Freelance Writing Scams- How to Avoid Them

As freelance writers, by definition we have to look for work. What do you do when that work turns out to be fraudulent? Ever submitted your hard work, been promised pay and then nothing happens? Or worse, you see your work on some website under some else's name? How are freelance writers to know what's a scam and what's legitimate work?

Know Your Market

If something sounds to good to be true, it usually is. The biggest thing that stands out in this would be contests. There are hordes of articles written on the subject of poetry contests and writing contests, quite a few here on AC. (Jennifer Weis, Tori, Dana Hinders) I won't belabor their point, just bear in mind that there are a few legitimate ones, but they are vastly outnumbered by scams.

There is a plethora of sites purporting to connect freelance writers with jobs. Take these jobs with a grain of salt. While some of these are legitimate, some are scams and it is very difficult to determine which is which. Many of these are also very low paying: $1.50 for a 500-word article is an example. These are not necessarily scams, but people outsourcing jobs that they have bid on and won. It is very difficult to make a living with this type of job. Don't be afraid to bid what you are worth. If you do quality work, are good with deadlines, have excellent research and writing skills then don't sell yourself short. To help avoid being scammed when winning a job bid, if possible, research the company purchasing your services. Check any feedback, complaints in forums, etc. Always verify the amount you will be paid, when you will receive payment, how you will receive payment (paypal, check, money order). Always verify turnaround time (e.g. how long you will have to wait for payment after submitting your work). Verify which rights are being purchased: if you are putting a massive amount of work into a project, selling all rights to the piece probably isn't in your best interest.