Whispers And Warnings For May 12th

TWENTY-FIRST COMPLAINT AND SOME WRITERS RECEIVE PARTIAL OR FULL PAYMENTS – Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / The Shakespeare Squared Foundation – Writer alleges she’s owed $1680 while some writers report receiving payments.
SECOND COMPLAINT about Regent Media / regentmedia.com / Here Media, Inc. / The Advocate / advocate.com – Writer alleges she’s owed $$3962.50.
THIRD COMPLAINT about Regent Media / regentmedia.com / Here Media, Inc. / The Advocate / advocate.com – Writer alleges they’re owed $3560.00.
UPDATE about Regent Media / regentmedia.com / Here Media, Inc. / The Advocate / advocate.com – First writer who complained says he’s finally been paid.
COMPLAINT about TAPS Paramagazine / tapsparamag.com – Writer alleges she’s owed $2100.
COMPLAINT about Writershire.com / Writershire – Writer alleges she’s owed $926.
Relate Magazine / relatemag.com / Relate Publishing, LLC / Mary Bowman – UPDATE: Writer states she’s finally been paid.

Content Mill Complaints

Hi Angela,
I just signed up to write for (a content mill). I increased my writing skills over the past year and felt confident about working for them. I wrote one article. It was accepted the same day. Then I wrote another and was asked to rewrite. The whole article took me about three hours with research the first time. I rewrote it and sent it back. It was rejected, saying that my writing was not clear. I then wrote another one about the same time and it was also sent back for a rewrite and rejected after that. The only reason was that the steps I had listed were not good enough to help someone do what the title suggests.
I then tried to log on today and see if my bio was published. I can’t. It brings me to a page saying that my account is disabled. No notice at all. I sent a letter to the help desk asking why I could not log on. I read the terms of use and they are supposed to send a letter regarding termination unless they felt I violated certain policies. Well I don’t know of any policies I’ve violated so I don’t see what the problem is.
Anyway, I really felt bad for myself regarding my writing after receiving the rejections and then not being able to log in. I write for several other sites and clients with no problem. I certainly agree with many of the statements published in your article from the writers and readers. I am moving on to continue with my writing and learning. Your article helped me feel better and realize that I can find other clients instead of messing with (a content mill) for little pay.
G.
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Hi Angela,
I just wanted to thank you for reporting on what really goes on behind the doors of (a content mill). I have been writing for them since last July out of need for money, and am fully aware that the company is a scam and a rip-off. Sure, I am a little disgruntled at the moment as I did get put on probation without warning for writing titles that were similar in nature, but with completely different content. That said I had about $200 worth of work done prior to this probation that has now been published and they are refusing to pay me for it because of my status. Again, rip-off.
So, thank you for calling them out. I do wish more people would.
Best,
P.

Why I’d Rather See My Book in a Public Library than a Large Bookstore By Stephanie Ann

When I developed my marketing strategy for my book, The Cheap Diva’s Guide to Frugal and Fabulous Living: How to Shop Smart, Look Your Best, Decorate with Style and Have Fun for Less Money!, I decided I was better off focusing on getting my book into public libraries than on the shelves of large bookstore chains. I am happy to have my book available through popular bookstores that want to order copies of the book one at a time for customers who have requested it, but I don’t rely heavily on bookstores to sell my books. If every copy of the book doesn’t sell quickly (without aggressive promotional efforts by the bookstore books by a not-so-famous author aren’t likely to go flying out the door), bookstores more concerned about the bottom line that the brilliance of my prose might choose not to reorder my book in order to make room for newer titles.