I would like to become a freelance writer. Where do I begin?

Essay Scam community,

I realize that this thread is posted multiple times a day on these forums. However, I am creating a new posting anyway. My impression is that there are a few helpful members who frequent these forums that will be willing to give me advice. Perhaps "good" advice is only shared via personal messages or email. Fine... whatever. Of course, I am expecting a few obligatory Grammar Nazi responses to this thread. Fire away, Internet Tough Guys.

In any case, let us assume that I am a competent writer and would be able to write essays on a freelance basis successfully. Where do I begin? Perhaps by virtue of this being a morally questionable business, there are few helpful resources that can assist people like myself in getting started. To make matters worse, many essay mill websites are apparently "scams." Great.

I am looking for a list of about 15 legitimate essay mill websites that I can work for. That is all. Come to think of it, there should be a FAQ section for this on the forums. Hmm... or maybe that would violate forum rules? Come to think of it, where are the rules?

Thank you in advance,

macaronipenguin

Purveyor of Chilled Pasta Products and Accessories

It doesn't exactly benefit you to be a smartaas in your first post. You've just guaranteed that you will not receive help from any of the legit members to which you refer.

maybe you didn't know, but saying "Grammar Nazi," followed by "Internet Tough Guy," is one way of summoning WB, the forum's resident bridge troll, who has come to tax you with empty threats. WB, why are you so unhappy? what happened in your life to make you like this?


it's a tough order, penguin, because not all "scams" are 100% scams. I worked for a shady site for about 3 years before they started stealing from me, and made some real coin. so, are they a scam? yes, to a degree. I'd say it will probably be best for you to develop your own list through trial and error, rather than trust someone on here to do your homework for you. experience is the best teacher.

I've been staying out of your business (you know, the business in which you've been getting schooled in grammar by ESL members), but you can say goodbye to that practice, you fu**-n worthless charlatan. That you claim to be an "English teacher" is an absolute joke, but it does explain why the US in 29th in education.

I wish I could laugh...

but seriously, WB, what happened that turned you into such a PITA grouch?

You don't have to-leave that to everyone else.

okay, I will. and since you're refusing to answer what must be a very painful question, let's also leave it to everyone else to give penguin a shortcut, or advice.

Okay. I just read the Terms of Use for this website.

If a user posts a list of decent writing companies that are all owned by different people, then how can that be construed as an advertisement for those sites? I understand that a lot of posters might be here "recruiting" writers, but surely there must be a way to get newbies in this business started, right?

Just noticed the DND list too. Now everything is starting to become clear to me. Nonetheless, I am disappointed by the restrictions of this community. I mean, come on. This is the Internet. Freedom of speech, etc., and so on...

Do you own this site? Did anyone force you to join? Is this the only writing forum on the Internet? Is anything preventing you from creating your own forum?

No. No. No. No.

This is a forum about verifiable scams. It is not a freelance writer employment center.

Penguin

I've not come across a good site. ODesk is legit but the fees smack of eploitation. Elance is excellent, but the bidding is time-consuming and slow. I'm not sure that one can make a good living on these sites. I needed work in December and looked at a number of sites, but eventually got huge contracts via other channels.

To my knowledge, serious contractors get serious work from ODesk. It depends on the level of skills a person has. ODesk is fine with someone with higher level of skills. But often the people with good background in computer-programming get work from ODesk. I would not recommend Elance to anyone though.

I am sure he did not mean to be insulting. It is just that he felt the need to tell a truth as is known or understood by him. It is commonly known to us that WB tends to be exactly as described when he feels threatened by a newcomer to the forum so he should not be taking offense. The guy was only looking for some advice in relation to finding a job as a writer. Sure he may have gone overboard with his descriptions, but then again, he was probably trying to protect himself and trying to make himself seem like he can fight off the bullies. Think making yourself big when faced with a bear.

The OP was a troll who got exactly what he wanted out of the then participants at this forum. A negative reaction that would produce a continously negative thread. He was never seeking any company to work for and yet nobody seemed to see through that. He never intended for a positive list to be produced. He knew all of the rules and was merely trying to figure out which ones he could break. He was a plant. He was placed here to create chaos. Luckily, we get less of his like these days. Most of those who ask are really interested in an above board freelance writing job.