"It's a Jungle out there..."

The multitude of publishing predators is overwhelmingly horrific! As a freelance journalist, I've been trying to market my work. So far what I have encountered is unnecessarily time consuming and insulting. Swimmers beware because the sharks are out there waiting for fresh meat.

There are many kinds of predators preying upon the innocence of the novice writer. There are the ones that use reverse psychology, warning you about scams. They'll project an aura of sympathy by warning you of get the rich quick schemes. Then share a heartfelt concern for your plight, offering you guidance, and a much needed support. Yeah they'll lend you a hand alright, all for the one time price of $19.99. Which by the way is for a limited time only.

Then there's the, "empathetic predator". There hook is how they've been where you are, and how much they understand how you feel, and what you are going through. But look at me now...and if you buy my book I will show you the ropes, and you could have a house on the beach next to mine!

And then there's what I like to call, "the page pimp". They will offer you $1 a page or less, and give you a lame budget report to justifying why they are urinating on work, and blaming the weather. But these pimps all justify their behavior by becoming meteorologist with the promise of sunny skies.

Then there are the ones that claim what little education you need and how anyone can do this. Not trying to sound like an elitist, but I would feel very uncomfortable signing with an agency that targets writers with the literary skills of a junior high school student, who's idea of great television is bad Japanese anime.

As a fellow novice freelancer I do understand how you feel. We as freelancers need to band together and fight this injustice. No...not anyone can do what we do, because if they could, they would. Do not allow these people to downsize the worth of your material. Your work is just as hard as any clock puncher's,only without the health care, and 401k plan. Many of you produce articles that are seriously raising the par. The crime is...that many of these agencies are offering writers bargain basement prices for a freelancer's work, then placing brand name advertising next to this material. Now there are link providers that are offering fair pay for quality work. I think I have found a couple. After a couple of months I will write a progress analysis.

They say you get what you pay for. Well it's up to the freelancer to make them pay us what we're worth.

Just a few more words from,

AnotherDarkKnight.