I am a fledgling writer trying to make a living freelancing.
I am very confused, and I do not mean to sound churlish, but I do not understand why or how some people are willing to accept literally, pennies on the word for their creative work.
Several freelance sites offer $1 for a 500 word article, or $0.50 for a blog post of at least 100 words with SEO optimization. The blogs are usually a series of 100 or more, with a two day deadline.
Most of the time, purchasers want native English speakers yet the bids are filled with people for whom English is a second language and even the bids sometimes make no sense.
With a site like Triond one gets to polish his/her writing with the understanding that pay is a risk. But, pay on Triond, at least for me is secondary as the site gives me a chance to improve my writing and build a resume. The freelance mills are simply looking for volume at the lowest possible price. I have dropped out of many of the sites and am following the advice bloggers on Triond have shared concerning writing for pay. Each blog or article has been very useful.
I try and publish somewhere everyday. I scour the sites for appropriate gigs. I even offer value added services such as research. In my first two weeks of on line freelancing I earned a little over $145.00. Is it unreasonable to think that $600 per week is obtainable? Or does the volume have to be so great that I will never sleep?
I bid on a project in its entirety, not by the word. At $2 per article I would rather write for Triond than for someone who wants ten articles. I cannot write well at that speed.
How does one get an opportunity to write on a blog that is legitimate, respected and well read? Will posting comments help? Do blogs like these take unsolicited work? Sometimes its not the money. Its the thoughts or experiences you want to share with others that make you want to write.
The internet is a wonderful communications tool, but it isn't well categorized or organized. How does one build a solid reputation and following on the net?
Would someone please write on that topic? Or, is a fledgling better off trying to get published in the print media. It would seem that is unlikely to me as there is so much more opportunity on the internet than in print. I guess it is a matter of separating the wheat from the chaff.
