08

Jan

Things That Annoy Online Writers

As an online writer there are definite perks to being able to work from home or from any location in the world. As a group, it is agreed that being able to go from bed to work-space in minutes is awesome. But, today we will discuss the things that annoy online writers.

This first one happens to new writers mostly. You sign up for a freelance website or a potential client contacts you and you are more than delighted to do some sample work or to show them examples of your work only to find out they stole your sample, used it, and now you won’t get paid for it. There are a few shady characters out there that have no qualms about using writers like that. It’s best to research the client carefully, work with reputable companies, and try to make sure your work cannot be copied.

The second thing that writers’ mention to one another most often would be clarification of what you, the client want from them. For example, clients want an article done in a particular style. Let’s say this is AP style. You do it, submit it, they read it and then tell you it isn’t what they wanted. So you rewrite it, and you find out they really wanted something casual and informal. These types of miscommunications can be prevented, especially if the writer and the client are using the same so called “writer’s language”.

The last little annoying thing is payment. This can be a delicate issue. It is usually best if the fees are discussed ahead of time and a set rate is agreed. Sometimes this is not enough. Some clients are not happy with the work that you’ve done, or there are clients that don’t want to pay what the current rates are. It’s tough in these instances to do, but sometimes you have to walk away. The best advice is be clear about what you are offering, as well as telling the client what is not negotiable, and stick to it.

That’s all for now, most of these things are small and are not too much of an issue in the daily life of an online writer, but they are things to be aware of. Again, the perks far outweigh these minor issues.