If you are a writer, you may be doing the very thing you were born to do but trying to get paid a decent amount for your efforts can be a different matter. In fact, if you aren’t careful, you may fall prey to various writing schemes and scams.

Writing Rip Offs

In this article I’m going to detail some of these pitfalls so that you can avoid costly mistakes, both in terms of income and of time.

A Look at Writing Contests

Writing contests can be a route to publication, recognition, and earnings. Many of these are valid and contests can be a good way to get your feet wet if you are starting your writing career, or, if you are a seasoned writer, submitting material to writing contests can net you supplemental income. Some contests are free; others charge a small reading fee (which is completely appropriate given the number of submissions received).

• Literary journal contests may pay only in copies; however, the recognition you gain as a writer makes these contests worthwhile
• Poetry/writing contests can be lucrative. You receive a generous amount if you win

Vanity Contests

Vanity poetry contests are usually free to join because the full-court press comes later. They characteristically fire off a letter praising your work to the heavens and inform you that, because of your great talent, your submission has been short-listed and has been chosen to be included in an anthology (where it will be crammed in with hundreds of low quality poems). You are then offered a “deal” on the cost of the anthology because, naturally, you’ll want a copy where your work appears because you are now a published author. The only party that benefits from this arrangement is the vanity outfit, eager to part you from your hard-earned dollars. Editors do not recognize publication in these anthologies as legitimate publishing credits.

Article Writing Scams

You visit an online job site and see a call for an article writer. “Hot dog!” you say. “Paying work.” Guess again. You are instructed to include two writing samples to see if your work is up to snuff. Receiving payment for these is “iffy.” Why give away your work for free or for a ridiculously low sum?

If you make the cut, in an Oz-like fashion the curtain is rolled back on that little issue of payment for all the articles you’ll be expected to churn out. And the word “little” is particularly fitting. You’ll be informed that flawless grammar, spelling, and punctuation is expected and that mistakes, by and large, will not be tolerated. What wonderful pay rate can you expect after researching, crafting, editing, rewriting, proofreading, and reediting your 400-600 word article? Would you believe $1.50-2.00 per article? Some sites are a tad more generous and offer a whopping $5.00 per article.

Now, as if this weren’t bad enough, a large number of articles per day will be demanded. You are usually informed that once you get on to the process, you can easily turn out an article an hour. Hmm . . . . there’s no way in China that most of us can produce a complete article in an hour. But . . . okay, let’s try to look on the bright side. Let’s run with 10 articles per day @ $2.00 per. That’s a 10-hour day. What have you earned? $20.00 for 10 hours of work. If you feel an ulcer coming on reading this, your instincts are right on track. Avoid these article mills like the plague. They are an insult to writers everywhere.

Revenue Share Scams

You respond to a job offer and are told that you will receive a revenue share. You are required to pump out a large number of articles each month and often these have to be keyword optimized. You put in incredibly long days to make your monthly number of articles. Now, you aren’t paid per article because you are paid a percentage on any products that readers of your articles purchase. You are told that you are fortunate to have been chosen for this special opportunity because you’ll be paid month after month. Promises are made of increased earnings as time goes by, as the sites you are writing for get established. When you ask about a contract, you are told that none of the other writers have requested this.

This is out and out horse dooey. Legitimate sites usually have no problem with contracts. You, as a writer, are not out of line demanding a contract. Before entering into any business arrangement, get everything nailed down. If you decide the monthly earnings aren’t meeting your expectations and decide to pull out later, a contract will ensure that you continue to receive the meager earnings promised. At least you will get something for all your hard work, even if it is a laughable amount.

Many newer writers fall prey to these writing rip offs and scams and end up shelling out for publications where their work appears or sacrificing hours of valuable time.