Freelance Daily - Scams, Warnings, Deadbeats …

Thoughts from a subscriber:

The ad below is for a magazine about sex. I corresponded with them yesterday, and while they’ve changed their ad a little bit, they still are hiding that fact and a person doesn’t know it until they get an e-mail telling them to check out the publication.

Part-Time Copy Editor for Quarterly Publication (Comp: Negotiable) (Boston; telecommute)

job-412761117@craigslist.org :

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/wri/412761117.html

Date: 2007-09-03, 12:13PM EDT Edgy local quarterly periodical needs experienced copy editor. This is a part-time, off-site gig. Responsibilities consist of copyediting approximately fifty pages of text every two months.

Fast turnaround (one week) is essential. We will provide a color PDF proof and you will provide marked-up copy to our designer. Please send resume demonstrating your copyediting experience and expertise. Boston-area candidates preferred. Note that this is a consumer publication targeted at a college-aged audience, so if your background is only in technical documentation or business Marcom work, please do not reply. Also if you aren’t hip, this probablly isn’t the right opportunity for you.

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A big “thank you” to Kristen King for alerting me to a typo here on the blog If you haven’t checked out her Inkthinker Blog (http://www.inkthinkerblog.com) you better get on over there. It’s it’s a must for all freelance writers and you’ll be glad you did. Thanks again Kristen and BTW I really like the new look. Keep up the good work. *SmiLes* Suzanne

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Hi Suzanne- I responded to a posting in March (I think) from a San Francisco publisher. The publication was called Izmoautos. The editor, John Foley, did send me a contract for an assignment. I did the story  submitting it in April. He produced a prototype of the magazine and my piece was to appear in the next issue. As far as I know there never has been a next issue. Did any other member respond to his posting or has anyone reported any dealings with iZMOAUTOS? Dan

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Hi Suzanne:I just wanted to drop you a line for the sake of less-experienced writers to say that they should be extremely cautious when answering a help-wanted ad such as the one titled “Writers for Major Manhattan Magazine.”

Were this really a “Major Manhattan Magazine” they could just tell you their name and you’d recognize it.

I bought a lottery ticket this morning, but am I a “Major Lottery Winner”?

The reason this point is important is that whoever placed this ad . . . giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are honest . . . at the very best does not have a realistic perspective on the enterprise into which they are entering.

It’s to be presumed that they’ll have the same risible attitude towards writers. They don’t really know what they’re doing, and who knows if they even have the $25 - $100 per article to pay people for their contributions to this major magazine? If anybody does collect $25 from them, though, I can recommend a place that makes a good chopped liver sandwich on which they can spend that major bounty.

Here’s the bottom line; nobody should send samples anywhere to anybody without first knowing to whom they are being sent. The people behind this “Major Manhattan Magazine” for example could actually have some NYC travel website, which would be one among thousands, they could excerpt materials submitted and publish then online and writers would most likely never know about it still less get paid for it. The correct response to such an ad, if one is interested at all, is to say something like “Kindly let me know the name of your publication and the URL of your website if it is active at this point. Please also send me a copy of your standard contract for freelance writers. Writing samples will follow upon your response.”

If people won’t give a satisfactory answer to such an inquiry then their intention was to cheat people. It’s that simple.

Many thanks,

Scott

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Thanks Nancy for sharing this NON-PAYING job posting with the group:

 Need Contributors for Free Archaeology Magazine (Comp: Not stated) (Tampa Bay area) biblearchaeology@gmail.com : http://tampa.craigslist.org/wrg/396810122.html

Date: 2007-08-14, 12:27PM EDT The New Archaeology Review is in search of freelance writers and contributing editors. We are looking for columns, news, reviews and feature articles. International exposure to thousands of readers. We publish all kinds of info regarding humanity’s ancient past. Our website is currently undergoing a transition. For more information contact:Patrick C. Chouinard at 727-397-6449

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Be sure to check out A.C. Crispin’s and Victoria Strauss’ blog, Writer Beware Blogs!, which details how they find and research writing scams for their Writer Beware pages on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. site.

If you know of a great site that posts information about writing scams please let me know so I can pass it on to the group. Thanks. *SmiLes* Suzanne

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Thanks to Nancy and Fred for sharing info about Lifted Magazine!

For the jobLifted Magazine - Freelance Writing (Comp: DOE) (telecommute) gigs-386207674@craigslist.org :http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wrg/386207674.html 

According to the GLS: 

“There is no paid compensation, only recognition and publicity via the magazine.” I definitely think these guys need to be highlighted in the blog. Not exactly a scam, but certainly not upfront about no pay. 

One to watch out for:   I approached the editor about this one as I was concerned he may not have financial backing(because of the pay range and the IF published in opening line). It turns out he does not yet have a publisher, but is hoping to collect a few good stories and then approach them. He has already tried with Chicken Soup, but no go. I would give this one a wait and see- so many of these anthologies start out with high hopes , then tie up your work while they search for a backer. Special Children Stories (Comp: $100-$500/story if published) (

Boulder, CO) job-385095882@craigslist.org :http://boulder.craigslist.org/wri/385095882.html

Boulder writer looking for inspirational true stories about special children (the nature of the disability doesn’t matter) and their families. Selected stories will be edited, compiled, and presented to an editor for possible publication. Stories should be between 300-1200 words in length, and should come from the heart. 

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From Kimberly:  Before you read further, I’d like to expound for a minute on the brain-picking that these fly-by-night sites seem to be doing more often. Like an audition, they ask for ideas, pitches, samples … and then go their merry way. I’ve found the best way to nip this in the bud is to talk about bucks upfront. If they’re legit, they respond favorably–if not, writers have just circumvented the very real possibility of being taken advantage of…for free.  Both today (from Houston) and Friday (from

Indianapolis), here was the ad that was on Freelance Daily: Sports Writer Wanted (comp: DOE) (telecommute)  job-382774079@craigslist.org : http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/wri/382774079.html Date: 2007-07-26, 7:20PM EDT Hi! We’re a startup company geared toward providing an in depth resource for women’s basketball players as well as creating a community and networking place for those who love the sport. We’re looking for writers with a passion for basketball, experience in the sport, an interest in the culture surrounding it and much, much more. We have several opportunities available, including contributing regularly, submitting essays, and writing features. In your reply, please tell us a bit about your basketball and writing background and how you think you’d best contribute to our effort. Thanks! 

And from Fred:

Suzanne,Here’s the reply from one of your leads, from last week, I think. This is FYI. I can’t find the original post; hopefully the return email address is the same. You’ll note this is a classic scam — send us $39.95 and we’ll show you how to make thousands stuffing envelopes at home. Clearly, you want to try to catch these kinds of posts before they go up on your site — but I know it’s tricky.Thanks, Fred 

WE PAY YOU TO FILL OUT FORMS (comp: $25/per form) (

delaware)

opportunity@dubaicity.com : http://delaware.craigslist.org/wri/382175336.html
Date: 2007-07-26, 1:40AM EDT Any interested candidates should contact me for more information!

Thank you Kimberly and Fred!

Have a wonderful day! *SmiLes* Suzanne

 

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Hi Suzanne. Today’s FD includes craigslist job number 383881057 calling for submissions to a publication titled Sticky Groove Magazine. Buried in the middle of their exceedingly long posting it states that submissions must be accompanied by your invoice and Social Security or federal tax ID number. Scam.Sue-Ellen

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Hi Suzanne:

I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you. Today, I responded to one of the ads for a website jewelry writer (job-381536082). The owner quickly contacted me and asked me to quote him a price. Well, I quoted him what I thought was a reasonable rate (it was on the low end of The Writer’s Market suggested pay scale), but I soon found out (according to him) that another writer had quoted him a rate of $6 per page!!

Suzanne, while there might be a few people who might agree to type up or edit  a letter for $6 a page, I think that writing a web page for only $6 a page is ridiculous.

Writers who agree to work for what breaks down to  less than the minimum wage (when you take into account the hours spent revising and doing research, etc) are undermining writers who ask for a fair rate.

They are just as bad as the clients who keep asking for “free” samples of writing that are specifically designed for their use.

Whew! Just had to get this off my chest!

Rachelle

 Dear Suzanne,

Yesterday, I answered an ad (Job #3809985551) on your website Freelance Daily, asking for an entry-level copywriter who would get paid per article… and to send samples.

When I answered it, Michael C. Pedlesny, Managing Director, told me this was a non-paying position. I spent a lot of time sending my cover letter and samples over in applying for the position. The ad clearly states that the hired person would get paid per article, and even said “if you want to earn some extra cash”…then he replies with an e-mail on the contrary!

After he e-mailed me, I wrote back to tell him to revisit the ad posted, and that I wasn’t interested in a nonpaying assignment. He did not reply.

Now, I’m a little sceptical about answering some of these ads. That was clearly false advertisement. I would never have applied if I knew there was no compensation for my work. Michael was requiring a lot of research for these articles! I noticed this morning, his ad is still there offering payment for articles.

Please respond to this. I don’t have the time to play games.

Thank you,

Judy 

Hi Suzanne,

Looks like these pesky Helium guys are still getting through - after you reply to the third one down (Part Time Writers Needed - job-381402281), you get an auto-responder email with a link that leads you to Helium. Can’t we just send a trojan their way? 

Hope you’re good, and have a GREAT upcoming weekend!!

Danny

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