The True Cost of Writing That 2500-Word Article for Only $20

Ask any writer that is trying to get their foot in the game, and they will tell you that finding reputable clients is the Achilles heel of freelance writing. You’re forced to chase shady clients that have gone ghost after you delivered a masterpiece.

Or worse, you endlessly search until you drop to finally get a job on Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, or the likes. Though the plethora of low-level work may seem like it leads to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — DON’T TAKE THOSE CRAPPY JOBS!

There is a hidden cost of taking the low-hanging fruit.

I have had to pay the price for not trusting my gut and refusing jobs that aren’t right. It has backfired every single time. Let’s explore the many reasons why you should strive to be better than me in your writing journey.

You can’t even get McDonald's chasing low paying jobs.

Let’s start with the obvious. You will not write your way to fame and fortune with one crappy $20 article at a time. Actually, $20 is being generous. You may think that this is the way to do it, but it’s not.

The problem with freelancing there is no bottom. Scratch that, there is a bottom. It’s under purgatory. As an independent contractor, no one enforces a minimum wage.

There are still aggressive “professionals” that are trying to bully you into writing for the oh-so elusive experience. Don’t fall for it.

Go for the jobs that are actually worth your time. This is not to say that you will knock it out of the park on your first job. I am only assuring you that the starving artist trope is a lie.

Taking low paying jobs will cost you money.

I have been trying to get a job on Fiverr for months. I have not been successful. I figured that if I take a job, any job, I’ll be able to get the attention of other potential clients. I was so wrong.

I advertised my services as 1000 words for $20. I finally got a client, but there was just one problem. That client wanted me to drop down even lower on the price and write a 2500-word article for $20. I foolishly took the job.

There were several problems that arose because of this.

1. This job had nothing to do with my niche, and I should not have taken it.
2. This job cost me so much time, I had to turn down worthwhile work.
3. I wasted valuable time that could have been allocated towards finding clients that served me better.
4. I ended up having to cancel the job, but it cost me time, jobs, and a few brain cells.

Don’t be like me. There must be a standard and minimum when it comes to your ideal job type. Taking every single low-paying job that comes your way, will lead to burnout. You will soon resent your craft.

Standards, have them.

Future clients will not be impressed with your 14 prior $10 jobs.

You have been bamboozled to believe that potential clients will be impressed with the dozens of jobs you slaved over for an abysmal .01 rupees per word.

I was the same way. I took these jobs hoping that better-paying clients will be eager to work with me. I am here to tell you, that logic is malarkey.

Employers may shy away from a person that keeps underselling themselves because it leads them to believe that your prices are set to your skillset. Now, you are stuck in a vicious cycle of taking on a billion low-paying jobs to make a living while passing up worthwhile clients.

Don’t be that writer. Set your prices fairly. Yes, you must serve your clients. However, it should never be at the expense of your livelihood.

It takes the same amount of effort to find well-paying clients.

I am currently on Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. I haven’t cracked the code for Fiverr. However, I have had success on Upwork and Freelancer. I do not exert more effort applying to well-paying jobs instead of the crappy ones.

Quite the opposite is true. Typically, low-paying clients take more time and effort than high-paying ones because they try to get over and have last-minute requirements that weren’t in your original agreement.

Know your worth!!

— Everybody, everywhe re

This is where you roll your eyes at me for putting the cliché phrase, know your worth. No? You are tired of reading that too? Well, know the worth of your rent, groceries, and utilities. Do I have your attention now? Good.

Conclusion

Don’t do it. As I am typing this, I am mentally kicking myself for the amount of heartache I have subjected myself to with countless wasted hours of endless low pay work.

I repeatedly allowed my fear and imposter syndrome to drive me insane enough to take these abysmal jobs. You are better than this. Hopefully, this article will help convince you of that.