Isn't hard earning a living off writing these days...

That seems quite low to me, but I suppose it depends a lot on what the topic is.

A lot of this $5 mentality is to do with globalisation. You can get a lot of things very cheaply if you outsource it abroad, and I suppose people just assume it applies to writing as well.

 

Low when you consider what professional writers charge, yes. But considering what the bulk of the writers on DP charge, his prices are much more refreshing to see around for a change!

 

Err, that sentence confuses me

 

I am really not in writing/copywriting stuff, but take a look ... even black hat seo forum pay $20-50 per article about their topics

http://www.syndk8.net/write-for-syndk8-and-earn-some-money.html

Probably my post stop someone selling their time for $2-5 per article.

 

Low writers on DP haven't hurt me. But, I don't target webmasters looking for $2 content either.

BTW, I don't care that they are buying, so don't take that sentence as being mean.

 

Gosh, you're such a meanie!

I think most of us agree with you Jason. We are comparing Apples and Oranges. Apples look for one kind of service, and Oranges look for another. I don't think there is much overlap...

Rebecca

 

people will always need quality, you just have to find the customers who are willing to pay for it.

 

LOL Rebecca.

You're going to make me cry.

 

Why do I always make the grown men cry?

Rebecca

 

Believe it or don't, I started off about two years ago as a volunteer editor for a short stories site, which was fun. What I produced landed me rave reviews so I decided to see if anyone would pay for it, I did. $1 for 500 words. I ended up doing about 20 of those until my rationalizations about 'gaining experience' faded away.

I finally found some more permanent work at $5 per 500 words, which I did while also working a regular job. To clarify, I actually wrote the articles while at my regular job. I'm now laid off and still doing $5 articles.

I found this site today. If you listen really close, you can probably still hear the echoes of my jaw dropping to floor as I discovered how much I could and should be making.

While I have no formal education, I feel the articles I produce must be of a quality that's worth much more than $5 per 500 words.

Simply put, there are quality writers out there who simply don't know that people will pay more. Ignorance is bliss. Or rather, was.

-Peter

 

"there are quality writers out there who simply don't know that people will pay more" Bingo! Not only writers by the way

 

Thanks,

I have pride in what I write. I always do quite a lot of research before I type the very first letter. I need to know what it is the reader wants to see about whatever it is I am writing about.

I think you would be surprised at the number of DP members willing to shed serious money for me to write for them. I have several return customers and it is always the customers with big businesses that return. Obviously, they have tested out the cheaper writers and have not been happy with the results.

I suppose I could go towards serious writing like journalism but I could not see myself narrowed to just one or two topics. The writing jobs I have received are in a great number of topics and I believe that gives me the edge over many due to my diversity.

This post is really giving hope to ones who can write but may not be confident in charging accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Col

 

Peter,

There is actually a group of us trying to help writers such as yourself increase rates. Check out www.AllFreelancing.com and/or www.SixFigureWriters.com for info.

P.S. Congrats on breaking through to the other side!

 

I find sometimes there are some quite good gems who work at low prices. I have a contact who makes websites, he is not good at HTML, but he is great at images, I usually get him to design me a website and I make it valid and what have you

 

As for me I have some mind in my head and because of that don't sell myself short

 

Writting will always be out there. Even more so with spansih becoming a bigger language. I can see more and more latin community news paper and sites coming out which if you can speak spanish more money to you!

 

I have a bilingual colleague interested in starting up a bit of writing, but I can't seem to find her places to seek out clients. Any suggestions?

R

 

My best friend is a writer and copywriter and he charges hundreds of dollars per 1000 words. But he's had 30 years experience in journalism and won awards for his writing.

There's a world of a difference between quality writing and the pap you see out there. All those guys who pay $100 for a run-of-the-mill article will not see the New York Times or Washington Post linking to them.

 

$100 for a run of the mill article is still a lot better than what a lot are making and paying here. But yes, for a 1000 word article, that's very low. And the promotional value of them is definitely proportionate.

 

use your talents to create your own site while working on others.