Comments on: A Dollar an Hour? – A Guest Article

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:40:40 +0000

When I first started out I worked quite a few low paying gigs until I realized what I was doing! This is a very good reminder. Though I DO wish I could leave the writing up to my cat at times. Also, thank you for the words “snollygosters” and “thrimmelling!” lol. What unique and eye-catching words….living in the U.S you just never know what you’re missing!

By: Jenny Cromie

Jenny Cromie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:21:22 +0000

Thanks for a great post, George.

I think far too many writers sell themselves short. And as tough as the economy is right now, I do not think anyone should be writing on spec or taking jobs for pennies. In addition to hurting the pocketbook, if you take on such low-paying gigs you just give the bozos who offer them more incentive to keep lowballing writers.

I take on the occasional low-paying gig to fill in the gaps between better-paying assignments. And I also occasionally take a low-paying assignment if I think it might lead to something better-paying down the road. But I’m in agreement—you have to draw the line somewhere. If you’re writing for .03 cents a word, you’re just donating your time and your work. And donated time doesn’t pay the mortgage or the utility bill.

Jenny Cromie
(http://www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Jenny Cromie’s last blog post..Extra! Extra! Hope After a Media Layoff or Buyout

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:23:04 +0000

I am so glad to see this. Sometimes I get so frustrated when I see ads that want to $10 for ten 1000 word articles per day and they must be perfect, and then the client has the nerve to complain that they have been getting substandard work. I want to tell them……”NO KIDDING! You get what you pay for!! DUH!” Thank you for reminding me that I am a professional and I deserve to paid a reasonable wage. Writing is not all that easy, or everybody would do it.

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:11:16 +0000

Thanks for this article – I’ve just been scouting a LOT of new job possibilities and though I’ve held my payment standards to a reasonable level thus far, I was starting to question if that was smart. There are so many insulting offers that I was beginning to think maybe that was normal, after all. I appreciate the reminder.

By: George L Ghio

George L Ghio — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:55:04 +0000

Manuscript critiquer? Yeah, could be. It’s one of the things I like about English. Many people thing that English is a language when it is in fact a collection of dialects of English. It also has the advantage that spelling and punctuation is optional.

By: Michelle Kafka

Michelle Kafka — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:19:26 +0000

Good article to keep in mind/in favs. A possum... awwww. A "professional reader?" Cool term, but isn't it also known as manuscript critiquer? Michelle Kafka’s last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty, Island Whispers Blog