Cathy, that's how I read it, too. If you're whining about the state of things, you're allowing too many people to tell you how much you're able to earn. That's horse hockey — you set your rates. Not some stranger.

Anne, I can't quit this one– I'm one of the moderators. 🙂 I suspect this guy was feeling trapped. He's not allowed to earn more than he does (probably collecting SSI or something similar), and feels restricted. That's a good reason to feel so frustrated. It's not a good reason to paint the entire state of freelancing with the same brush. It's simply not true that those jobs are all there is.

Great way to think of them, Paula. If more people viewed content mills as timeshares, we'd have fewer content mills!

Glad you busted that guy… what was his agenda I wonder?

So much fear out there… you know me, it's write, rewrite and market.

Just like you shouldn't judge because you don't know everything there is about another person's life (or career), so, too, should you not assume you know what's best for me.

And, along the lines of Allie, I prefer to associate with more positive people. Like I always say, I have enough of my own problems, I don't need to take on yours. 🙂

I just don't get it. We all know other writers because it's sorta a small world. I don't know a single professional writer who's had to turn to those low-paying gigs, despite the economy.

It's all about understanding your own worth–and expecting nothing less. I actually think you win converts when you politely tell people that you can't work for their rate.

It has to come off like, "It's nothing personal, just not what I charge." Over time, many will get a first-hand education in the "you get what you pay for" model, and that benefits us all.

Allie, great to have you come out of lurkdom. 🙂 I seriously love your attitude! I like positive people too, and I try to be positive in what can be accomplished if you try. You're so right — if you try, it's out there and it's going to be better!

You're a good friend, Paula. She'll do much better without that experience in her profile.

I saw the thread you're talking about, Lori, but the guy came across to me as a blow-hard know-it-all, so I paid little mind to his comments.

The other day I noticed that a very dear friend of mine (trying to re-launch her writing career after getting her MA and dealing with some major health issues) had an LinkedIn update about Helium writers. I immediately advised her to remove that, explaining how some prospective clients – editors especially – might not take her seriously if they see any association to a known content mill. I guess she'd been lured by the idea joining Helium might lead to steady assignments, but hadn't yet written anything for them. She thanked me and removed it from her profile.

Then we discussed how seeking out places she's interested in working for and sending out LOIs will give her better odds of landing some assignments than replying to job ads or content mills. I made a list of some things she's really knowledgeable about or enjoys and told her to search for places that do or cover those things and let them know they need her services.

Then I sent an LOI of my own.

I don't like the "nothing better" complaint, not because it's never true — there are always exceptions — but just because it's such a negative attitude to take toward something you supposedly love to do. I want to be surrounded by positive people, because when things get hard I have to push through and not get bogged down. I don't want to hear that things can't be done, there's nothing better out there — because I will find a way and I will find something better!