Comments on: Free Advice Friday: This Job, Not That Job

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:24:28 +0000

Devon, like you, I either expect a small payment for the sample (a sign of good faith on their part) or I provide one I've written that comes close.

Ironically, the clients who have hired me at my current rate have never asked for a sample.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:23:03 +0000

Lori,

Totally agree. Those who demand "free samples" usually have no intention of hiring anyone. They'll take the freebies, change the company name, and use the work without payment.

When asked for "free samples", my response is that I don't do project-specific samples without payment. They can look at similar articles in the portfolio, or they can negotiate a special test rate.

I'm doing a script job that's a test for a bigger project -- they were upfront about wanting to make sure the writer could match tone, and absolutely brought up paying each person in the "test" round a fair price for the script. We had some terrific discussions about content, slant, etc., and they are the type of company with whom I hope I get to do more work.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:14:11 +0000

Paula, I don't think non-writerly types understand just what they're asking for. I remember being asked to write a comprehensive overview of the state of workers compensation - in 750 words. I said it wasn't going to be possible, and of course it wasn't. But when they severed ties with me, guess who was blamed? Luckily, they had a PR woman at the time who'd called and said "It's not you. You're the fourth writer they've been through."

Cathy, I know what you were charged. They approached me, too. I nearly took it!

Jake, you should have seen the headlines. Thankfully, the editor chose to go a bit more, uh, sober with the heads. He let me loose with the subheads, and he said his art director was eagerly awaiting the chance to put her treatment on it. :)

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 03:56:05 +0000

At least these crap jobs are good for something Lori — a good laugh. 😉

By: Jake Poinier

Jake Poinier — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 19:19:53 +0000

Way to tap into your inner Cheech & Chong on those subheads, LW!

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:26:14 +0000

I won't even mention how low my compensation was for several insurance courses. 😉 Back when I was dumb and dumber. 🙂

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:14:15 +0000

Many years ago I wrote regularly for company that published a dozen or more high-end sales and marketing newsletters. They paid 50-cents a word and most articles only needed one or two sources.

The company was bought out. The editor I worked with for several years was out. His replacement asked me to write a 600-word article with 12 sources...and was offering 10-cents per word. I laughed. Who cares if she was offended by my laughter, I was offended by that insulting offer. I said, "You expect me to squeeze 12 sources into a 600 word article that only pays $60? You do realize their names and titles alone will eat up the entire word count, right? But you still want the points you listed to be covered. If you think that's possible, have fun with that."

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:41:07 +0000

Cathy, that's one of those life-sucking jobs. Awful. I had one of those, too. It was writing an insurance course for $3,500. Sounded great until I was eight months into it with no end in sight. Ugh.

We do, Sharon. :) Thankfully, we have help from our friends understanding what we're worth!

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:09:15 +0000

Great examples, Lori. When you're new to freelancing, it's easy to get fooled by the headline figure. Luckily, we all wise up soon enough.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:29:50 +0000

Early in my freelancing career, I came across an ad for an online magazine for writing health articles. The pay was okay (I thought). Then I received the topics - 1) How the immune system changes with age, 2) Aging genetics-what are gatekeeper genes, 3) Emerging research on aging and genetics.

Not exactly something I could write off the top of my head.

It went from what I thought would be an hour's work for a draft to hours of research before I even started a draft.

And to rub salt in the wound, they took over 6 months to pay me the measly fee.