Word of mouth is the best way to build your client base. It's often the slowest way, but it will result in growth over the long term. Key factors are to be sure to always provide the best quality work and to meet deadlines. Remember that most happy customers don't always share their experiences while unhappy customers tell everyone. That's one of many reasons it's imperative that quality and timeliness can't be compromised. :)

Advertising can be helpful if done correctly and in the right places. Social media is okay for adding to your online presence, but most students aren't going to engage via social media. Most will engage through your website and email, which you will want to be 100% sure is error-free and professional. Be sure to use proper capitalization, etc. in all correspondence and avoid lazy writing (i.e. using texting-style such as "i already have...").

It depends on the request and just how much time has passed. Unless it's been a long time, I am generally happy to make reasonable changes for my clients. Now whether those changes are free or not depends on what is being asked. If I make a mistake, I will definitely make the correction at no cost. If a client comes back a week later and says, for example, they want me to add a few paragraphs or a page or two, I will charge for my time. It really all depends on the individual situation and, yes, how much time has passed. A client shouldn't wait weeks or months to request revisions. I do have time limits on how long they have, which is generally 2-3 days after the project is complete. It's the client's responsibility to review the completed project when received and to notify me in a reasonable amount of time should they need revisions. I do try to be detail oriented to keep revision requests at a minimum. I've been successful in this regard, but we're all human and I make mistakes like everyone else. ;)

This so true! When using a writer or company for the first time, it's vital to have enough time to work on part of a project or a smaller project to see their quality before going all in.

In response to the OP's concern over Gmail addresses, it varies, I suppose. I use Gmail because it's convenient and can be linked to all of Google's other features. I can schedule projects from my inbox using the calendar app, set reminders, take notes when researching, share files with clients, etc. However, that's not to say that a client shouldn't be cautious regardless of whether the writer uses Gmail or a company email.

Yes, and it really depends on the individual writer and what he/she is willing to do to grow their writing career. Some prefer to write and have a company handle all the other facets of the writing business. Others would rather handle it all and have bigger financial outputs versus a percentage of the project cost.

The turnover ratio among academic writers is due, in large part, to burn out. The best writers tend to get called upon for a lot and a lot more is expected of and from them. It also depends on how well the writer feels he/she is treated by the company. If a worker (employed or contractor) feels valued, their output will be better. Even the best and most motivated writers will only stay motivated (and dedicated) for so long if they aren't treated fairly.

Also, as @FreelanceWriter said, the best writers have more opportunities to exceed outside the umbrella of a company.

Perfectly stated. As they say, you get what you pay for. This is even more true with academic writing. You'll find the plethora of "writers" who will offer dirt cheap per page rates and dirt is what you'll likely get in return.

With law/legal papers, you have to be even more careful. However, I do want to add that an academic writer doesn't have to have a law degree to be an excellent legal writer. What you want is a writer who is detail-oriented, follows instructions to a T, and whose writing background spans several years of work. Now, having said that, verifying those credentials isn't always possible. When my clients ask about samples, I generally cannot provide them because that would breach my other clients' privacy. Still, you can get an idea for the type of writer (or company) you are considering by how well they communicate in writing.

If you are concerned about a specific issue with legal writing, ask questions. If your project requires a legal citation format as opposed to APA, etc., be sure to ask if the writer has experience. No experience is not a game changer (you can always send guides for your required format), but experience is definitely a positive. And, if you aren't comfortable and have some time, start with a few pages to see how they do (quality, instructions, formatting, etc.) before committing to the full order.

I have completed several legal papers, but one of my degrees is criminology (not law). Still, I did have to take some legal courses as part of my criminology program. That is bonus for me. It's not the same for all writers, so again, ask questions and start small if needed. :)

In response to the thread topic: Do freelance writers (academic area) need to learn and expand their knowledge?...

I believe one should never stop trying to learn regardless of their career path or industry. The more we know, the better we can be at the work we do, in how we interact and understand others, and so forth. As they say, knowledge is power. We all need varied levels of power in all facets of life and the more we can learn, the more we can exceed in our personal and professional roles.

I agree, fully. I know many people who didn't earn a degree, but are hard workers and earn a very good income. It really depends on the individual and his/her work ethic and determination. Consider, for example, those who never attended college yet went on to launch what would later become multi-million dollar corporations.

Of course, I am all for college and do believe that having a degree is preferable. However, just because someone doesn't have the highest grades or a college degree does not mean he/she is not fully capable of achieving success in their lives. ;)

I work with many AU clients. I am a native US writer, but I pay close attention to the literary and academic rules of every client's respective country.

Since I am American, I've not tried to work with companies outside the US. When I was freelancing with companies, I only worked with a couple reputable ones in the US. I am particular about the companies I associate with as that can impact my reputation as much as my independent services.

As such, I can't say there are or are not AU writing companies nor the quality of AU companies.

However, if you align with a good US company or independent writer who frequently assists AU clients, you should be fine. Just be sure to specify what you need upfront (i.e. British English, specific citation formats, etc.).

If you don't note these upfront and later need changes (such as changing from American to British English or to Harvard from APA), you could run into additional fees.

Those who are full-time writers are not likely to share their customers or orders. This is how we make our living. For those who rely solely on academic writing work, it is seasonal. That means those writers have to be frugal during the busy seasons so there is sufficient income to live on during the slow seasons.

If I get too busy to handle the orders coming in (rare), I reach out to someone I already know and trust. I imagine the majority of members here concur.

That's a risky policy. If a client wants to split the payment, it's better to get 50% and provide half the work. Collect the 50% balance and then complete the rest of the work. I never complete work that is not paid. If the customer disappears, then they only received what was paid. I'm not willing to work for free or on contingency. Writing is my bread and butter!

In terms of not receiving the second payment, @Major is correct. If the client is not responding to you, post the work online. And, @Major is also correct regarding PayPal. They do not verify every address used; just the primary one. Simply because an address is listed as primary doesn't mean it is still the correct address or that the individual resides at that address.

Completely rewriting the paper and making sure to exclude quotes and references when running through Turnitin will yield positive results. However, the chance that your Turnitin report will be 100% original is rare. The program is notorious for flagging even the smallest similarities, many of which are commonly used phrases. That is why universities typically allow a 5-10% similarity score without penalty.

Short answer: rewrite, exclude quotes/references. You should be fine.

I call BS! I am also offended that the OP would group all writers/companies in the same category as those who try to take advantage of students/clients.

One: I work my butt off for my clients.

Two: The majority of my clients are quite intelligent but lack the time or skills to write papers (i.e. I can lay floor tile, but I can't do the same quality job that a professional will).

Three: Most of my clients have a family and juggle school and full-time jobs. They come to me because the need help, not to cheat.

Four: How in the world did you (the OP) come up with teachers as being scammed? A cesspit? I see the student as the one being scammed in the education industry. Do you have any idea how many high school graduates can't write even the simplest essay? Students should be taught the full mechanics of research and writing BEFORE entering college. In my opinion, the students are the ones getting the short end of the stick. I'm just thankful that I am a part of an industry that HELPS students versus berating them for asking for help!

To say that "on Average, a well educated ESL writer is better at academic writing than a 'native writer'" would be misleading. No one can write any native language better than a native speaker. Now, that means writing in terms of the language style NOT regarding quality or ability to write. I am a US writer, native English speaking, but to say that I would write British English as well as a native writer would be a lie. I am not going to know the full or correct syntax the same way a native speaker would. I can certainly write (and do for many clients) British English, but there will always be some word or phrase that a native speaker would present differently.

Starting in academic writing as a job or business is not unlike other industries where you go in at the entry level and have to prove your abilities on the job before you can advance. Take what you can and do your best. The more you do (even on the smaller or more menial orders) and the better you do, the quicker you can access the "better" jobs. Starting out isn't fun, but if you're a great writer and stay the course, it can be worth it.

The best way to get more work is to provide the best possible quality on the work you already have. The better you do, the more other (individual clients and companies) will want to work with you. If your quality is mediocre, you can expect minimal work.

I can't say that a single error on a legitimate company's website should be a major red flag; after all, writers and copywriters are human and prone to err on occasion. It might be kind to email their support services and let them know so it can be corrected. I know if it were me, I'd appreciate someone being polite and letting me know I made a mistake. Now, if they're going to be all snarky and berate me for being human, I'd rather they keep their opinions quiet. ;)

If you see a site with several errors, that is an issue, and I'd be leery of them. The companies I know are careful to proof their web copy, as am I.

I love writing. LOVE it. Period. If I didn't write academic projects, I would still write. Heck, I do write other things. I can't imagine my life without some type of writing in it.

I communicate when necessary. Typically, I will send an initial intro email letting the client know I received everything, to reiterate the deadline, and ask any pertinent questions. I also let them know that their project will be ready/emailed to them on X day by X time. I don't mind an occasional check in from my clients if the deadline is far away, but I don't appreciate daily emails just to ask how it's going. I get that some clients are antsy, but I can either work on their project or email back and forth. I stay busy, and I don't have time for both. ;)

I read it the same way. I really don't see the reason for the OP's post other than to fuss about the experience, which, from what I see, wasn't a bad experience overall.


Editing is not uncommon and should be part of the process. Now, I'm not saying that a client should have to edit because of poor writing. What I am saying is that no matter how much information a writer receives from a client, it is not possible to write 100% like the client nor is it possible to get 100% of it exactly the way the client would. That is also presuming the client is a decent writer him/herself.

Overall, though, it seems that the writer was helpful to the OP thus negating the reason he/she would share the thoughts presented in the post. ;)

Legitimate companies prefer writers with a Masters or higher. Some (very few) will take on writers with a Bachelor's if they have proven experience. However, having no degree other than a high school diploma or even having an Associates is not sufficient to get in with legitimate companies. If that is your situation, I recommend writing other things for a while to build a strong portfolio.

"Other things" can include articles and stories for legitimate publications (both online and print). You could also start a blog that will illustrate your writing skills, but you will want to be sure what you write about focuses on substantial topics and that the quality is not general "blogging." Otherwise, it won't help. For example, if you have a background in healthcare (i.e. an associate's in healthcare administration or your work experience is in healthcare), you could blog about current healthcare issues. Remember, though, that the topics you present should be timely and of the highest quality. If blogging, write as it you were submitting the piece to a major healthcare publication. Skimping at all will show and you'll be wasting your time.

I do the same thing to ensure the writing fits what my clients' need. Other than that, it doesn't matter to me where they attend school. I also agree with @Freelancer writer on not giving your login info to a writer. We have no business with that info. If a writer needs info specific to your course, you can email it to the writer.

Exactly. To do otherwise is a quick way to get a reputation as someone who will regurgitate past work in new projects.

Plus, why would a student want a recycled paper anyway? You run the risk that others in your course or university have purchased the same paper. If you need help, seeking the assistance of a professional academic writer who will write your project from start to finish is the way to go. Anything that isn't 100% original, is asking for future trouble.

Yes, I've known of writers doing this as well as submitting to Turnitin and Grammarly. Thankfully, this is a rare instance as the majority of serious writers (i.e. this is their career) collect payment before beginning a project.

Note: Never send a completed order to a client until payment is received IN FULL! ;)
Better yet, don't even start until payment is received.

Exactly! When ordering a model essay, you want the best quality possible. To me, this is especially true if you are an ESL student and need help improving your language skills. This is not to say that a writer might not err on occasion, but there is a difference between an error or two (which should be rare) and poor quality writing.

Please clarify what you mean. Are you simply looking for a proctor service so you can take an exam? If so, approved services should be listed through your university.

If you are looking for someone to take the exam for you, I'm sorry, that's illegal. :)

@cadm001
Did you contact them (the company or the writer) with your concerns? If so, what did they say?

I am very shocked to read your message and would like to know what feedback you received to your issue. It seems that if there is an issue where paraphrasing is needed, they would be glad to address it quickly. I really can't comment more without knowing more about your project (i.e. if part of the project needed a direct quote to support something the writer wrote, etc.).

Yes, and that's the winning statement. The writer should be very careful that s/he doesn't contract with a company that imposes stiff unsubstantiated penalties. I know it's hard to know this until the writer has worked with a company for a while, but searching some similar issues and experiences in this forum can help. There are several companies that do impose penalties for almost any reason and hold pay indefinitely. Searching past posts will provide info on many of these. :)

I would be leery of a company or writer that does provide a report, especially a Turnitin report. Why? Plagiarism checkers retain the paper in their respective databases. That means that when a paper is later run by the student or university, it will show as plagiarized. This is often true with the "free" programs, as well.

When you sent this message, you were essentially asking for another revision, BUT the fact that they waiting a month to revise and reply to you is unprofessional. That alone would be grounds for the revision to shorten to be free --at least through any legit, reputable company.

Based on the verbiage of the chat transcript, sadly, you were working with a very bad company whose qualifications are not academic level by any stretch of the imagination.

I am sorry you have encountered this issue. Also, I don't believe "Roy Wilson" is any more an attorney than I am. "Roy's" command of the English language is as poor as "George's".

I'd definitely NOT use any company or writer whose command of English (speaking or written via chat/email/app) is not excellent.

I also agree with @FreelanceWriter... you should not use the work. I know that means you are out the money you paid for the assistance, but it will be less costly in the long run.

Let us know the outcome and best to you! :)

I don't know any company that will let you chat with a writer before an order is assigned and a phone conversation with a writer is generally out of the question at any stage as they typically only communicate via email. Nevertheless, for future projects, it would be good to ask questions and see what info the proposed writer will provide before the order is assigned. You could ask about his/her experience, etc. If your project is complex, the writer could first provide a little feedback so that you know he/she understands your order, etc.

Having said that, I am very surprised to hear your experience was negative. I know several people associated with CustomPapers and they are excellent. Maybe the writer had an off day? I do know that they don't use writers who aren't native English-speaking writers, so I know that wasn't the issue. Whatever it was, I wouldn't let it define your overall impression of the company, especially since your friend had a good experience. And be sure to let them know that you don't want that same writer. Whether she had an off day or not, you have the right to ask that your order not be given to her. At least, that's what I would do. :) You can also ask who their top writers are in your given subject area.

If you do decide to use them again, let us know how it goes.

If you've found a company that met your needs and provided quality work, I wouldn't change. As you already know, the first time is more hit and miss than any other. You've already been through that and they met your needs, so I'd stick with them. If you like your writer, ask for them for your other projects. If you find you aren't happy with the writer at anytime, I am sure you can request another writer going forward. Remember, reputable companies are few and far between. It seems you've found a good one, and I'd avoid giving that up!

Exactly, and to prevent customers from reaching out to writers directly with the hope of getting a better/cheaper deal. (Client try to steal writers, too.) I've worked for companies that did it both ways: anonymous projects and direct assigns. Either way is fine as long as the writer is good, but I do see how anonymous would be more beneficial to companies. From an indie writer perspective, it was easier when I could just write and a company was responsible for everything else. Now, I am writer, bookkeeper, manager, mediator, and much, much more! If a writer has a decent gig with a company, I recommend working hard, being honest, and enjoy writing for money while someone else handles the rest. ;)

The majority of my clients aren't lazy at all. They are overworked and most have a full-time job and a family. They are faced with so many projects and very little time. Then there are those who aren't good writers and simply need help putting their info into a coherent form. Just because a student uses an academic writer or writing service does not mean s/he is lazy. In fact, most are smart to ask for help instead of trying to throw something together or totally missing the assignment altogether!

Enough said. Honestly, there's nothing more to add here other than why in the world would someone even consider buying a writer's account?? Common sense must have went out the door for those who did/do.

Like @WriteReview said, not all native English speakers are better at writing. I know many people born right here in the US who can't write a decent sentence to save their life. However, they're brilliant at other things where I would fail miserably. It really depends on the individual and his/her talents, gifts, and yes, some education. I've know a few Kenyan writers who could compete with some great NES writers, whereas others would present work that was obivous ESL.

If you are an "okay" writer and are determined to learn and write better (i.e. practice, practice, practice, and get unbiased feedback on your work), you can do well. However, anyone writing in a language outside his/her native language will never be able to do it 100% all the time. I doubt anyone would want to rely on me to writer their paper in Spanish! I could, but it would be obvious that Spanish is not my native language.

Understanding that the majority of companies that claim to have a QA team really don't or they are, as one poster said, relative of the owners or other biased people, there are a few companies that do have real unbiased QA personnel. I used to work for one. Their role was to look at issues objectively, reviewing the order requirements against what the writer provided. If the work met the requirements, the writer received his/her full pay and an explanation was sent to the customer along with his/her options for revisions, etc. If the fault was found to be a writer error, the writer was given the change to correct it (unless it was too late). If the writer refused (rare but it did happen), then that could be bad for the writer (i.e. indicates poor customer service and risk for future orders), the company would get another writer to help. Most often, the issues were minor and could be easily and quickly remedied. In cases where the QA team found in favor of the writer and the customer wasn't happy, that would lead to other issues, but for the most part, the team worked hard to see what the truth was and to apply the best practices to make it right for the writer and/or the customer.

It's a shame it's not like this with all companies, but it does exist in a few -- or at least it used to.

Yes, this is correct, but sadly, only a handful of companies allow direct access. I would imagine that many companies pay so low they fear their writers will steal their customers in an attempt to make more on their won. On the other hand, some might simply want to be the go-between so they are aware of all stages of the order from start to finish.

Personally, I like contact with my clients. There are fewer issues related to miscommunication (too many cooks in the kitchen). There are a few times, however, that I wish someone else could deal with the issues. As indie writers it falls on each of us to handle it all. ;)

Sadly, this is less common these days. Writers tend to be overworked and underpaid and treatment outside of the pay issue is even worse.

One poster mentioned bonuses and that's always good but what's even better, sometimes, is hearing that you're doing a good job or that you're appreciated. Sometimes a thank you is worth more than money. Sure, money's good, too, but you get what I'm saying. ;)

I've worked where I've busted my tail and never heard a word unless it was a berate for a mistake or something of that nature. That doesn't make someone want to work harder and better for the company. It turns them against the company. That's why more and more writers have branched out on their own. Being your own boss make require more work but it can be less stressful in some regards (not all, but some).

While writers are contractors, they do, in a sense, work for the company with whom they are contracting. And it's a proven fact that happy workers are better workers !

So, if you're thinking about starting your own company, I advise making sure your writers (the one's doing the work) know they are appreciated. The better they do, they happier your customer's will be, and we all know that happy customers are repeat customers.

Double ditto! We've been down this road a million times and the answers are always the same. No full project until payment is received in full. You want to pay half, you get half. Period. ;)

Love, love the pics!! I have 2 dogs (Yorkie and long-hair Chihuahua) and a cat (fat and lazy). They are my constant companions whether working or chilling. I do have to be careful with the cat. She loves my work chair and literally eyes it, waiting on me to get up. Every time I get up, my chair is occupied when I return. Every. Time!