Freelance Jobs: Making Money, Not Spending Money

by Ron Samul

Every few days I go through Craigslist in my area and see what kind of writing jobs and gigs are out there. I have worked as a freelance journalist and boxing writer for awhile and I had made some connections with people looking for content for their blogs. I saw a listing that paid for any kind of writing. I responded and was offered an email sign up. That should have been the first clue that something wasn’t right. During the sign up portion – it is explained in very simple terms that if you write a lot – you will get paid a lot. They want content and as long as you can write a sentence, you can make it work. The catch is the $2.95 sign up fee. Now, I can spare two dollars and ninety-five cents and I would do it willingly if I knew exactly what I was getting into. They promise a list of jobs that I can pick from and write and write until I am rich. The initial set up fee was $69.95 but it was reduced – if you act now. They had a timer running that showed me how long this offer will last. It had fifteen minutes on it – and counting down. When I refreshed – it rest back to fifteen minutes. That is where I stopped. Something was fishy – in fact, something was really fishy.

In writing, I’ve learned an important lesson – if agents and freelance sites are looking for your $25 or $50 dollars, they probably aren’t working for you, but collecting small increments of money in order to keep their business afloat.

I didn’t go beyond the registration fee at this freelance writing website, and perhaps it is a legitimate outfit. Yet, writers who are professional and value their work shouldn’t be misled into a service or agreement where they are shelling out any money for their work.

As writers, we are looking for affirmation and a break that will shift are writing career into gear. It might be that agent, or that three part article, or that technical manual that will be the break we’ve been waiting for. But when you add in the hours we spend writing, connecting with other writers, looking for jobs, education, and late nights working – it doesn’t justify paying any small fee to get in the door. Don’t be duped by marketing companies looking for ways to offer you that affirmation of a writing life by picking your pockets little by little. Always do your research with agents and make sure they have a code of ethics and belong to the Association of Author Representatives. I have discovered that if you find a legitimate space to place your writing, you should gain (at the least) a publishing credit that doesn’t cost you a cent. There are others who put a higher premium on their work and some may deserve it. However, small publications, e-writing, and blogs don’t always have money to pay contributors. But, it is possible to get your work out to a large audience and build some forward progress. You might not get paid, but you are not paying out.

An exception to this is the awards and contests, specifically for creative writing. Writers can submit to awards and contest that will require that you pay a fee. It is from this fee that they derive the funds to run the contest, hire a judge, and eventually print the winners. Simply put, always read the submission guidelines and understand what they are looking for. Understand the market and the contest you are applying for and see if your work is compatible. It will save you the time and money when you can avoid awards and contests that aren’t looking for your writing.

Professional listing, groups, and unions often require dues to participate. I appreciate that and it is very clear what is involved up front. These professional organizations are small and rely on membership and dues.  Yet, when an agent asks for $200 for copies, you might go along with it. But it makes you wonder if they are selling manuscripts or just collecting fees. Professional groups add clout to your experience and resume. It shows that you are not just interested in writing, but the profession at large.

With limited incomes and recession worries on the mind of writers, freelance opportunities are an option. But always work with people and editors, not computer interfaces, websites, and fee based membership clubs.  Always read the fine print when it comes to websites that promise a substantial income. It might be legitimate, but often it is too good to be true. Below are a few more tips.

• Work with people you know already. Ask an old assignment editor or query your old boss looking for freelance work.
• Network in your field of expertise.
• Check with your full time job and see if they have a newsletter, publicity department, or internal writing jobs that you can work on.
• Considering breaking into a market for free to build up some writing samples. If you write about dogs, write a few for a blog or website and build your reputation. Then you can begin to develop a fee schedule.
• Don’t rely on one particular source for work. Diversify your contacts and your writing and you will find more opportunity.
• If you can’t get paid for writing, think about how you can use it for your writing resume. If you don’t get compensation, gain a skill or background that can be applied directly into your writing resume. It may not be immediate gratification, but it might work out at a job interview.
• Join professional groups in journalism, writing, and professional associations. Showing your clients and editors that you are dedicated to your writing as a profession show a professional commitment.

All writers know they won’t get rich on freelance work, but if you stay focused and professional, you will see through the scams and the people who will waste your time, and begin publishing in a diversified area of print and new media.