I hear it all the time, usually at least once a day:
You can't become a writer if you aren't willing to work hard.
“I want to do what you do”.
“Where are all the writing jobs?”
“It must be nice to work from home”.
”What do I have to do to become a writer?”
“I love writing in my journal. I can totally do what you do”.
“Why can’t I find a job as a writer?”
“This writing thing must be a scam because I can’t find any work”.
And on and on and on.
Not to scare you, but oDesk scam artists are everywhere. They hide behind semi-decent feedback, offers that are too good to be true, or high expectations that are impossible to fulfill.
Not every job on oDesk is a scam, though. There are thousands of honest, ethical employers that post listings each day. You just have to wade through a lot of jerks to get to them.
So how do you know if you’re about to fall victim to an oDesk scam? There are a few signs that you need to look for.
Don't be scared to ask questions before accepting a freelance writing gig.
Most freelance writers, whether they write for Demand Studios or a plethora of private high-paying clients, spend a good portion of each day hunting for the best freelance writing gigs. Freelance work is never guaranteed, and nobody wants to be left with an eviction notice or a lack of electricity at the end of the month. It’s good to apply for new writing jobs, but some writers fail to ask a few simple questions before accepting a new freelance gig.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS WRITING GIG PAY?
Rates for freelance writers vary drastically. Would you accept an office job or a position at Target without knowing how much you were going to get paid first? Probably not, even in this messed up economy. You have a right to know how much you will make before you accept a freelance writing gig, and it’s a good idea to get it in writing. Avoid verbal agreements, unless you like getting screwed over when it’s time to collect your money.
If you’re considering writing for Demand Media Studios, you probably want to know if Demand Studios is a scam. I’ve been writing for Demand Media since 2008 or 2009, so I’m happy to provide all of my readers with a Demand Studios review based upon my own personal experiences.
But first, the basics:
How do I become a Demand Studios writer?
Go directly to the official website for Demand Media Studios and apply to become a freelance writer. Demand Media Studios hires writers on an as-needed basis for different websites. EHow is almost always hiring, as is Livestrong. I write for both of those channels.
“I would like to work from home, but I don’t know where to begin. Can I work from home? I need to work from home. I absolutely must get a job working from home.”
Sound like your daily thought process? You’re not alone. Lots of people have no clue how to get started making money from home. They’re like, “Hey, I would like to work from home, but I just don’t know where to find work from home jobs and opportunities”.
If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve written several work from home articles. They talk about everything from distractions that freelance writers deal with -including a few of my own personal rough work at home days – to the best ways to make money online.
The day started off fairly well, and you fully intended to write several articles.
Then things just kind of fell apart. Maybe your kids were driving you nuts. Maybe you worked too much yesterday. Maybe you just weren’t in the mood to write any articles…or even one measly little outline.
That’s okay. Writing isn’t always fun – and if anybody tells you it is, they’re probably lying. Or on Prozac.
There’s one little problem with not writing, though: no work equals no money.
I never used to enter contests. I mean hey, somebody has to win, but the odds of that somebody being me are pretty slim.
At least that’s how I used to think.
Last month, I entered two different contests. One required me to write a creative caption for a baby food company. I did, and I won second place! Max is loving his organic baby food and organic baby snacks.
Sometimes, working from home can make you completely go insane.
When you’re always home, you start to lose it after awhile. You get to the point where you’re ready to scream, “WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO MAKE” the next time somebody asks what’s for dinner. You find yourself rearranging furniture just because you’re sick of looking at it all day. You find yourself craving 5 minutes alone – 5 QUIET minutes alone.
I really needed some quiet time to work. It was one of those days where my kids were driving me nuts and I was sick of looking at the stupid couch in my living room. I hate that couch, by the way. Did I ever tell you how much I hate it?
It took me awhile to decide whether or not to write this article.
After obsessing over it for an hour or so, I finally decided that the opinions of random internet visitors really won’t make or break my day.
Anyway, I have a confession to make. Lean in really close, because I have to say this in a whisper.
Are you ready?
If you’ve visited the DS forums lately, you know that writers aren’t happy about the recent round of WDP nominations. Actually, “not happy” is a major understatement – many of the writers are downright pissed.
I’ll admit that I’m always a bit surprised by some of the things people post on the official DS forums. I like writing for DS, but even if I didn’t, I’d be hesitant to spill my heart out on the forums.
I don’t blame people for being angry about being placed in Writer Development Program, now known as the Writer Evaluation Program. It’s hard to hear that you aren’t a good fit for the company you write for, especially if it’s your main source of income. I get that.
But cursing and making threats and ranting on and on about DS…on the company forums? Not the best idea.
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