Comments on: How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:00:55 +0000

Daniel, unfortunately with freelance writing there’s really no such thing as a “general idea of what to expect.” Things vary wildly depending on exactly what you want. For example, you’ll find plenty of bloggers happy to write for $5-15 per post, but they probably aren’t journalists — just Web content writers (and at those rates rarely specialists). If you wanted someone active in the political scene who could blog from an insider’s view, and they’ve been a political journalist for years, then you’re going to pay much, much more (could be a few hundred per post, could be $.50 per word, $1.00 per words — it all depends on who they are and what they bring to the table). The best thing you could do as a prospective client is simply understand that going in (don’t expect top notch, well-researched and detailed work at $15 for example — it’s not going to happen). You need to set a pay level you’re comfortable with budget-wise and then set your hiring expectations based on that. You could pick up a copy of Writer’s Market perhaps. Look through some political publications, online and off, and see what rates they’re paying for pros in the niche.

By: Daniel Freysinger

Daniel Freysinger — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:14:25 +0000

I have hopes and dreams of starting a political blog. I would love to hire freelance writers for occaisonal articles, but I have no idea what this costs or how to go about finding the journalists. I will continue to read through this site, but would be thrilled with a general idea of what to expect.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:57:53 +0000

Great article. I have turned down a large amount of work for the reasons you mention.

Freelance writers are professionals and should think of writing as a business; and also value themselves.

By: How Not to Hire Freelance Writers : workingwritersandbloggers.com

How Not to Hire Freelance Writers : workingwritersandbloggers.com — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:39:24 +0000

[...] at All Freelance Writing has a fabulous post up about how not to hire freelance writers. It sums up everything writers have encountered with unreasonable ads and expectations. Do check it [...]

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:42:12 +0000

I just wanted to pop in and say I’m glad to see so many people agree (although I may become one of the most hated among the various client markets if you actually send them here lol). That’s okay though.

Interestingly, I didn’t know when I wrote this that it was going to be such a timely issue. I found out after the fact at least two other big blogs in the niche talked about similar issues this week. Apparently I’m far from the only one fed up by the demands in ads these days. Thankfully I don’t have to deal with things like this with my own clients, but I truly feel for those who do!

By: Steve Amoia

Steve Amoia — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:27:58 +0000

Brilliant article, Jennifer.

Perhaps freelancers should start to ask for credit scores from prospective clients? As a sample from them that they will pay the future invoice…:-)

By: Writing Roundup, July 2 « Jen’s Writing Journey

Writing Roundup, July 2 « Jen’s Writing Journey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:26:23 +0000

[...] How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers Jennifer Mattern weighs in on some further practices that make the hiring process a bit unwieldy for the average freelancer. In particular, the idea of writing a custom sample can be a bit much. The life of a freelancer is spent on so many different non-writing tasks, that our writing time really needs to be reserved for billable projects, not spec work. [...]

By: Lissie

Lissie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:49:03 +0000

Flipping heck – I think I’m lucky to have got most of my freelance work thru contacts that don’t deal with this level of crap – or even formal contracts! Tell me how to manage my clients – I don’t think so – that’s why I work for me and just me!

By: Janine

Janine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:10:17 +0000

Amen to that! Thank you for voicing what the rest of us feel and know. I think some clients really need a lesson in respect. This speaks to all of the major issues most freelancers come across at one point or another.

By: Matt Willard

Matt Willard — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:44:15 +0000

I always thought requiring a resume on a part-time gig was a little bit too much. Pffft. I’ll just apply to jobs asking for resumes anyway and demonstrate the work I can do. (Besides, I’m not very good at resume writing anyway :V )

By: Maryan Pelland

Maryan Pelland — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:16:35 +0000

Unfortunately there are all too many writers willing to comply with these terms and worse. This is a great article – I tweeted it and will link to it from OnText.com this week. I’m not sure we can fix this problem, but at least we don’t have to sit and be quiet.

mkp
htto://www.ontext.com

By: Bravo Jennifer Mattern! | Girl On The Write Freelance

Bravo Jennifer Mattern! | Girl On The Write Freelance — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:25:12 +0000

[...] read this piece at All Freelance Writing and nearly wept with frustration and joy. At some point we’ve all said something like this, [...]

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:04:32 +0000

Clap, clap, clap.

I, too, just linked back to this article on my blog because I had just ranted and raved about employers wanting free sample articles from prospective writers. And I love the term “token pay” for those piddling $5 per article payments that so many people seem to offer these days. I made $5 per hour folding t-shirts at the Gap in 1994, and I expect and deserve much better payment for my writing.

By: Free samples aren’t so free « Jennifer Larson, Writer at Large

Free samples aren’t so free « Jennifer Larson, Writer at Large — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:01:56 +0000

[...] June 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment Over at one of my favorite writing websites, The Freelance Writing Jobs Network, there’s a discussion going on about whether writers should respond to job ads that require them to produce a bunch of new (and free) writing samples to be considered for the gigs. Here’s where the discussion got started: One Job Listing You Should Not Apply For. Jennifer Mattern makes some excellent comments on this topic on her blog All Freelance Writing today too: How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers. [...]

By: Wendy Sullivan

Wendy Sullivan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:49:58 +0000

Clint, I was thinking the SAME thing! For every absurd request, we should send this post out to the listed email address.

Thank you Jennifer, for voicing this on behalf of all of us.

Wendy

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:05:53 +0000

I’m going to start sending this to every single employer on Craigslist.

By: Veronica Shine

Veronica Shine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:08:17 +0000

It is ironic that you posted this article today. I heard back from a prospective client who requested free samples. I already submitted published samples, so I inquired how much I would be paid for them. Rather than re-hash as to why I would not submit free samples, I placed a link to this article and requested that they read it.

I doubt if I will hear back but you never know.

Thanks again as this came just in time!!!

By: Hazel

Hazel — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:15:50 +0000

Thanks, Jennifer. I linked to this from my blog, which is aimed at clients and prospective clients.

By: Veronica Shine

Veronica Shine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:43:33 +0000

Great post. So much so, that I tweeted and facebooked it for all my writer friends to read.