I read your post about Examiner being an evil empire who makes money off people's clicks. While I agree with you for the most part, it isn't all that bad of a business model, for them especially, but it isn't bad for people like myself as well. …
Thanks! Just wanted to say thanks! I gave my friend the ad for a Spanish-English translator. She got the job and is thrilled to be able to work from home and remain a stay-at-home mom. Thanks again, B.S. …
Angela One of your examiner.com posts said: I write for a number of these sites because it's residual - when I retire, these articles will still be making money for me. Sorry, Mary. Not true with examiner. If retirement means quitting, then you won't see a penny more than the few pennies you're getting now. I asked them about that - if people quit, what happens to their articles and their pay? Examiner said they continue to run the articles, but once writers quit, they are no longer paid. So, no residuals from them. Examiner pays one penny a click and they do not pay for repeated clicks from a single computer, accidental or short visit clicks (you must stay on the site for a full minute or however long their software determines is necessary to actually read each article), or repeated clicks from a single IP address. So, if you and your roommates all use the same IP address, only one click counts. Not that three pennies from a single ISP is really any better than one penny. Pathetic is four articles totaling 6000 words and getting less than $5.00. Even more pathetic is seeing that your four articles were viewed 450 times in a given week, but only getting paid for 400 of those views-or $4.00. So, (you're) out 50 cents because some 50 or so people read fast, and didn't stay on the article/site long enough to earn that "one penny" a visit. That's when I quit. They do have a few well known, professional writers, but check back in a year - I'd bet my next (real) paycheck that they'll all be gone, moved on to jobs that pay real wages. D. …
Angela's feeling under the weather. Letters will return next week. …
Dear Ms Hoy; I'm writing in regards to your excellent column on Mr. Anthony, who really shouldn't be considered a reliable source for anything than about his own writings. I've been astonished over the years to see how many people refer to his site in the same breath as Preditors and Editors or Writer Beware, taking his comments as gospel when it comes to which companies to submit to or beware of. Even a quick glance at his comments shows that he appears to have a personal grudge against any large company due to his own bad experiences - which is fine, but when he purports to put up neutral information, then it's a whole lot of silliness. Of course he cites his award from EPIC proudly as the reason why he continues to do this... Mr. Anthony's site is a mishmash of convoluted rants and raves from an author who, sadly, does not understand the damage he has done and continues to do to legitimate publishers under the guise of a public service. I wince every time I see his site referred to as a warning site for those seeking information because I know that it's more likely than not that they'll get distorted facts and the ramblings of what appears to be an anti-establishment man who refuses to put up a disclaimer, and states everything as factual... even when it's not. Please continue to try and get Mr. Anthony to at least be honest about his site - it's fine to put your PERSONAL views of publishers up and let the reader choose how to perceive it - another to put your words down as gospel and possibly lead many readers down the wrong path. Thank you again and have a good day! Yours truly, S. …
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Hi Angela, I have written to you before about what writer's are paid for their hard work. I don't know Examiner, but I have come across way too many editors who offer next to nothing for articles, stories, etc. I would rather my work sat in a drawer than let it be used for so little pay. Maybe there are writer's who put out junk, I am not one of them. I feel it's an insult to be offered so little for so much. As a writer I put in long hours as well as my heart into my work, writing is created by an artist, the only difference is we use words not a paint brush. I don't think it's right the way writers are paid and it will continue until all writers decide to stop working for nothing. Ok, that's it ! I had to say it, thanks for the ear. ang dee …
Angela, Just finished How Much Are Examiner.com Writers Really Earning?. I am so glad there is someone like you willing to post the truth behind these horrible sites. I've been a professional writer for well over ten years now, but I no longer seek out freelance gigs online because I would say 99% of the ones I find are exactly like the Examiner - a total joke (read between the lines, people). I can't understand how anyone would in their right mind would write for pennies. These are probably the same people who wire money to Montana (a.k.a. Nigeria), keep all their 401k money in stocks, and hand over their winning lotto ticket to the sneaky clerk behind the counter so he can check the numbers (a.k.a. pocket the ticket), while they shop for goodies. Also, I have stopped reading blogs, twitter pages, articles, etc. on the Internet unless the content from a reputable site like CNN, MSN, and even WritersWeekly. These Examiner writers are clogging the Web, along with Twitter, etc., with junk. I guess it's nice because now I have my life back. When I log on to the Internet, I go to respected sites to get my news, read my email, and then I'm done. I no longer waste time reading all the extra fluff, like the stuff from Examiner (if these examiner writers admit to spending 20 minutes or less per article because they are trying to build up their portfolio, then the article can't be worth crap, so why should people bother reading it if the writer doesn't even care to put in the hard work to make it a worthwhile piece? Hello). Life is too short. It's amazing that even after you posted the article on WritersWeekly, these so-called writers still stuck up for company. Keep up the great work Angela. You are truly awesome! The work you do is making a difference. Thank you! DT ~~~~~ Hi Angela, I was surprised at the number of people willing to defend Examiner.com, but I have to comment on something the writer referred to as Katrina said. She claims that the problem is new writers who "expect something for nothing." Excuse me, but writing articles for a website -- helping to add content, drive traffic, and generate more ad revenue -- is NOT nothing. It is a valuable professional service. To have a fellow writer suggest that what we do is worth nothing is possibly even more offensive than the $1.96 she earns per article. Katharine S. Leppert https://www.katharineswan.com ~~~~~ Angela, Your presentation of the Examiner.com issue was fair and representative of various opinions. That's why I respect your site the most for information on writing controversies. You put it out there and now it's up to writers to make the choice. Kathie ~~~~~ Angela, Thank you for your research and facts about Examiner. I have never written for them, wouldn't even consider it, but what's bothered me is their 'dumbing down' effect on the industry, and the sheer volume of writers who feel that working for pennies is what freelance writing is all about. Hopefully your piece will convince them to rethink working for Examiner and similar sites, and we can bring the standards of freelance writing back up to where they belong. Again, thanks for all you do toward keeping freelancing a reputable and profitable business. Debbie …
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Angela is on Spring Break with her children and hubby this week (meaning she's working part-time). Letters to the Editor will return next week. …
Re: Book Reviewing Authors Furious With Amazon - But I'm Not Authors and publishers work too hard putting out professional products to have the effort undermined by any jerk that figures out how to post on Amazon. If somebody doesn't like a book, they should properly read something else. Or, if they believe their criticism is of a professional level at least equal to that of the author and publisher, they should seek out a legitimate, professional publishing venue for that criticism, i.e. a newspaper, a magazine, et cetera, so that their work is first vetted by professionals and presented in a professional forum and format, NOT IN ALL CAPS an nut w/ intt shrthand n gremmar n spillin' gooooofs. To let any jerk or moron post negative things about a book on Amazon is akin to letting a disturbed person stand outside a competent doctor's office door saying, "This doctor is a quack." Scott ~~~~~ Hi Angela, How appropriate that I received your newsletter regarding Amazon and the book reviews. Just last week, someone "reviewed" my latest release, Said the Spider to the Fly, and posted it at Amazon. It's obvious while reading his comments that he never read the book. He simply lashed out at me, the author, claiming I had "tired plot lines". That would be fine if I really believed he felt that way, but he never made one comment about the plot, or even named one character. He DID say about the pricing being so cheap because the quality of the story was cheap. Uh, the author has no control over Amazon's pricing. But the reviewer, Gary W., didn't leave any links to other books. The only other thing he's reviewed there? A Nintendo game. Thanks for letting me share. :) Lula / Miss Mae ~~~~~ ANGELA CHIMES IN... I never bother to check my books' Amazon reviews because they can be so distorted. But, because of this article, I decided to do so. My book, QUERY LETTERS THAT WORKED! Real queries that landed $2K+ writing, would have had all 5-star reviews if not for the numbskull who gave the book 3 stars because it was written for magazine writers, not book authors. My other book, BOOK PROPOSALS THAT WORKED! Real Book Proposals That Landed $10K - $100K Publishing Contracts, is for book authors. Giving a book a lower rating because it "should be" for a different audience (meaning it should be an entirely different book) is ridiculous. It's like criticizing an eating-disorder book because it wasn't written for alcoholics. …
Angela, Just a quick note to say thanks for all you do for writers and editors. Thanks to you, I've been freelancing for David C. Cook for going on four years ... I have a poem under market review for Blue Mountain Arts ... and I am preparing to become one of Lynda Lotman's network fiction editors. So, thanks again. Keep up the great work! Best to you and yours, John David Kudrick …
This week's letters appear in Angela's article HERE. …
Hi Ang, I loved your two articles on What Recession?! I publish a little alternative spirituality newsletter. For years I've been telling our subscribers not to read "bad" news, and get themselves all down and depressed. As you pointed out in today's article, there's plenty of good news out there. If more of us focus on the good, then more good will come to all of us. It's really pretty simple, at least in my opinion. Focus on what you want. Now, if we can convince the rest of the world to do that . . . 2009 has so far been my best year yet. So I echo your words -- "What recession?!" Thanks so much for all you do for us freelancers out here. You're truly an angel! Hugs, John -- Chief Joseph Newsletter Conversations With Chief Joseph & John Cali https://www.greatwesternpublishing.org/contactus.html https://www.greatwesternpublishing.org ~~~~~ Angela, It's all about positive thinking, isn't it? Law of Attraction. Have a positive attitude and positive things will happen. In my town restaurants are slow, the parking lots are not full. And yet an old favorite place of mine just reopened, generating a few waitress, chef, busboy and hostess jobs. In my town, plant nurseries are really slow. I own one of those plant nurseries. And yet today, Wednesday, I had two new people come in. They'd never been here before. The kicker is that one of them actually spent money. I never get customers on Wednesday! Small bit of success, but I'll take it. In my town cabinet shops are failing. My husband owns a cabinet shop. And yet, today, I have two bids to submit for future work and two jobs that I have a contract on. (I get to pretend to be the secretary.) Not so long ago I was begging for work and borrowing money from my retired parents! Not fun. Recession... yes, it's there. But it's looking up! -- June K. Brown Key Largo Blue Plant Nursery and Woodworks See my articles in Horizons Magazine! Animal Spirit Guidance, By June K. Brown Visit my Web site at https://www.Moonmother8.com ~~~~~ I'm in Australia but we also are being affected. I did lose a regular writing job with an American website late last year but, other than that, my writing career is thriving. I keep getting more and more assignments. I'm lucky in that I have several regular jobs but over and above that, am continually getting new work. Just today, I was offered a column with a national magazine. Having been self-employed for 25 years, I know that there's no need to ever worry. In fact, worry creates the very problem we're trying to avoid. Thanks, Charmaine …
Hi Angela, I just read Julie's article in this week's WritersWeekly. Since the woman she had a contract with is a known fraud AND she requested a W-9, Julie may want to put a fraud alert on her credit report, if she's a sole proprietor and her Tax ID is also her Social Security number. It may be nothing, but on the other hand, the "editor" went to all that trouble of asking for a W-9...so it may be worth the peace of mind. Thanks for all you do! Pam ---- Hi Angela, I am responding to "It Sounded Too Good to Be True" in the March 11th edition of your newsletter. One of the reasons the author thought the phony publisher was on the up and up is because the author received an official looking contract. I present a work of caution. Many identity thieves are now posing as legitimate businesses to get people's life histories, bank accounts and social security numbers. These con artists have no problem getting this information because they have their victims fill out official looking forms. Such a scam hit the Las Vegas area last year. This con artist was posing as a mortgage broker. He would contact people out of the blue and offer them a "too good to be true" refinance deal. He would then show up at their home with a bogus story on how he selected them for this great offer. He also had his victims fill out official looking forms. These forms had spaces for the victims to list all their bank account information, work histories, social security numbers, etc. The con artists would then tell his victims he would be contacting them in a week or two with their refinance loan. Only problem, he never re-contacted his victims. After three weeks without contact, one family called me because of my prior law enforcement background. I advised the family to contact their bank. The loan manager at the bank could not locate any record on the mortgage broker. But, she did find some unusual activity on their bank account. Because of the loan manager's swift action, the family was able to recover their money. The moral of the story is be very careful whom you give out your personal information to. Be especially leery if they contact you out of the blue. S. Patrick Culshaw …
Letters will return next week. …
Angela, your article in this week's WritersWeekly (What Recession?! Plenty of Freelance Jobs for Writers!) was so refreshing. I'm getting so sick and tired of hearing about how bad it is out there. For an administration that promised hope, there sure is plenty of fear mongering going on, and the media love it. At any rate, it was very refreshing to see your positive spin on things. While I know some people have been hit hard by the economic downturn, I also see what you see as well: Crowed restaurants, lines in stores, etc. Americans still have so much better than the rest of the world. We just may not be able to afford flat screen TVs for a while. Well, I'd rather be reading anyway. Thanks again for such a much-needed perspective! Kate Wicker Freelance Writer https://www.KateWicker.com TempleoftheSpirit.blogspot.com https://twitter.com/Momopoly …
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Lulu responded to Angela's article. Since the letter contained over-the-top marketing blurbage, I'll cut to the chase. She claimed what we wrote were "misperceptions" and claimed the title of my article was "incorrect." The title was: "Lulu CEO Admits They've 'Easily Published the Largest Collection of Bad Poetry in the History of Mankind'" She then went on about the author being the publisher, not Lulu, blah blah, and said, "Bob was actually saying, as he always does when asked, that Lulu authors have easily published some great work with our site - we are also home to the largest collection of bad poetry in the history of mankind." That's followed by more marketing blurbage and then she insults us by saying, "I am always happy to provide you with any information you might need to ensure accuracy." Here's my response... …
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Dear Angela, I've been reading WritersWeekly forever and enjoy the heck out of it (I've also gotten a few jobs from it). I got a major kick out of your article, Gullible People Who Want to Be Screwed. Not the gullible people part (after all, if there were no gullible people, what would the online scammers do?), but your annoyance at people asking you to Google things for them. That happens to me frequently, and I now send them this link: https://letmegooglethatforyou.com. They usually get the hint. Hope it works for you as well. Stay warm! Kelly Burgess Senior Writer iParenting.com, Disney Family Group www.iParenting.com https://www.myspace.com/kwrite …
Good Morning Angela, That article is an eye opener. Thank you for that information, I will be sure to read contracts very, very carefully. I have a background in business management and accounting, so I'll understand any business jargon they can throw at me. This comes at a good time for me, I've had some nibbles on my hook (book) and I don't want to get too overjoyed as yet. Any articles to keep writers alert are a service to your readers and much appreciated. Sincerely, AD …
This week's letters have been published in Angela's article on authors who don't promote their works. Click HERE. …
Hi Angela, I just want to drop you a note about an article I read. It is by Melissa Mayntz, and about writing resolutions, which I am keeping a copy for future reference. I thought it was great and I'm going to use it to remind myself who I am and what I do! Just a thank you and kudos to the author. Sincerely, Ang Dee …
