Okay, I realize that WritersBeware is not the bad guy here. However, he shouldn't have generalized all ESL writers as frauds. I am a Filipino Web Content Writer. Here's how the system works:
1) I see an advertisement for someone hiring writers. The potential wages are far above what even your average government employee here makes. So naturally, I apply.
2) I go through rigorous screening procedures wherein I have to prove that I can:
a) Write with grammatically perfect English
b) Write creatively while being constrained to using some keywords repeatedly
c) Write quickly with a deadline in mind
3) My articles have to be approved by the client or I don't get paid. If too many clients return their articles I get fired for jeopardizing the business.
These clients are fully aware that their business partners are non-Americans. There's no fraud in any form. Payments are sent to the office's bank account (Philippine-based) and then diverted to me, with the agent taking a little off the top, of course.
If the client is happy, he or she will order more articles.
Filipino is my national language. I also speak two different dialects. However, I am pretty competent in using the English Language. I admit that I may be no Yeats, but I can hold my own.
All I am asking is that you try to understand that the writers are not at fault here. I was offered a great opportunity and I took it. Just like any of you would had you been given the chance to work for 2-3 hours a day and still earn more in a week than what your parents make in a month.
Some of us are also pissed off at people who commit fraud. Just this past week, I was commissioned by a client to write 6 thousand pesos worth of articles (about 120$). I really needed that since I was counting on it to pay my rent. He ran out on me.
In the end, it's not about whether you are a native english speaker or not -it's about whether your work stands the test of time. I have been working in this business for a year now, with my clients fully aware of my nationality. That should say something about my work quality.
I just hope this clears things up a bit.
Oh yeah, and someone posted this thread on the Filipino Penster Community and that's how I found it. If you think that Non-native speakers are no-good at writing with this language, then maybe you should check out our site. It has a lot of filipino content but there are also some English submissions.
Here's something for you to chew on:
penster.fyi.ph/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1863
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