Hi All, In the past I have placed a couple of "Writers Wanted" threads. Some of the people reading this might have responded to me. I do not want to be rude, so I am posting a general thread without directing it at some of the amazing responses I have received. Very simply: if your PM / response reads like crap, no one is going to believe it when you say "professional quality writing" available. Please remember that your first writing sample is your cover letter / PM / email. On the same note, I would say that all the posts you make on DP or elsewhere are part of your writing portfolio. If you are keen to be perceived as a good writer, please write well -- everytime. Thanks Ajeet
Nicely said, Ajeet. With the exception of the occasional typo which we all make, a writer is advertising herself every time she posts or sends a message. At least consider a bit of punctuation or a complete sentence... Rebecca
Oh absolutely Rebecca. One can easily appreciate the difference between a quick forum post and a formal writing assignment. But, the kind of stuff I receive from some "writers" is stunning. Ranging from the offensive "give me a decent response" when they meant "hoping for a positive response" to utterly incomprehsible language, except for the phrase "professional quality articles."
That's so true. Writers often don't think about how they come off in posts. I know that forums are social and less formal, but I'd never outsource to a writer who can't string a sentence together in a pm.
LOL, you guys should see some of the written work I have to read being an ESL teacher. Beginner students often get very confused, and yet in their own language they are often eloquent, and of course you always have to admire someone who has grasped more than one language. Every day I meet people who speak 3 or 4 languages already and then want to learn English. If you only hear them speaking English you'd swear they had the IQ of a newt, then you get to know them and discover they invented something or wrote an award winning poem that brings tears to the eyes of anyone who reads it. Don't be too harsh on people for whom English isn't their first language, they deserve our respect for making an effort. On the other hand, the I'm English native langauges expert give me job birgade should just be ignores. ;-)
Rightly said Ajeet and Rebecca, being a professional writer, each and every forum post of yours actually markets your services and in fact determines the professionalism. Though the quality of services is subjected to variety of other factors but a post or PM replying to the advertisement is your first impression that may be a last one for some people, so make the first impression a perfect one. @sirion I agree with you as well, giving a space to people with English as second language to learn and encourage them is good, but the discussion here was about professional writing services. This is actually not something to get harsh on, instead an honest advice to those who may have a big market in front of them and they are not getting most of it just because of the presentation. Regards,
Hi to all, I agree with the comments, but I also have the same 'gripe' about some buyers. I tend to be more aware of my pms than my forum posting, as I use fp as a recreational activity. Christine
Hi, English is my 3rd language. And I am a published McGraw-Hill author (in English of course) and have been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal for my writing (check wsj.com) and have been part of the NYT, etc. Certainly, I do not think any less of people who have poor English. It is just the ones that say me (instead of tell me ) that they will give me professional quality English. agreed totally. You have the gripe that buyers don't have good English Ajeet
My gripe is that some buyers should look at the way they present themselves...their English isnt a problem, after all, if they could speak great English, then they wouldn't need me Christine
@Ajeet It's really good to know that you're McGraw-Hill published. I in fact have visited the site you mentioned as well (probably read some stuff when I was doing masters and was doing my research paper). English being 2nd or 3rd language in my opinion doesn't make any difference if you claim to be 'professional'. Let's say I claim to be a professional writer with very good command over English, Urdu , Hindi or whatever the language is, and my presentation is not up to the mark, either intentionally or unintentionally, I lose the credit. English is 3rd language for me as well and I'm quite well versed in it, both in written and spoken. Urdu as compared to English is the language I speak and interact more in, but to be very honest I can't say that I'm a professional Urdu writer. Yes, I can become one if I follow the guidelines essential for a writer. Lack of professionalism in this particular language is certainly because of the fact that I use it more in informal way, and never cared about the thing, as people round me can easily understand what I say. But when it comes to writing, a written script cannot be effective until you're able to make others understand exactly what you've in your mind. In a nut shell, a language requires different level of effort for written and spoken, and if one claims to be an expert in any language, he/she ought to exhibit excellence in that particular language.
I know you're being light-hearted, but I probably should point out that many clients and/or webmasters speak perfect English. They just don't like to write or can't write as quickly or as well as a professional. There are many kinds of writers, some of which write SEO material where correct grammar and usage isn't as important (or important at all.) Others write magazine quality material or sales letters. It makes sense the range of buyers should be just as great as sellers...
Your post reminded me of my musings just a minute ago. When I was a child, I thought that because I can write, everybody else can. Fast forward 15 years later. I have an American friend who's smart as a whip (went to an Ivy League University and graduated with honors and all) but can't write to save her life. Once, she was requested to give a speech in front of an audience in her hometown. She immediately contacted me. I was the one who wrote her piece. I asked her why she can't write when she's such a voracious reader. She told me that reading and writing are two different entities and that she can't write (at least not in the avenue of theses, dissertations, and scientific journal articles) no matter how hard she tried. English, by the way, is my second language.
The comment about a buyers English was in response to the OP's comment, and was lighthearted, but thank you for pointing it out. Christine
It was Sunday...work....post....work....post...which shall I do? (bear in mind I had spent most of the morning trying to muster some excitement for my hubs new pasta making machine...) I suppose I could go and get a life, I know I used to have one...now where did I put it? All the best Christine (roll on nano month!)