Job Listings – May 22, 2007
Writer Bill of Rights
I’m very glad to see this week’s topic has generated so many responses! I’m somewhat sad to see that I was getting lots of agreement – that we’ve all been victims of Clients Behaving Badly. For the most part, we have great relationships with our clients (I say this so new and potential clients don’t get the false impression that we’re hard to work with – we’re not. We’re just not all that excited about being treated badly.) We do, however, come across the occasional rotten egg.
What upsets me is that I think this is a trend that’s not yet peaked. In my mind, I equate the rise in bad behavior to the new generation of “article mills” that offer you minimal dollars for maximum efforts. That cheapens our trade, in my opinion. While the clients behaving badly are not necessarily these particular people, that they exist and exploit seems to filter into how we’re treated by others who may see us bidding like idiots to get to write 300 articles for someone for 10 cents an article. How can you respect an industry that allows that to happen?
At any rate, some folks do have the impression that we are less-than-professional because we work from home. A false impression, yet there you are. How can we change their minds? By drafting our Writer Bill of Rights – where we pledge to both our clients and ourselves to conduct business as professionals. We will expect proper consideration for proper work performed. We will expect professionalism in our clients and demand it in ourselves. We will actively engage with our clients and we will actively seek payment, including down to litigation, in an effort to protect our image and our livelihood. And we will be discerning in what we take on and in how we present ourselves.
That includes turning down work that is well beneath us and below minimum wage. To that end, I do my best to bring you jobs that I myself would bid on. If they say “Ten bucks an article” you won’t see it here (or if you do, I was sleeping when I posted it).
Freelance Copywriter
Freelance Assignments (Says local Ohio area, but those with specialty writing might have a shot)
Web Writer/Analyst
Training/Technical Writer
Speech Writing
Assistant Editor (Yes, it’s freelance)
Freelance Real Estate Writer (Must live in northern VA)
Freelance Writing Assignments
Freelance Food Writer (Austin area)
Article Writers – Southwest slant
Freelance Editor/Writer
Freelance Copywriter
Technical Writer/Journalist
Freelance Article Writer
You draft it, I’ll sign it! I’m definitely of a mind that our fellow freelance writers (those who knock themselves out over $5 articles that is) demean our profession more than any group of buyers ever could. And on the working-from-home issue, I accomplish far more in my home office than I ever accomplished in the corporate world.
Amen on both counts, Kathy!