Here is an example of why it is so important to pay attention to your work

[kdbbiz]

Hi all, I thought I would share something with you today. I recently received a contract for writing which was paying me $30 for a 600 word article. I was elated! Now, due to this, I guess I got a little cocky and needed to be knocked down a peg or two because something happened next that made me realize that if you do not pay attention and treat all jobs the same, this could happen to you.

I still like to go around and find writing jobs wherever so that I can test them out and let my other moms know the best places to find writing jobs they can do.

Browsing through the WAHM forum as I love to do, I came across a thread that was talking about a company called Content Authority. They only pay $3.50 an article but I thought it might be an ok place for people to get started and learn the ropes before they go higher on up in pay. Plus, other members were saying that they gave out easy articles that often required no research, thus making it worth my while to investigate.

While in the application process, they asked you to write a short 150 word sample on "freelance art". So, I did. I did not do research and I did not proof read my work.

I received an email today saying I had been turned down for the job because my sentences did not make sense in the English language. They gave me an example and I realized it was because I had typos and forgot a comma or two.

I had to laugh! How could someone who had just earned the right to write for $30 an article get turned down for $3.50 an article?!!! How humbling it was to me. :(

So, I just wanted to let you all know, that no matter what the earnings are, or the job is, remember that it is YOU that is on the line. Take the same amount of care in no matter what you do. Even if it does not pay off in the monetary way, it will in the spiritual realm.

I would love to hear comments, thoughts, or other experiences from any of you.

Melanie

[WAHumor]

So which language DID you write it in? :cool:

Good advice for everyone!!


Dan

[TerriB]

I love this! We need to be knocked off our pedestal every know and then. :) Just makes us appreciate everything that comes our way!!

[Courtney]

I've been there - not for writing but for web design stuff. I am a lot more particular about any work I do now.

[chickblogger]

To be honest, I might have been in the same position. Because I guess we feel if they're only willing to pay $3.50 an article we assume that their standards are lower. But you know what? Usually they are, you must have gotten an eagle eye. lol.

Still if your name is attached to an article, it pays to submit 100% of your best effort. Great story! (and yes, it sounds very humbling)

p.s. I have been writing since 2007 (yes! 2007) for a green blog which does not pay me $30 an article, but I love working for them. And have no plans to quit. As long as they'll have me, I will write for them.

It's actually how I got my start in all this web wackiness. Had I been too proud to accept the job, everything that has followed since then might never have happened.

[retta719]

I love this post, thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. I think we all need things like this now and then.

[dbjbob]

hears music. "I get knocked down but I get up again" lol I seem to have heard that music a lot over the years.

[kdbbiz]

thank you for all of your replies. I am glad so many of you could get something from the post. We really need to take pride in all that we do and as long as we are consistent in our efforts, it will not be a failure if we get denied for things in the future.

dbjbob-I love that song and it is appropriate. They are good words to live by.

[Engage]

I heard this story on the radio this week. True story.

This woman lived with her husband in a dumpy little house on a busy highway. Trucks hauling fish parts use to spill the overflow at their front door as they drove by. It was all they could afford for now.

Behind the house was some wetlands. After awhile she got curious about what was going on in the marsh. She didn't know anything about nature, so she looked stuff up. She observed, and took notes.

Eventually her notes started turning in to an article. She wasn't sure how good it was, as she'd never written anything before.

She thought it would be fun to share the article, but she didn't know anything about the publishing business either.

Some people told her she should start with small local publications, and gradually work her way up, as that's how it's done.

It seemed like good advice, but she decided to send her article to the NY Times instead, just for fun.

A few days later they called, and gave her article the front page of one of their sections, everything above the fold, all hers.

[lisamariemary]

p.s. I have been writing since 2007 (yes! 2007) for a green blog which does not pay me $30 an article, but I love working for them. And have no plans to quit. As long as they'll have me, I will write for them.

It's actually how I got my start in all this web wackiness. Had I been too proud to accept the job, everything that has followed since then might never have happened.

I think that's how I connected with you on Twitter, too! ;)

Great post, Mel! You're so right about putting our best foot forward, no matter what! Congrats on the $30 job! :)

And great story, Engage - I love it!

[MaryGallagher]

Melanie,
Thanks for sharing this. There are excellent points made here about writing and humility and story. I sometimes get lost in a bigger picture & forget the importance of details, especially for the eyes of others. It really pays to proof things and it is much easier to be excellent when you love what you are doing. I get careless when I care less... So, to care more about writing (and other stuff) is my goal now!

Best,
Mary

[anitahampl]

So what is a good price for someone to ask for article writing (I'm thinking EZA quality)? Do you typically take assignments by the bundle (e.g. 10 articles about how to avoid tennis elbow), and would those cost less per word than one at a time articles?

I'm trying to get a handle on what's reasonable to ask for, and how it could fit in or replace other types of income if someone needed to replace a full-time "job" income.

BTW Melanie, that story is funny, and a great reminder for all of us. Thanks!

[kdbbiz]

thanks to all of you who have taken something from my story and left me with kind and understanding words.

Anita- I do primarily work for .03-.04 a word but there are others out there that ask for and earn more. It would be nice to make more, which is why I am also a VA. Between the 2, I sit ok right now. When my 2 little ones are both in school full time, I am aiming for more.

I do normally charge a little less per word when batch orders are done, as often you can use the same research and what not to make up the other ones that are needed so it all works out.

It also depends on how long it takes you to write something. When I first started out over 3 years ago, it took me almost 2 hours with research to write a 500 word article. Now that same article can be done in like 20-30 mins. If I am on a roll, I could write 10 articles a day with no problems. I don't like to do that many though because I don't want to burn out or start to dislike writing. If it feels like a chore, I don't want to do it.

It is all up to you though. I know some girls on the WAHM forum that do 20 articles a day(300-450 words), every day and don't mind it. I would get bored as well. I need to mix it up which is why I love doing the VA stuff too.

When you are doing what you love, and have the ability to pick and choose both your jobs and clients, often making a little less does not matter so much as long as it pays the bills.

Hope some of this helped! Good luck to all! Keep focused and stay motivated!