Comments on: Worthy Tip: This Job, Not That Job

By: Samantha Bangayan

Samantha Bangayan — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:38:33 +0000

Wow!! Thank you everyone, especially Gabriella and Wendy, for your encouragement! I applied to 5 clients yesterday and will try magazines today. Lori, I found your guest posts on query letters and I'll review Wendy's post on being an ex-mill writer! Thank you so much for the resources and energy!! =)

Sam

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:51:01 +0000

A note on SELF magazine — their tone is very specific, so if you pitch to them, make sure you read a few of the articles. I have not written for them, but the people I know who have had a good experience there, especially under the current editor.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:38:22 +0000

Thanks, Jenn. I totally misunderstood the charge. :)

Oh you're right, Wendy. It's not the worst. It may qualify for the worst spelled, but it doesn't expect writers to be on call 24/7 or work midnight to seven am.

Amazing how some people don't understand that "free" in "freelance" means free from restrictive hours.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:00:33 +0000

Quick note (and sorry if someone else already mentioned it): Paypal doesn't charge you for verification. They just do what a lot of companies do — they issue a small charge to prove the card is valid and then they refund the amount back to your account (either your Paypal account or CC — not sure which in their case). Pretty common practice.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:23:12 +0000

Samantha, it is intimidating. I hear you there. But, ads like the first one, can "empower" us to keep on walking-straight to ads like the 2nd one.

Lori, I don't think this example is the worst, but it annoyed me. Recently, I saw an ad for Professional Resume Writers. They were looking to hire for "all shifts". Shifts? Really? Makes me think of the factory plant I used to work some overnight shifts on. It might be just me, but I don't think Professional Resume Writers and shifts should be associated together.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:59:54 +0000

Ah, Jake! That explains it. Typo! LOL

Paula, you may refer to yourself in the lower case, but you are a capital person (stolen from Russell Hoban).

Gabriella, you did mention that. Just nuts, isn't it?

By: Jake P

Jake P — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:26:29 +0000

I'm pretty confident the author of that ad meant to use "impoverish," not "empower."

By: paula

paula — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:33:15 +0000

sometimes it's nice to remind those cheapskates that in the end they really do get what they [don't] pay for.

[it might look like i, too, am e.e. cummings, but i'm using punctuation. and it's because my shift key isn't working.]

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:29:53 +0000

Go Samantha!

Anybody who has your research skills and determination should be making MUCH more than content mills offer. Believe in yourself, and don't quit pitching ideas. You'll fine someone who'll let you in the door, and then you'll be off!

Lori, as for the worst I've seen, I think I explained that recently I had to turn down a book project because the editor offered $.10 a word. She said, "Yeah, people complain, but it's just what writers are paid these days."

Sorry, but if you don't value your writers, that says a lot. I'll pass!

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:22:03 +0000

Samantha, it's obvious to me that you're ready. You're well above your current situation. :)

Give a look through the past blog posts on this topic. It may help you find alternatives. And make sure you read the post titled Confessions of an Ex-Mill Writer. Wendy tells how she got out. You can do it! :)