So very frustrated.....
By madden12
@madden12 (81)
United States
August 8, 2011 7:00pm CST
I love freelancing. I love the fact that I can make my own hours and work with whoever I want to. I understand fully that there are drawbacks to freelancing and that there aren't always the same benefits that you get with a full-time job.
You have to take the bad with the good, but it seems like there is only bad right now. Everywhere you turn it seems like writing sites are lowering page revenues and making you jump through hoops in order to get a couple of bucks if you are lucky. Not that I am blaming any particular site, but what is the point of trying when it seems like your legs are always being cut from under you.
Typically I am optimistic about things, and hopefully things will turn around for the better. It is just nice to know that at some point the work that you have put in will eventually mean something. Hard work is supposed to get you somewhere right?
I guess I'll end my rant and get back to seeing if working hard means anything anymore...
2 people like this
2 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
9 Aug 11
I thought you'd managed to sort out full-time revenue through Helium?
This is the main reason I opted for direct-to-client work. There's no residual income, of course (that's the price paid) but the per-hour rate is much better in the short and medium terms.
1 person likes this
@madden12 (81)
• United States
10 Aug 11
Yes, I had sorted it out, and then the Internet started messing with Helium and IP's got blocked and earnings plummeted. Somehow they are better today, hopefully this keeps up.
I do agree that direct and upfront pay is a good hedge against these things. I'm hoping Helium will see that light. Hence the Ebook idea, it might be a way to get more money for work I have done, or at least give me a forum to publish works that might not make anything at Helium.
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
9 Aug 11
Hello, Madden12. I can identify with everything you say. I think we just have to be patient because quality, like the cream on the milk, always rises to the top. So the quality sites will win through, and the quality writers will get what they deserve.
Hard work does pay off - you knew that already. Stick with Helium - I'm sure they'll come good for us.
@madden12 (81)
• United States
10 Aug 11
Today was certainly much better. Earnings at Helium seem to be back at a reasonable level.....which is good because I was mostly freaking out about having little to nothing coming in compared to about two weeks ago and no one could say why.
I'm trying out Ebooks now....learning the formatting was really easy. Hopefully shorter works can sell.
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
10 Aug 11
Glad it seems to be settling down for you. It's scary when you give up the day job, and then the earnings plummet. Good luck with the Ebook - I might try one myself to see how it goes.
@madden12 (81)
• United States
10 Aug 11
If you do make sure you use a word document otherwise you will wonder why everything is so odd looking. Its probably common sense, but I had had to download a word program so I could make the PDF........its harder to make the EPUB, or at least get anyone to let you just load the EPUB file.
What's an EPUB? Its what all the Kindle, Nook, EReaders are using and it makes it easier to distribute. I loaded a 13 page guide for teens/college kids on how to find a first job. I deleted it though because it couldn't get any wide distribution in just a PDF format. It was good to go through the process though because other than that its really easy to make an Ebook and have a service like LuLu help you make your cover and such.
