I'm about to go on an extended break into the woods (even though I am already on a break, my dog's long recovery from kennel cough means that I've been staycationing a week before she goes and stays with my mom for a bit), and didn't want to leave without sending a newsletter. And the perfect fodder came through my inbox this week.
I spend a lot of time reaching out to editors, but sometimes they come to me. This particular editor found me on LinkedIn and asked me if I was looking for an editing job. I said no, but that I'd be open to any freelance writing work if they had any, and gave her my email address.
She emailed me with an offer that had three giant red flags:
- Asked me to do a trial (did not say if it's paid, but I didn't bother asking for reasons you'll see below).
- Sent me a "work for hire" contract, meaning they'd own all rights to my work. That contract also stipulated they'd pay me within 45 days, not the standard 30.
- Offered $.125 cents per word. No, not $1.25. Twelve and a half cents per word. When I was an editor at a small regional magazine in 2004 we offered $.10/word, and even then I knew it was too low.
Recent Bylines
"So Your Hotel Room is a Dud. Here's How to Get Your Money Back" for The Washington Post
"Insect Farming is Gaining Ground as Aquaculture Awaits its Emergence" for Global Seafood Advocate
"How to Write a Total Compensation Statement" for HR Dive
"Stanford Engineers Present New Chip that Ramps Up AI Computing Efficiency" for Stanford News
What I'm Reading
Links to my reviews!
- Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh
- Fun Home: A Family Tragicomedy by Alison Bechdel
- Unmask Alice: LSD, the Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson
- The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
- Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. This movie was made in a lab for me. I cried during the fashion show scene when they brought out the Bar Jacket. I thought it was a recreation – nope! Real thing!
- For All Mankind. Good Lord this show is so stressful, because it's so good. If you got Apple TV+ to watch Ted Lasso, please please please watch this show, which is an alternate history that asks: what would have happened if the Russians got to the moon first? It seems it's been gaining traction, which it should. It's one of the best things I've ever seen on TV.
- Loot. Also wonderful! Though much different in tone, this is a fun workplace comedy starting Maya Rudolf, Joel Kim Booster, and Nat Faxon. I would stress myself outwatching For All Mankind, then sooth with this one.
- Close to the Enemy. A so-so miniseries that takes place in London right after World War II, when the Americans, British and Russians were rushing to bring German scientists over to their side (which overlaps a bit with a real life person depicted in For All Mankind – I was "Leo pointing at the TV" gif when his name was mentioned). It felt like they wanted Andrew Garfield for the lead, but when they couldn't get him, cast a guy who looked just like him instead.
- Only Murders in the Building. I am extremely jealous of Steve Martin being able to do physical comedy like that in his 70s. Also: enjoyable, if not a heavy lift.
Until next time,
Jen A. Miller
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