Sports writer
Copywriter for company newsletters, website, etc.
Writer for B2B construction mag
Copywriting agency seeking freelance writers
Writers to join writing services company
Magazine article writers
Writers for website
Football writers
iPhone blogger
Write online content
Write ebook on sales techniques
Press release writers
Write real estate articles
Automotive content writers
Green blogger
Write pop culture scripts
Writers for lawinfo.com
Wine and technology blogger
About.com actively recruiting for guides
Online entrepreneur blogger
Short bio writing
Celebrity gossip blogger
Press release writer
PR article blog writer
Write sports posts
Quick turnaround articles
Write an artist bio
ScriptLance jobs:
Cell phone blogger
Winning lottery tips blogger
Interior design articles
32 keyword articles
Write product reviews
I do my best to weed out the obvious scams before posting job links, but I don't contact or research every employer before including them in the daily job listings. I would love to be able to do that for my readers, but I simply don't have the time. For that reason, there are some questionable jobs that slip through -- like one I posted yesterday, titled "Web copywriters" that linked to a Raleigh Cragslist posting.
I sent a short email response to the ad simply asking for more information. This morning I received a lengthy email asking for a lot of information. As I glanced through the email, it raised several red flags for me, so I visited the website it contained. The claims made on the site seemed over-the-top, so I googled the first company name, "Internet Illuminations." Nothing but job listings. I searched "Google news" and came up with nothing. Then I tried searching the name of the owner along with the company, "Internet Illuminations" James Mitchell. Still nothing but job listings. Finally, I tried searching the owner's name and city "James Mitchell" Boston.
Bingo! There is a lot of interesting information out there on "James Mitchell" Boston, not the least of which is this article in Boston Magazine.
Now it's possible that this new company is legitimate and that James Mitchell has started a legitimate business, but are you willing to bet at least 20 hours of your workweek, every week on that?
I write all this so that freelance writers, especially those just starting out who are very hungry for their first jobs, will always be on the lookout for scams. There's no point in getting a gig if you're only going to be taken advantage of.
So how do you know if what looks like a good gig is really a scam? In most cases there's no way to be 100% sure until you've been taken for a ride. But there are some good ways to protect yourself. If you start getting even a slight inkling that not everything is on the up-and-up, it's time to either take a closer look, or walk away. Ten minutes of research can save you hours of unpaid work.
To help protect yourself, watch for these red flags:
- Overly high pay rates (You aren't going to make $50,000 a year writing 10 hours a week for a single company.)
- Vague descriptions of work
- Requiring substantial amounts of work completed before payment will be made
- Payment by check (unless it is a large company that you are sure is legitimate, and even then be careful. I did a lot of work for a well-known large company two years ago and to this day haven't received a cent. Even though I faxed and snail-mailed the payment documents they asked for five different times, they continued to claim they never received them, so I couldn't be paid. Strangely, they received the fax containing the work product on the first try.)
- Demanding a lot of personal information
- Refusing to use an escrow service for large jobs
- Asking for custom-written "samples" before hiring (100-200 word samples may be ok, but usually those asking for an entire article are just looking to take your work and run)
- Being overly demanding and picky (some clients are picky, but some are looking for an excuse to deny payment, as you become more experienced, you will be able to spot the difference. Typically, the scammer looking to avoid payment makes unreasonable demands and asks for contradicting re-writes.)
- Asking you to complete more work than agreed upon, but at the same price
- Asking you to invest significant time into a project without guarantee of payment
- Promises of "write for free now and you'll make money later"
There are also several sites where you can check out potential employers to see if other writers have had complaints. My favorite of these is Writer Beware, maintained by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America organization. The site also has a fairly new blog that lets writers comment about scams.
Another good resource is the Protect Yourself page at Writer's Digest.
Have fun writing, but protect your work! It's ok to write for free -- if you know in advance that you're writing for free. :)
It's wonderful Wednesday because there's lots of wonderful opportunities today:
Home editor for Stylehive.com
Write about the TV industry for b5 media
Write about teen TV dramas for b5 media
Write about Nickelodeon TV shows for b5 media
Ghostwrite promotional book for accounting biz
Financial writer
Business news editor
Green electronics blogger
(If you get this gig and let them know I referred you, I'll split the referral fee with you)
Online game guide writers
Biographer needed
Press release writer
Direct mail copywriter
Parenting editor
Write RFPs for construction firm
Articles on healthy pet food
Home remodeling and furnishing writer
Press release writer
Marketing writer
Tech blogger
Edit copy for book
Technology reporter
I hoped things would pick up after the holiday weekend and it looks like they have. Here are some great job listings:
-- In addition to the job listings here, I'm also looking for some guest bloggers to make occasional posts on my new travel blog. I want guest bloggers from different areas around the country to post about their area and to answer traveler's questions about that area. If you're interested, send a brief paragraph about your writing experience and the area where you're located. Use the "Click Here" to contact me button located on the upper right-hand section of this page to submit your information. Please don't submit any attachments.--
Bright Hub seeking writers
Clement Communications looking for freelance writers for assignments
Web site copywriters wanted
Freelance writer to cover books and authors
Press release writer
Writers and bloggers for tech website
Writers for various assignments
Write magazine articles
Write and design newsletter
Write technology reviews
Business news editor
Fitness blogger
Sports bloggers
Contributors for online parenting magazine
Write kids wiki posts
Write a bio
I cleaned out my beading closet today, since I no longer have time (or really the interest) for beading anymore and posted them in one gigantic lot on ebay with a $1 starting bid and no reserve. If you're a writer who loves beads or jewelry, or know someone who does, get a great deal and help me get these out of my house (so I can have room for other junk. :) )
Here's the auction:
Super Huge Lot Gemstone Beads, Sterling Findings & Jewelry
My recent post, "Writers Who Are Also Photographers" was honored as a top 5 post of the week on Plotdog.com's WOOF (Writers Offering Our Finest) weekly contest.
Thank you so much Plotdog!!!
Here's the post of the top 5 winners:
Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them.
Top 5 Picks
About Writing
Miss Write - "Rethink These Writing Myths"
Gargantua Stormcaller - "Ten Pitfalls of Fanfiction”
Tammy Searles - "Writers who are also photographers"
Fiction
Jenn - "An Unexpected Independence Day Celebration"Poetry
Matthew S. Urdan - "Circles"
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLOTDOG PRESS FEATURING:
A Novel Approach Series - DRAFT NOVEL - Intervention Chapter 1
It looks like it's going to take a day or two for employers to catch up from the holiday weekend. The job pickings are scarce this Monday morning, but here are the freelance writing jobs that are out there:
Web copywriters for many projects
Prevention magazine looking for online contributors
Stock market blogging
Help finish writing a proposal
Write summaries
Medical writing
Financial newsletter writer
Articles on writing
Write/edit travel articles
Newsletter writer
Musician's bio
Write articles (not much info provided)
MexicoXpatz mag call for content
Writer for marketing company
Science and technology reporter
Medical bloggers
Write short summaries
ScriptLance jobs:
Articles on losing weight
Write resume
Weight loss e-book
Weekly articles on sleep disorders
It's a typical writing day. I was chugging right along, and about halfway through this list when the interruptions started. It's taken the rest of the time just to finish this list. :) I know that I'm not alone when it comes to trying to find a solid chunk of time to write. The only solution I've found is to stick with it. Anyway, here's today's job listings:
Bloggers for new women's network
Jewelry description writers
Conservative political content writer
Bloggers on all topics (ad share)
Newsletter writer
Web copywriter
Writers for indie music e-mag
Write about horse racing
Health/personal care SEO writers
Quick editor needed for one-time job
Write about poker
Writers for variety of topics
Writers for ongoing assignments
Newsletter writer
Grant writer (unpaid, but sounds like it may be interesting)
Writers for New York-based startup
Culinary site seeks writers
Writers for Christian publication
Mahalo.com seeking writers
Writers for South Asian mag
Writers sought to join ghostwriting team
Blog for Terrastories (I've written a few blog posts for this site and have always been paid very promptly.)
Auto writer
Financial writer
Newsletter editor