While perusing the web for freelance gigs this morning, I stumbled upon this posting:
Okay, so this is a work for hire job? Fair enough, considering this was filed in the "freelance writing" category of the job board Indeed. Of course, the fact that they misspelled the name of their own company in this job posting is already not filling me with a lot of confidence, but whatever, I've got time. I'll read on. I find this:
Wordflower's offers several publishing programs that can be paid in installment payments.
Wait, "installment payments?" Are they saying what I think they're saying? Horror creeping up on me, I read on. A little further down, I find this:
Total cost is $845 per book. Can be paid in up to two installments within sixty (60) days.
My stomach sinks. Yes, they are saying exactly what I thought they were saying above. Isn't it nice how they stick that in there right at the end?
This is not work for hire. This is not "freelance writing." It's not even a a legitimate publisher. It's a good-old-fashioned vanity press. How in the hell they think this qualifies a "freelance writing job" I'll never know. It's bad enough that they seem to be clueless about how real publishing works, they're also clueless about how real freelance writing works. Or what freelance writing is.
It's bad enough that aspiring authors are suckered into vanity presses--not all of them are looking to make a living off their writing. But the idea that people legitimately looking for paying writing gigs (such as myself), many of whom are probably already struggling to get by, have to be subjected to this nonsense really hits a sore spot with me.
But just to be sure, I google them, and find their free Weebly site. Their web site has no books, no authors, no submission information, and is decorated with a bunch of generic clip art. Their founder seems to think her volunteering to read to kids at the library qualifies as a publishing credential. But hey, at least they have god on their side.
| Wordflower's Publishing Company is currently in need of writers and author's for its Christian and Children's Literature books. Writers and authors are needed for its early reader chapter books for children ages 8 - 12. |
Okay, so this is a work for hire job? Fair enough, considering this was filed in the "freelance writing" category of the job board Indeed. Of course, the fact that they misspelled the name of their own company in this job posting is already not filling me with a lot of confidence, but whatever, I've got time. I'll read on. I find this:
Wordflower's offers several publishing programs that can be paid in installment payments.
Wait, "installment payments?" Are they saying what I think they're saying? Horror creeping up on me, I read on. A little further down, I find this:
Total cost is $845 per book. Can be paid in up to two installments within sixty (60) days.
My stomach sinks. Yes, they are saying exactly what I thought they were saying above. Isn't it nice how they stick that in there right at the end?
This is not work for hire. This is not "freelance writing." It's not even a a legitimate publisher. It's a good-old-fashioned vanity press. How in the hell they think this qualifies a "freelance writing job" I'll never know. It's bad enough that they seem to be clueless about how real publishing works, they're also clueless about how real freelance writing works. Or what freelance writing is.
It's bad enough that aspiring authors are suckered into vanity presses--not all of them are looking to make a living off their writing. But the idea that people legitimately looking for paying writing gigs (such as myself), many of whom are probably already struggling to get by, have to be subjected to this nonsense really hits a sore spot with me.
But just to be sure, I google them, and find their free Weebly site. Their web site has no books, no authors, no submission information, and is decorated with a bunch of generic clip art. Their founder seems to think her volunteering to read to kids at the library qualifies as a publishing credential. But hey, at least they have god on their side.
