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!
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