Hi Fairygodboss community, I need some advice and support.

Anonymous

August 9,2023 at 7:55PM UTC

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Hi Fairygodboss community, I need some advice and support.

I am a 25-year-old freelance writer from the Philippines, and I am facing a difficult situation with my client. They hired me several months ago to write content for them, and they paid me $0.04 per word. I was happy with the job, until they decided to change the terms.

They asked me to use AI in my writing, and at first it was like an option, you know? Like just try it out, see if it helps.

Then about a week later they said it was decided, and all writers would be utilizing AI. And because we weren't "writing" on our own anymore, they cut the rate to $0.02 per word.

I tried to negotiate, because while AI is a helpful tool, at its current rate, it still doesn't sound very human. So I feel like because I'll be using my skills to humanize the content and then optimize it for SEO, I still deserve to be paid the same.

But no one even replied. And then last week, suddenly, it was decided that the rate was going to be 0.01, basically, and they made it sound like I had no choice. So now I'm using AI and generating content, taking around 4 hours a day to write two, and the most I get paid per day is $40.

I only have this one job, and I have anxiety, so you can imagine my stress. I haven't really eaten well in three days, and while logically I know it's not the end of the world, it just feels like it is.

I've been hyper-panicking and applying to any and all job postings that I could, I even reached out to my past contacts but the market is tough.

I don't have a college degree, and employers seem to find it alarming that I never stayed with one "employer" for more than a year.

I try to explain that it's because I freelance, and once a project is done, it's done, but it doesn't seem to help. The fact is, I don't even think I have that great of a portfolio, and nowadays I'm even doubting my skills as a writer.

I'm seriously devastated, and I have no idea where to go or what to do.

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Renee PociopaAugust 9,2023 at 8:28PM UTC
Ouch. Since you are in the Philippines, US labor law will not apply here. I would check out what company your employer is based in (if not the Philippines) and look at their laws. To speak very very generally, if you signed a contract for $0.04/word, you should be paid for $0.04/word.
Take heart in the fact that you are already using AI, when most of us are still trying to figure out how it works. That has to make you more appealing to potential employers.
AnonymousAugust 10,2023 at 8:35PM UTC
There was no contract, unfortunately. Mighty stupid of me, but they all seemed nice so I was feeling confident. I guess that's a lesson learned. I have in fact been leveraging AI for some time, and I've been trying to look for AI friendly places but they're mostly overseas and with qualifications I can't even dream of. I will continue to try.
AnonymousAugust 10,2023 at 2:52PM UTC
I’m sorry, this company has handled this situation horribly. Are you on online jobs.ph? I have worked with a lot of VAs in the Philippines for my employer and that is how we hire. We pay $8-11/hour USD, and recently I found out through a mastermind we’re in that many companies start pay at $4/hour USD, so that might not be your best option.
AnonymousAugust 10,2023 at 8:30PM UTC
No, I'm not on there. This is a direct client I got from a referral. However, many companies that are outsourcing staff from my country indeed pay super low rates.
AnonymousAugust 10,2023 at 8:32PM UTC
Thank you. I do have the positions labeled as "Project-Based Ghostwriter" or the like. I might change it to just Freelance Writer or Freelance Ghostwriter. Thank you for your well wishes.
maria roseAugust 11,2023 at 11:30PM UTC
What you are suffering from is more of a “would’ve/could’ve/should’ve “ regret to not asking the right questions at the right moment to avoid being replaced by AI. Labor costs are for most companies a cost that drastically decreases their bottom line profit margin and their lack of care for the human element is outrageous. AI is destined to take over any area of a business—I just spent time today figuring out how to get around the chatbot program that a carrier had in place to be able to talk to an actual human customer representative by changing my wording—as an example of how AI is being used.
As for you personally, you are going to have to maximize your potential to be the better option for a bigger number of clientele since you are dependent on being hired since you freelance instead of working one specific employer. If you’re getting your jobs through referrals you need to network into a bigger network of connections. For example if you only did the work for one type of clients, see if you can do the same type of work for a different type of clients as long as whatever you have to write ( I am assuming putting ideas into words is the main description of what you do) can be done no matter the subject. Going forward expect more companies are going to require AI programs to be part of the setup and you will be paid less for your efforts, since your input is going to be minimal.Or change your career path.
Ashley StrosniderAugust 12,2023 at 12:38PM UTC
Have you applied to other content writing platforms? Many in the US will hire freelancers internationally. Many do require a college degree, but some will flex that requirement if you have a strong writing portfolio.
(I work in this space, and we’ve made some exceptions in cases where experience clearly equals education.)
If you haven’t yet done it, I’d suggest spending some time building out a LinkedIn profile that presents your strengths and experience well, and try to create a portfolio of writing samples. If your work was ghostwritten, you may not be permitted to share links, but a PDF of portions of text, client names redacted, that shows your work in X niche can work.
I’m sorry to read this client has pulled the rug out from under your previously negotiated process. It’s a rapidly changing market, but not all have embraced AI to this same extent—many clients agree with you about the quality of output from these tools currently and do want real human intervention and attention to the content. Wishing you luck in realigning with new clients who value what you can bring to the table!
AnonymousAugust 12,2023 at 4:48PM UTC
It's a rough situation and there is no easy answer here. I know the PH market fairly well and think that perhaps a customer success role could be an option for you. Unfortunately when you are a contractor you are subject to the terms set by the client and there isn't much else you can do. Take some time to beef up your portfolio and do some writing on places like linkedin and other forums where people can see the quality of your work.
Liz MilneAugust 13,2023 at 1:01AM UTC
Hmm. You've actually got two issues here not one.
First, the client reducing the rate of pay: I had a client do that to me, and I responded politely but firmly: 'I cannot work for X a word, thank you for the opportunity though. I hope you find someone to work with.' (He came back and paid my asking price because I'd worked for him before and he liked my writing style - but I didn't threaten not to work for him because I hoped he would come back, it was just genuinely not worth my while to do work for that low a price.)
The second problem is AI. I don't like AI, and I won't use it for my writing work - I have a distinctive, chatty style of writing that my current clients love (I had some that hated it, obviously that working relationship was very short!) and AI just... doesn't. I find a lot of AI text to be packed with weasel words and waffle, talking a lot but not saying very much in a very flat, boring way, so I've told the couple of clients who have asked that it's not for me. (In most cases, they're relieved, they want human writing!)
Trust yourself - you know your skills - and find another client who will pay you for YOUR voice, not a data entry clerk to feed keywords into the AI programme.
If it helps at all, I've been writing freelance since 2010 and now earn enough to pay my bills and even have a little over. It's a slow and hard start though, my first weeks I was spending one hour writing for pay, and 7 hours looking for those jobs for free! These days (*touch wood) my work arrives in my inbox on a Monday and it's enough for the week's earnings. I have five or six clients, so when one is quiet I can pester the others for work (by which I mean I graciously indicate that I can accommodate them if they have any writing needs this week - I make it sound as though I'm doing them a favour, rather than begging for work!) and keep myself a reasonable level of busy.
TL;DR: ditch the terrible client and find those who appreciate you!
AnonymousAugust 13,2023 at 4:41PM UTC
I've been fantasizing about doing that. God knows I really, really want to ditch. But my state of finances won't allow me to leave just yet, and I'm pretty sure there's another team of writers that are happy to work at the same rate (which is probably why they lowered the rates anyway). They also already fired another writer on my team, so if I say that I'm afraid I'll have nothing to fall back on. I'm working to find another client soon, and I've been beefing up my portfolio and personalizing each proposal/application for better chances. Nothing to show for it as of now. The moment I have another sure thing in line, I will ditch, I promise. Thank you for your message, and I sincerely hope I find a client who will appreciate me soon.
Liz MilneAugust 13,2023 at 9:14PM UTC
I remember being at that early stage (and I still hate to say 'no'! - that client I mentioned above was the first and only, and I really thought long and hard about declining him, but it really would have actually cost me money, so I made the hard decision!) - and it was awful: one grumpy customer and I would worry that I was a terrible writer and agonise over whether I should persist or not! But over time I've grown a thick skin and learned to accept that some people will always hate my way of writing, while others will love it (the best are those that say, 'It's so simple! Anyone could do it! I'm gonna write it myself!' only to come back a few days later with, 'Okay, maybe you do have skills, can we discuss price, etc!' :P )
Yes, keep looking for those other clients, they are out there, and as soon as you can, cut ties with these guys, they sound awful... I've not had anyone reduce their price on me: that would be a hard no, instantly - but I get where you're coming from: $40 a day is not nothing.
Good luck with it all, and please do message me if you have any more questions or want to vent or anything :) I know it can be a lonely slog some days! xx
(Are you interest in writing fiction at all? Especially children's fiction? I work for a ghostwriting agency who is always on the hunt for new talent...)
AnonymousAugust 14,2023 at 6:35PM UTC
Thank you so much! I will take you up on that offer. It really is a bit isolating, especially since I have no friends around in the same field.