I have written days ago how I felt when I found out that the samples I have submitted to a certain writing site were published on different websites without my knowledge. I know I am not the only victim of this kind of modus operandi but I still feel so frustrated by it. So I wrote a letter to the people behind the company and told them to pay for the articles or at least have those deleted from the Web.
One of the big bosses of the writing site replied to my email and said she will look into the matter and to give her time till this Tuesday to sort things out. She also asked for my paypal address. That should be enough to calm me down. But towards the end of her letter, she told me I own no copyright to the articles as, according to her, it was stated on the site that writers no longer own the copyright to written materials upon submission. I told her I still own the copyright because I was not compensated for any of those articles. I told her further that writers only relinquish copyrights to articles when paid and if articles were meant to be merely samples and not intended to be paid, they should not be sold to any of their clients nor published in any way, especially without the consent and knowledge of the original author or writer (in this case, myself).
Further, I told her that their site said nothing of the sort and that I have been promised by their editor that I will receive payment once the articles are accepted or approved. I checked their site again and saw that they have changed the entire layout and design of their website. Still, it did not mention that writers will no longer hold copyright to their written materials once they have submitted those to the site, regardless of whether the articles are paid or not.
Tuesday is coming to an end and I still have not heard again from the person who answered my first email. I do not know if she will email again or if they will ever pay for those articles. Right now, I no longer pay about payment. I just want them to have those articles deleted from whatever site they are published on. I own those articles and they have no right to claim it as their own.
How will you feel if you will see your own articles published by some unknown people without your permission? Your answer will definitely describe how I feel right now.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Freelance Writers, Beware of Writing Sites Asking You to Write Sample Articles!
You have read just right. Beware!
I myself have seen this warning in other blogs. Many bloggers and freelance writers have warned other freelancers about writing sites that ask for writing samples. They have had unpleasant experiences with these sites. Most sites that ask freelance writers to write sample articles for them are either scam sites or have questionable activities. Once freelance writers have written the sample for them, they no longer contact the writers but go on publishing the written samples without paying for them. Is that proper? No, of course not.
Freelance writers pour so much effort in all their works and it is a pity that they do not get compensated for the articles that they have written. I myself is a victim of this modus operandi.
I thought and was thankful that I was not able to experience not being compensated for my writing samples. Well, that was what I thought. Until yesterday, I found out I was wrong.
There was this writing site where I applied months ago when I was just starting out with freelance writing. This site seemed legitimate enough so I applied as a writer. All writer applicants were asked to write "First Three Articles" and according to the site editor, the articles will be paid via Xoom once approved. Two of my three articles were approved and the third was sent back to me for some editing. To make my story short, I was able to give them four articles in all.
I did not pursue writing for the site because at that time, I was already writing for two other clients and I had so much load already. I thought my sample articles were not published because I did not pursue writing for them. Besides, they gave no hint that I was going to be paid for that.
Yesterday, I checked my sample articles against a plagiarism checker to find out if the articles have not been published. I did this because I was planning to submit my articles to some writing sites or article markets. What did I get from my search? Disappointment. All my sample articles have been published under different names. I have not been paid for them. The writing site gave no notice of the publication of the articles I have written and they have given no hint of payment.
So there. I learned my lesson. Things like this can happen to any writer. There are too many people out there who only want to profit from other people's efforts without thinking of giving back due compensation.
To all freelance writers, especially those who are just starting out, beware of writing sites asking you to write sample articles for them. Chances are you may not be compensated for your efforts.
I myself have seen this warning in other blogs. Many bloggers and freelance writers have warned other freelancers about writing sites that ask for writing samples. They have had unpleasant experiences with these sites. Most sites that ask freelance writers to write sample articles for them are either scam sites or have questionable activities. Once freelance writers have written the sample for them, they no longer contact the writers but go on publishing the written samples without paying for them. Is that proper? No, of course not.
Freelance writers pour so much effort in all their works and it is a pity that they do not get compensated for the articles that they have written. I myself is a victim of this modus operandi.
I thought and was thankful that I was not able to experience not being compensated for my writing samples. Well, that was what I thought. Until yesterday, I found out I was wrong.
There was this writing site where I applied months ago when I was just starting out with freelance writing. This site seemed legitimate enough so I applied as a writer. All writer applicants were asked to write "First Three Articles" and according to the site editor, the articles will be paid via Xoom once approved. Two of my three articles were approved and the third was sent back to me for some editing. To make my story short, I was able to give them four articles in all.
I did not pursue writing for the site because at that time, I was already writing for two other clients and I had so much load already. I thought my sample articles were not published because I did not pursue writing for them. Besides, they gave no hint that I was going to be paid for that.
Yesterday, I checked my sample articles against a plagiarism checker to find out if the articles have not been published. I did this because I was planning to submit my articles to some writing sites or article markets. What did I get from my search? Disappointment. All my sample articles have been published under different names. I have not been paid for them. The writing site gave no notice of the publication of the articles I have written and they have given no hint of payment.
So there. I learned my lesson. Things like this can happen to any writer. There are too many people out there who only want to profit from other people's efforts without thinking of giving back due compensation.
To all freelance writers, especially those who are just starting out, beware of writing sites asking you to write sample articles for them. Chances are you may not be compensated for your efforts.
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