It’s a sad day when buyers need to tell writers the work they purchase should be error free and of better quality. If you’re charging people for your writing services, shouldn’t you be doing a good job in the first place? If you’re being paid to write, you should be writing well and without errors. Would you accept to pay a mechanic who forgot to put the wheel on your car or give cash to a contractor who didn’t shingle your roof?
I saw a project offered for bid on Elance. The buyer was leery of hiring and paying someone to write for him because of poor past experiences with unprofessional writers and sub-standard skill levels. The fact that he’s even had these experiences with people who are accepting money for less-than-quality services is a shame. That he fully expects to have the same bad experience yet another time speaks volumes about the reputation of writers he’s achieved thanks to glorious promises and poor deliveries.
Want to see just how sad the situation is? Read the buyer’s guidelines for his project:
* Spelling and grammar. I have had final drafts handed to me by so-called “professionals” loaded with spelling and grammar mistakes. Please triple check your work (this means actually reading it and going through it a few times – not just using a spell checker). I shouldn’t have to correct it myself once it is done.
* Vocabulary. A happy medium should be given when it comes to vocabulary. I don’t want every second word to have 6 syllables, nor do I want to sound as if I’m in grade 5 trying to write an essay. Use, fun, engaging words that will hold the reader’s attention.
* Tone. The best way to describe this is to think of the way a close friend would talk to you about something they enjoy and something they’re good at. No one wants to read an article that reads like an 800-page textbook that sounds dry and boring. Write in a tone that engages the reader!
* Repetition. Look at the following sentence and tell me what’s wrong: It can also affect you when you try to do something on credit and you have your spouse with you when you are given the information. The word you is mentioned six times. This is overkill and could be written a lot better.
* Filler text. Please avoid filler text at all costs. Focus on the main point of the article and try not to stray off course.
* Starting sentences with the word AND. Whether or not this is proper English, I don’t care. Please DO NOT start sentences with the word AND. There is no need for starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.
* Deadlines. Once we set a deadline I expect you to abide by it. No excuses! My apologies for being so harsh, but past experience has left me no choice.
*PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE! I cannot stress this enough! You are the service provider; I am the client. If I come back to you asking for revisions once a project is completed, I expect that you will do so in a professional manner and that you WON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. My asking for revisions is not some subtle way of insulting you or your work – it is just to make changes according to how I see fit. Nothing more. Nothing less.
If you cannot meet any of the guidelines I mentioned above (especially the last one), this project IS NOT for you. However, if you can meet these guidelines (or even surpass them), then I’d be happy to work with you! I thank you for considering this project and ask that you bid only if you are SERIOUS, PROFESSIONAL and CAPABLE.
My views? The buyer is 100% absolutely right. He shouldn’t even have to point out any of these points to a professional writer. Anyone who can’t meet all of the requests above when dealing with clients shouldn’t be writing for pay in the first place.
