Testing, testing... Oh, FU!

7:39 a.m. and I'm going to sit down and write an article about writing for Freelancer sites and bidding on them. I need to know how long it takes to write an article about a subject I am familiar with, and what I would actually be getting paid per hour to write 500 word articles for $1 to $3, which seems to be the going rate. So, this is basically a test as well as an information article. This is... let's see … 82 words so far.

So, the problem I'm having with the freelancer sites is that, as I've told many people, talented, English-speaking writers are being forced to bid against ESL (English Second Language) writers who run into the room and yell, "I'll do that for $2 and a scrap of bread!" on a $2,000 project. Not good.

I feel for these people, usually from third world countries where they are practically starving, but this is bringing everyone down to the level of pay of the most desperate. I've been thinking about starting a global writer's guild. That's the only way to get the rates up for everyone.

OK, this is now, let's see...196 words.

So, I've worked on Freelancer dot com and I've made a total of $660 after fees. I think that was after fees? Anyway, that was doing work at a tenth of the recommended fee schedule of the Editorial Association of America. I've checked out other writing sites, like DoNanza and Elance, and they seem to be pretty much the same – projects are going out on budgets of $250 tops which should be paying $2500. Sad, but there it is.

I really wonder if there is a way to correct this situation. I see people with degrees from Universities and years of experience bidding on these pitifully paid projects. Say that three times fast. No, don't.

So, here I am writing on a subject that I am knowledgeable about – writing. And it's taken me, let's see, until 7:50 am to get this far. This far is: 342 words.

My son refuses to work on these sites because of the low bidder factor. He has no experience, so he'd be working for pennies just to build his reputation. I'm trying to get him some projects, but I really have to push. I even put up a work project especially for him. And he wouldn't take it, at the time. So, what next?

How do I start a writer's union? I was thinking of starting one, a little tongue-in-cheek, called Freelancer's Union (note the acronym FU) Yes, I meant that. FU. Something for those people who want to make writers into slaves to think about.

And this is, what...? 453 words, 7:56 am.

So, fifty words to go... Let's see, what else can I throw in here, just to fill the page and get my timing test done? See, normally, writing an article would include some research, so this is an optimistic estimate of my work value. I can't normally write this fast, off the top of my head.

And this is... 516 words. 7:58 am.

58

-39

19 minutes

Which means, if I slam three articles off an hour (really?) I'd make from $3 to $9 an hour. Yes, we need an FU. A rousing FU!