It's funny how you can make anything (and I mean anything) look good or bad. There are probably thousands of posters like senarbass who have to come to gun-related forums and complained that guns are bad because this or that. Others went to refrigerator forums because of some unfortunate accident involving a refrigerator happened. They curse refrigerator manufacturers, of course.

The 1M dollar question is h-o-w you use the product or service (and if you use it according to the seller's instructions). If you buy a knife and kill somebody, you have misused the purpose of the knife. If you buy a video camera to spy on people in bathrooms, you have misused the purpose of the product. If you buy Internet service to try to find child p(rnography, you have misused the service. Being a Harvard graduate you should know that, but you have purposely ... misused the purpose of this site :).

I personally report all clients I suspect of academic dishonesty (or just refuse to work with them). If you order a paper to cheat, don't be surprised you might get busted.

As they say: "Work hard and play hard." You're right that I try to take as many projects as possible during the "busy seasons" but then I also take several weeks off during the "low seasons." Writing example essays is a seasonal job, after all ;-).

Some people are early birds, others are night owls. Excuse me, but what is wrong with that?

I come to work whenever I have to. If one week I make twice as much as the previous week, I can take the next week off. I don't really count how many hours I work because my clients hold me accountable for quantifiable results only. You can sit in your office all week long doing nothing and you will still get paid for your "work," but you have to be there from 9 to 5 no matter what. I don't have to.

I can do an urgent paper on Monday within 14 hrs and take the next couple of days off because on Monday I made enough money to skip the next days. You can't ;-).

Productivity is the key, not time spent on writing. Writing papers is much more than just typing and research writers are not typists. If I'm interested in a subject I don't count hours and can research it to death. Only the final result of my work counts.

It may be worth it if you work on a big project. The fewer private customers, the fewer payment and customer service issues.

I like CustomPapers.com because they pay right after I complete the project (sometimes even on the same day) and you have all the freedom of work without any supervision and control. And they always pay without unnecessary delays. I guess they are more focused on customer service than pampering writers. If you're interested in a posted project, you bid on it (ie. write for how much you'd be willing to complete it) and to my understanding based on the writer's bid they send a quote to the client. If project requirements change after I placed my bid they send me an email and ask if my bid still stands and if I can still do it (if not I can revise my bid or just cancel it). If a client demands a rewrite or something that was not included in the original instructions they ask me how much I want to charge to fix it and pay me the asked amount if client pays.

Another good thing is that if a client used a stolen credit card on my assigned project they don't reverse my payment but they buy the project from me and probably post it as an example paper. In contrast to some other sites I used to have an account with (essaywriters.net especially), I've never been "penalized" by CustomPapers because there was no reason to "penalize" me ;-). One time I couldn't finish the paper on time, so I wasn't paid because the client couldn't extend his deadline and demanded a refund. I took my risk and lost. But that's something you can expect if you try to take too many orders during a busy season or if you have an emergency (from then on I always email my client if I anticipate any delays to avoid the risk of not being paid).

Overall, I can log in to the writers panel at any time and if I see something interesting I bid on it and then wait if my bid was paid/accepted (they let me know if I got the project usually within 24 hrs from the time I placed my bid; if I don't get a project I just don't hear from them). I have accounts with 4 or 5 other sites so I share my time between them all (especially during slow seasons).

But that comes with some negatives as well. What I don't like is that with CustomPapers you never know if a project you bid on will get paid and will be assigned to you. Other sites make projects available only after they have been paid, so that's more convenient (for a writer; not necessarily for a client). It takes some practice to learn on how many projects to bid so that you don't end up with too many or too few projects. Still, it's usually not a problem to ask them to reassign a project if you feel you're not going to complete it on time (provided you let them know in advance). It takes some time to get used to their system; when you do it works pretty well. Still, I think most writers (especially newbies) would prefer to know in advance if projects they see on the board are paid, so this is something for CustomPapers to improve, if possible.

Then, as a writer (and an occasional translator), I'm even more sure he is wasting our time and resources. There are literally hundreds of professional translators associations which - besides taking membership fees and paid meetings - do absolutely nothing. I don't see how writers associations would be any different.

I've been working as an independent freelance writer for the last several years. I have both individual clients and accounts with a few companies.

Editor75 works hard to show all the carrots of some sort of "unionization/organization" of the online writing industry but he forgets about the sticks. In real life carrots come with sticks. Apparently, in his delusional world he refuses to recognize this simple truth.

Mind that if you centralize how much you can or will write for (I assume there would be a minimum of $X per page or project enforced by someone - no idea who would decide on the level of difficulty or complexity which are not equivalent to page output), you would no longer be able to write what you like or for much you like, and when you like because a minimum pay would need to come with minimum output requirements.

In addition, belonging to some sort of union is not free. You have to pay union fees - I know a person who works for one, so I know it for a fact. They have their own rules and regulations you have to abide by, on top of general laws for everyone. Also, structuring is a means to better control workers time, productivity, etc. You become a small part of a huge machine you cannot get away from in a sense.

This is what happened with condominium associations in the US. They were meant as an entity to protect people and their investment in the co-ops. In reality, at this time there is no one who regulates such associations. They defraud many people who live in co-ops; they create their own laws, which aren't even checked by anybody (it takes about 2-3 people to force through whatever they like). If you as a resident don't agree with their bylaws, they can basically force you out of your home and sue you for your own money.

Being an independent individual with all the benefits it offers, I would never even consider joining such a union. It only would limit the little freedom I have left.

Maybe Editor75 wants to set up writers' union to collect union fees. That sounds like a good business opportunity and free money for a promise of illusive protection.

Beatrice

If you don't know yet, you need to have a writer's account with several companies; one company won't give you enough projects to choose from.

Currently I work for myself (a couple of projects a week from my private clients who found me online) and also take projects from a few different companies on regular basis. This is the only way you can survive in the online freelance writing world :).

Hmm - like English tests or something similar?

The teacher may know your writing style or your writing abilities. Or if you didn't provide detailed instructions (like using a specific source covered in class), it may be a little suspicious too.

Beatrice

I don't think posters here are paid for their posts? Unless I missed something.

Beatrice

I agree... I would ask them what exactly it means, but it doesn't sound right.

I didn't know they allow to register web address from another country where you are actually located (so you can register address of a .co.uk website even if you are in another country?)

Beatrice

Yeah, it also depends how you actually paid.

Beatrice

I think I would write him/her something like that:

"This is my last email to you. If you don't reply within X days I will be forced to take action against you to get my money back."

Then wait for two days and see what happens.

Beatrice

Did you contact the company about that? Maybe they sent you something but it landed in your spam folder ;).

Beatrice

Thanks for sharing your story. It's hard to imagine someone could write an essay for $4 per page (unless they live in a 3rd world country). Not to mention $2.50 per page!? I wonder on average how long it takes for a professional writer to research and write one page? Any ideas?

Beatrice

Interesting and scary story.. For some reason I've always thought Turnitin is a non-profit "open project." I actually found out about Turnitin when I first visited plagiarism.org website - but now I see they link out several times directly from their homepage to their commercial website (Turnitin.com) so their "goal" has been commercialized.

Beatrice

As far as I know only universities or other institutions can subscribe to Turnitin system. I don't think individuals can check their papers for plagiarism. I think it's very expensive for a regular student.

Beatrice

Funny.. What's up with all these essay writing companies - it seems there are more and more of them these days. My gut feeling tells me most of them are established by former writers of the "original" companies who think they can work on their own...

Beatrice

Agree with Ben - it's a typical spam message (even though the listed services - except for the first one - are actually one of the best a student can find).

It's hard to hide these days, isn't it..

Beatrice

Oh, so they don't write essay - you can just sell your own essays to them?

Never used them but it's not usually a good sign if they don't reply to your email/s (unless you sent it a few minutes ago ;).

Beatrice

I think relying on anti-plagiarism software is not always a good choice... Most of the times it just provides you with *possible* links where the particular term or sentence might appear - but it would take you hours to actually analyze the results yourself. In addition, such software does not recognize the quotations - so if the essay contains direct and referenced quotes, the software "thinks" the paper is still plagiarized.

In general, I just copy-paste some phrases or sentences in the google search box (including the "" signs) and find it the fastest and most effective way.

Beatrice

Sorry, I meant FBI. :-).

Wow, you should be working for FBY, Ben :).

essayfraud/forum/index.php?showtopic=275 - Here is a thread on essay writers - maybe "Moris" was referring to it...

Beatrice

You're welcome. I would also make sure your email settings allow legitimate emails as that could cause problems (maybe that was the reason you didn't receive emails).

Beatrice

Hey Kimberley, my life experience tells me this: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" :).

Yes - what happened JDI? I don't think your post will be 100% legit if you don't include more details (if possible).

Beatrice

I think the best way to find out would be to contact them...:) Their final prices depend on your project requirements, study level, deadline, and their writers' bids so I think they could work out a discount for you. You may find one of their coupon on essaycoupons too.

Oh boy...

Does custompapers.com prompt you to research/indexam.html
Or am i going to the wrong site???
You go to the correct site.

Hey Kimberley, sounds good! Let us know the results then.

I think they are well-known (in the US at least). I've heard they do a good job since they don't hire foreign writers and their customer service is "superb".

Ben, you're too funny :).

Yes, but how come they (eg. Essay Relief) still have customers - don't they see the quality is poor (or the essays are in many cases plagiarized?). I guess heavy advertising does the trick and persuades the students to order from them.

Beatrice

Hmm - I didn't even know the tuition in the UK is so cheap compared to the US! And at such great universities!

Regarding the UK essay writing companies - you are probably right. But why is that Indian/Pakistani companies don't usually provide a high-quality service..?

Anyway, it's hard to generalize as far as the quality of a particular company is concerned. It's because they provide a service, not a product. I'm myself at least once a year am dissatisfied with my hairdresser; but I"m still with her as I know she could have a worse day.