Comments for Writer at Home

Comment on Happy New Year!! by Rachel@ Pen Meets Wallet

Rachel@ Pen Meets Wallet — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:46:54 +0000

I look forward to reading more of your blog posts! And good luck getting into the big world of print publications. It can be discouraging at times, but it’s well worth the work and wait since the pay is so good.
Rachel@ Pen Meets Wallet´s last blog ..December Earnings Update

Comment on The Problem with Instant Gratification by Mac Bull

Mac Bull — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:23:17 +0000

It is true that instant gratification begins to plauge us all at times. If we don’t have it in “5 seconds ago” it is already too slow. You make a good point of focusing on your writing and crafting it. Not rushing it. Then slowly building yourself up in the marketplace and finding your niche.
Mac Bull´s last blog ..The next step…Part 2…

Comment on Residual Income: eHow, InfoBarrel, and Suite 101 by Prerna

Prerna — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:04:24 +0000

Hi,
I have been writing for Suite 101 for about 4 months now and I love it. You get to learn so much about web writing, SEO and writing in general. Do hope you start contributing soon. You’d be happy with the results. Look forward to seeing you there!
Prerna
Prerna´s last blog ..Being a Mom: Choosing Toys for Toddlers

Comment on Requirements for Work by admin

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:33:39 +0000

I agree. If you have put the work into a degree, it should definitely count. And I think having references would help in some cases. But, like you pointed out, there are times when people want way more than they are willing to pay for. I don’t have a degree, but I’ve studied a lot of different areas, many of them in college. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I’ve seen so many people who are smart, and know a lot about a topic without attending college for it. And I know people with advanced degrees that can’t write to save their lives. And if a degree made you a better writer, we’d be out of high-paying clients.
I think our writing should stand for itself. I don’t mind sending in a resume, but either someone can provide the quality of writing you want, or they can’t. A piece of paper doesn’t change that. And I don’t have anything against people with degrees (does it sound that way?Ugh.) or writers using that degree to get a better gig. If you’ve got it, use it. But I don’t want to be automatically disqualified, either. And references weed out the dead-beats, but you can still get someone with great references that can’t give a client what they want.
I think it depends on the client, and what they are offering. If it was something in my niche, and I felt comfortable enough to send reference information to them, I would. And I understand that looking for someone with a degree cuts down on the responses someone would get when they are looking for a writer. It’s still annoying to see, though, when it is listed as a requirement on a low-paying gig.

You really do get what you pay for. We offer something that most people can’t, with or without a degree.

Comment on Requirements for Work by Diana

Diana — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:07:51 +0000

I think references shouldn’t be out of the question from client or freelancer, really. It would help a lot of us in the long run to weed out the non-payers. As the freelance market is becoming increasingly flooded with ESL and with highly skilled workers who’re looking for extra income (because some obnoxious news outlet told them to freelance write), our most valuable asset is our ability to write well and to follow guidelines and deadlines.

As for a degree, I don’t think it should be required for your standard content mill, but if a client wants to boast the credibility of the work, then a writer with a degree is more useful. I took five years to get a degree and worked my ass off for it. I’m proud of it and I do believe that all of that work and learning makes me more qualified for certain work than someone who has not taken the time and effort to learn the things I have. However, as we start to see things like: $2 for 500 words about wedding planning. Non-ESL. Minimum BA required. Must provide experience and references — I just want to scream at those people.

Are you ever tempted to plaster your site with a huge banner saying, “You get what you pay for!”
Diana´s last blog ..Masters Degree

Comment on Finding Private Clients by Diana

Diana — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:25:42 +0000

I am bookmarking this post with the intention of reading it every day until it sinks in completely!! =) Diana’s last blog post..Review: The Deadline Murders -- Ron Morgans

Comment on Jumping In, Again by Diana

Diana — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:24:09 +0000

Ohhh do I know how you feel! Writing for site like QG and DS are really killing me. Each time I go on a private-client hunt, I come up empty handed and dejectedly push onward with the content mills. I think I'm on the downhill side of this funk still... Diana’s last blog post..Review: The Deadline Murders -- Ron Morgans

Comment on What Do You Write? by Terri Schutt

Terri Schutt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:44:50 +0000

I don’t have a website yet have lots of things written i should use. Afraid maybe a little. Was looking at what others have done and I have enjoyed your blog alot.

Comment on Residual Income: eHow, InfoBarrel, and Suite 101 by Susan @ ReadingUpsideDown

Susan @ ReadingUpsideDown — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Hi, I also write at Suite101.com (currently as the World Literature Feature Writer) and confess that I am another writer without tertiary qualifications that felt intimidated at first by some of the other writers. One of the best things about being involved at Suite101 is the experience you will get with developing your SEO and web-writing skills. I've come along way since I started writing for Suite in December 2007. The Suite101 writing guides are very useful and have helped me to improve my writing in general and the writer community there, with a few exceptions, is very supportive and informative. I'm looking forward to reading your first Suite articles. Susan @ ReadingUpsideDown’s last blog post..Book Review – The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Comment on Earth Day for Writers by Diana

Diana — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:47:07 +0000

Wow I never thought about fountain pens. That is a great idea.

I wrote an article over at Bright Hub about faxing via email. Though many of us with home offices don’t even use fax machines, there are still a lot of hanger-on-ers out there who insist on sending or receiving faxes. There are a number of great, free programs out there that allow you to scan items to your hard drive then send them to a fax number. A couple of them also allow you to receive a fax that you can either save to your hd or print. No need for paper in any step along the way!