Help At oDesk

I've come to the conclusion that a lot of things that might trigger a blog post are less than positive. I usually find that when I'm motivated to make a blog post that I'm complaining about something and I really hate to admit that. However, I just had an experience that motivated me to write and was not negative. On the contrary, all I can say are good things.


So what happened? Well, I had been forced to stop accepting new clients through oDesk because I could not get paid through them. I live in a small area some might call it will rural, I have no scanner, no copier, and no local Kinko's. ODesk requires you submit a signed W9 form before you can receive payments you have accrued, it's the law and though bothersome it is important.

Now, that was a quandry for me, because not even a postal address was included in their information page. Being who I am, I did not bother to go through the chat system and get help, I just searched the forums, and gave up oDesk as a lost cause for the time being. I did not want to, but could not think of an alternative at that time.

As it happened, a project came but I would really liked to have bid on, however I couldn't because I object to working and not being paid. After I thought about this for a little while I decided to do another search on the forums for a possible answer to the W9 problem. I found a possible solution, and deviated from my norm by instantly opening up a help ticket. I even went further and used for live help chat function.

I was greeted politely by an oDesk staff member named Barbara. She inquired as to the particulars of my problem, expressed sympathy over the problems I had getting paid because of my lack of a W9 form on file.

When I mentioned that other sites for whom I wrote for accommodated persons like myself who did not have the means to fax or e-mail or scan, she asked how they accommodated users like me. She further explained the question was in order to improve the oDesk user experience.
She offered a snail mail address, and also explained why certain policies were in effect, she even ventured an opinion (making sure I knew it WAS only opinion) as to the possibility of my W9 form being accepted without a signature.

Now, I did exactly she suggested and e-mailed the form, as well as used snail mail to send and sat back to wait figuring it would be at least a couple of weeks. I didn't have long to wait.
Literally, the next day I went to my account on oDesk and found that she had indeed been correct, and the form was accepted.

So, why would I blog about this? Well, it could be the speed of response by accounting whom I would like to thank as well, but it isn't. It could be the ever so polite and very helpful staff member, on the live help session, yeah that's part of it, and big part of it.

It was the fact, that this live help staff member who doubtless had many other duties to take care of, not only took the time to let me know she understood and even sympathized with my problem, but went even further to suggest possible ways within the oDesk policy to handle it. Not all that she suggested suited me, but she took the time she doubtless did not have and used everything she knew to try and resolve my issue and did it politely.

It just goes to show that a little care in handling people goes a long way even if they are only a provider. I can now bid on the job that interested me, and will do so happily because I will also be paid.

Note to self: the help function is there for a reason, so next time use it before giving up totally.

The Fussy Freelancer Working At Home

As competitive as today's market is in the area of writing, you would think it would not pay to be a fussy or picky freelancer, right? Maybe not, but that is me exactly. I still have clients through oDesk and occasionally bid on projects, but my time there made me understand I have some very strong biases, and can be considered fussy.

What makes me think it is ok to be fussy, and how do I feel I can get away with it while competing with persons from India or the Philippines or Pakistan who would be delighted to write the stuff I snub, and would do it for the miraculous rate of $1.00 per hour?

Not to sound conceited but I charge far less than I am worth per hour. I am a native-English speaker and no editor will ever have to clean up text written by me, that reads "and u can get a happy home safe family with our road driven pedal cycles" (yes, I have had to clean up such debacles in the past for others).

What makes me call myself fussy or picky? I think it is what things I avoid when looking over buyers that is the proper answer.

I avoid any buyer how has a history of hiring a freelancer at $1.00 or $2.00 an hour to write for them. That type of hiring history indicates to me they are persons to be avoided. I tend to be really a stickler about the quality of writing I produce. Besides, those types would never bother with a writer with MY hourly rate.

Sue me if the reasoning seems frivolous, buyers can reject me for far smaller reasons, like not providing a photo with my application. I can assure anyone in doubt, that not a single photo of me has ever produced an article, story, or opinion piece. Man, what are they doing with those photos?

I refuse to ghost-write full length books for any person based on anything at all. I might be a starving writer, but I am a good one. I will save that talent for my own books with my own name, thank you very much. Having an idea is not a unique talent, delivering the idea in a readable and entertaining fashion is.

On the same topic I will not write creative fiction on a "per hour" basis, with what seems to me to be unrealistic expectations on how long it should take. Short stories take longer to pass out to the various voices in my head, than the 1 hour you have allotted for your project. In fact as quickly as I type, that 15,000 word story would take longer to type out, proofread, and edit, even if pre-written, than you have allowed for the entire creative process. Find someone who doesn't care about plot or story continuity and who is willing to work those extra hours for no pay.

I refuse how-to articles on keylogging, pirating, cheating, or hacking, dialers or how to deliver spyware. Yes, I know the topics, but that doesn't mean I will write for anyone about how to do them. I won't touch blackhat SEO either. In the long run it is counterproductive, and worse, it's wrong.

I also try and avoid articles deemed "rewrites". That is not because they are wrong, or that they are in any way bad. It's because it is tough for me to take some other person's words and ideas and just rearrange them with no attempt to make them unique. Early training about plagiarism left me with an inability to do that in a timely fashion. I add that to my fussy list because a starving writer really can't afford those sensibilities.

I avoid topics I personally deem just plain wrong, violent or exploitive. That's not to say I am a prude. I have done adult topics over the last four years and see nothing wrong with adult content writing. I do however object to violence in adult topics, anything underage, and things that go against what is generally regarded as common morality. I suppose that is another fussy item on my list and that maybe should not be, but everyone has their limits.

I avoid any project that requires a writer butcher quality, or content in favor of brevity. I know, it's a skill, and one I have not mastered even after all this time. I enjoy words, I revel in ideas, and the thought of leaving out important items, just makes me cry. I would love to be able to, but I just can't.

Again I ask myself, with such hardcore biases against certain topics and buyer types what makes me think I can get away with being fussy and still survive?

I have no idea why I think that way. However, the proof is in the pudding as they say, and I make a nice living for a starving writer.

I suppose it comes down to a balance that includes being able to express yourself creatively, survive by doing what you love, avoid things you feel you do poorly, and still to maintain personal ethics in the face of economic pressure.

Freelancing At Odesk - Some Thoughts

I follow the forums at oDesk as well as apply for projects there. I have had a good level of success through them, that gets better daily, and have noticed the "I can't get a project" threads popping up like a room full of wails. I had no trouble getting projects through them in fact, now I would do only a few crucial things differently.
What follows are some thoughts about what I would do differently though if I started freelancing for them today. as well as what I would in no way change.

Things I Would Do Now For My First Job At oDesk

I have been registered at oDesk since March. I did not get my first job until May 14 because it was not until May 9th that I filled in a profile and actually applied for a project.

Yes, I would start as soon as I opened my account.

I would read the help manual thoroughly. I read quickly, I comprehend most of what I skim and that's what I did for the oDesk readiness test which is simple to pass.
If I started today, I would read it slowly thoroughly and then re-read it. Things I skimmed over were important.

I would start reading the forums immediately. I did not start until it occurred to me I needed profile help. I learned a lot here. I also would immediately take the advice I was given from it, instead of trying my own way first.

I might even skip looking at other provider profiles this time. It's intimidating to see the level of talent and education I am up against. However, it has made me even more grateful when I got a project.

I would assess my own skills more realistically. What I mean by that is, understand my own limitations and yet still maintain my sense of worth in the company of some far more talented people with amazing skills.
I would definitely value what I CAN do more right from the start, instead of worrying about what I can't do.

Things I would not do differently

I would still approach every single application individually. I would continue to assess whether I felt fit to perform this job and then proceed to attempt to convince the employer that my skills are just what he needs. Yes, I would sell myself every time to the best of my abilities, but only when I was sure I could deliver.

I would read every job posting carefully and proceed with caution, always remembering that if it seems too good to be true then, it probably is. "Money for nothin' and your chicks for free" is just a song.

I would re-re-read the odesk rules of conduct and especially the part about working outside of oDesk with buyers contacted through oDesk. Sure, that rule protects Odesk because they don't get a dime if the buyer takes me outside oDesk, but it protects me too. At least there, I get to leave negative feedback if they don't pay me.

I too have received invitations where it was stated they would be making payment outside of oDesk. Knowing the rules protected me and I avoided a lot of heartache.

I would continue to examine the buyer before I made a bid. I would check their payment method right off, make sure it's verified. I would check to see if they have other jobs posted and especially completed. They have a lot more information about me, but at least it is something to go on. I am careful because I prefer fixed rate projects.

I would approach every job with enthusiasm and honesty. That buyer's satisfaction would be the first thing on my mind because I am not Jane Doe who was hired, with a pension plan and benefits or tenure, and they keep around because it's too much trouble to fire me and train a replacement.
I am a freelancer, and a buyer can easily replace me on a whim, so it behooves me to make it so he doesn't want to.
Every single time I get a project it is because I sold myself. For every position there are tons of well qualified applicants. I would continue to remember that.

Final Thoughts

How did I get my first position so easily compared to others experiences?
It surely is not because I possess more talent than others, in fact I possess less than many others.
A fat portfolio? Hardly.
Education or certifications? No. A BA is barely enough to get a job at McDonalds these days.
High test scores? No, my high scores are in areas not even applicable to what I do.
Those things are contributing factors. They help but they don't make the entire picture.
Enthusiasm, honesty, communication. Approach each buyer as an individual, they are. Impress them the same way you would in a real life interview. Nothing is owed to me - ever. I earn it and others can too.
Most of all communicate. Even if English is not your first language and especially if it is not their first language. I have some long standing (4 years now) Dutch, Russian, and South African clients.
I take the time to communicate clearly. If I need a word that will convey something to them I look it up with the help of a translator. English is my first language but it's not theirs.

Not every freelancer is a writer, and communication skill levels vary.
However anyone, and I do mean anyone, can take the time to sit down and construct a decent cover letter built JUST for that project and addressing everything the buyer has focused on in the project outline.
That person who reads your cover letter is human. Talk to him as if he were and show concern for this concerns.
If it is nothing more than saying "I understand you desire people in green tights sitting in blue chairs typing nonesense characters into a blank computer screen. I own a pair of green tights, and my desk chair is blue, and I can easily turn off my monitor." and adding "I have not done this sort of project before, but I believe that my experience in sitting in green chairs wearing a blue tutu typing random phrases with my keyboard disconnected is very close and will help me shorten my learning curve and produce better quality nonesense more quickly".
Then I might add, "Though the random phrases I typed in my last project are covered by a non-disclosure agreement and I can't provide a link to the finished product, the link to the project is in my feedback listed under "Can you type stylish nonesense?" (and then insert the link). It was a great project and a lot of fun and I just know I would enjoy green tights too."

I might finish with "I understand you want a blank monitor. For this project would you prefer the monitor be turned off or fully disconnected from the computer? I can do either."

Ok, so that's an exaggerated example but the principle behind it holds true. I took the time to reflect back to the buyer that he wanted those qualifications and I understood and was excited. I went further and also asked questions that occurred to me as to obvious means of producing this product.
In a real project, qualifications and concerns are much more logical to the buyer than this fanciful example but sometimes just as detailed. It is his money he is spending on a project, address his concerns!
Now I feel better. I just had to say it. The lack of success that some people report on oDesk seems to me, not to be a reflection always of their skill or their willingness to work (sometimes though). It seems more a failure on their part to communicate their concern for the client, and their excitement at a topic or a particular project, and their related experiences as they apply to that project and that buyer's needs.