Writing for Pay

A freelance writer must constantly search for places to contribute articles or submit bids to write articles if they want to make a living as a writer. There are days when as much or more time is spent searching for places to contribute as article than is spent actually researching and writing the article.

So when an internet site or company compiles a list of people, websites, or publications looking for writers, it is a big timesaver for any freelancer. However, it seems that many of these same people, websites, and publications are offering very low rates for articles. While some professional writers are experts in one particular subject, some research is always required on order to complete a good and informative article. Offering only $10 for a 500 word article is more of an insult than a legitimate offer for payment.

For an article of 500 words at least an hour is needed just to organize thoughts and write the article. Depending on the subject matter and depth of the information required it can take anywhere from several minutes to a few hours complete the research before the writing can begin. Just imagine how much work is required for an entire book? Contrary to what some people evidently believe writing – whether it be a poem, a song, an article, or a complete book – is work, sometimes hard work. Writing is skilled labour not a menial task and for the professional writer who does the writing should expect to at least be able to earn the equivalent of a minimum wage job and $10 or even $20 for a 500 word article is far from a reasonable wage for the amount of work required. And unlike sites that offer payment per page view these articles are a one time payment often requiring the writer to also relinquish the rights to that article.

Some of these same people and websites have been lamenting about the lack of quality of the work submitted or a lack of any work being submitted at all. Perhaps the lack of quality or amount of contributions is tied to the lack of a reasonable payment amount for the work requested.