We advertised for a content writer recently. We found a great writer and are very happy. To help the other people out here I thought I would offer a bit of advice based on all the responses I received. Do not write in abbreviations / text message speak We received lots of messages like this: I cud do ur writin I wud charge $2. Thx This isn't LOL cats. No one will ever give you a writing job if you cant even use basic English. Check your spelling In the forum it doesn't matter if you misspell or use bad grammar, but if you are applying for a job where spelling/grammar is important, why not use a spell checker? It takes 5 seconds... Ask an English speaking person if your sample makes sense Over 50% of the writing samples received made no sense, or used words that an English person would simply not use... For example: When I communicated enormous words I misconceived understand not well. Sometimes it is better to write using simple English, than to use a thesaurus/dictionary and speak using big complicated words that you do not know how to use. Remember that people from the US and UK (like me) are really stupid! We do not use big words, so you don't have to try and impress us with big words. ... Hope this helps guys... I'm not trying to be nasty/mean, just trying to help you guys to get more jobs. If you found this useful hit the reputation button. Cheers
Sadly, it sounds as if a lot of those samples were nothing more than articles generated from a spinning program. They probably didn't even use a dictionary; those programs automatically search for synonyms when "spinning" an article. Either way, it's still a lazy and stupid way to apply for a job.
Yeah, I constantly get PMs asking me how much to spin articles, or to make 5 different copies of each article, and I'm like "WTF!?" I WRITE articles, putting an article in a spinner should still be considered plagiarism, because they are using someone else's hard wok. I wouldn't call people from the US and UK stupid, we can understand those words just fine for the most part, but the problem with many non English speakers using those words is that they have NO CLUE where to use them or how to use them. The English language is the most complicated language, and many people fail to understand that while a word may fit perfectly in one situation, it might not fit at all in a similar situation.
Sigh! My English language Too many mouse are referred to as mice Would too many wives (spouse) be accepted as spice? What happens if I singularize lice? The plural of house I call a HICE? (HICE="Highly Interactive Computing in Education")
There's actually a few things I don't get. My the plural of moose is not meese. Like, that makes so much sense, but it's still moose. Kinda ticks me off to the point of trying to incorporate my made up word, meese, into every conversation I have, because if a lot of people use it enough, it'll get in the dictionary.
Someone mentioned using a spinner. I hate doing that =/ which is why I hand write all of my re-written articles. I would rather sit down and write 100 variations of the same article than have a digital machine spit out really weird alternatives. Yet somehow, these very people that cant spell, write, or make any sense, get the most jobs. Why? Because they are DIRT cheap and practically free.
If I could add a few tips to some of the buyers out there as well, coming from the perspective of a writer here on this forum: Don't write offering different rates then those offered in the services thread you found us in. If we say something costs $x.xx, and you try to cut the cost, saying you will pay a certain amount, then you will probably be ignored, if not reported in the services thread. Our rates are set for a reason, and they fluctuate from time to time. If you are only willing to pay a certain low price, then you have to go with the multitude of writers offering it. Don't ask for free written samples, unless they are just an article already written that will not be used by you. If you want a certain amount of words written to see the writers quality, most will ask you to pay for it. After all, it still is legitimate work, even if for you it is only a sample. Don't withhold information about what you need in the article. If it has to be written in a specific format, such as in question/answer form, or as a standard 500 word essay, then specify that. Don't blame the writer if you have headers on a template you want used, and you never say anything. We aren't mind readers, and you will still be charged for the content, even if you forgot it in the details, which a good writer always asks for before beginning a project.
Lol, thanks for the tips. And I most certainly agree with the 1337 text message speak.. that doesn't make you look cooler in any way, so don't do it!
Thanks for the tips, the reality is you get what you pay for. Those of us that have a command of the English language would never consider working for less than $5 an article.
I agree with this thread. There's many valid points that can be gained here. I think b2breps is 100% right, you get what you pay for.