One day he's making $25,000, the next he "could be" making $50,000 if he really wanted to. Then, a few days later he "was" making $50,000. Now he's making six figures and can buy a Porsche. This is all in the span of the five or six months I've been reading his comments. Talk about rapid growth!! 😉
Maybe it's a really small Porsche? Hot Wheels sized?
It's okay if he says it. It's not up to me to prove he's lying – it's up to him to prove it's true. I think even he would agree it's hard to buy the notion without proof. 🙂
I doubt he works for nothing. Advocates usually are advocates because they're getting extra cash to sing the corporate song, if you get my meaning. Of COURSE it's a great place for them to work! They're not being paid what the worker bees are forced to survive on.
And I don't even have to go over to Anne's to know who you're talking about. I have gotten to where I have to skip his comments. Too wordy for my tastes (among other adjectives that spring to mind).
@ Becky – That's hilarious!! I skip them too. I can feel my blood pressure going up whenever I read them.
Beyond the post he left behind, I've never encountered the man. So my experience with him, virgin as it was, was based on nothing more than my own impressions. Funny how we can all came to the same conclusion!
You can find him just about anywhere that talks about these content mills. Could be a marketing ploy for his consulting services. If that's true; unfortunately, he's not the only one to try to capitalize on the debates. (even those on our side are doing it too.)