GAF Update
January 29th 2009 16:09
Some time ago, I mentioned the site 'Get A Freelancer'. I'd heard some good things about this place, so I registered. Since then, I've been absolutely flooded with emails of new projects on which to bid.
That's how GAF works. It effectively acts as the middle-man between publishers and content producers. The paying customers post their project in one or more categories - I subscribe to copywriting, proofreading, editing and translation personally, but there are web design and coding categories, as well as tons of others. Each project has a rough price range and some basic details of what's required. Content producers bid by detailing how much they want, how long they need to complete the task and perhaps some other details like samples of work.
Today marked an important turn in GAF events for me: I received an email regarding a bid I made last month. Quite apart from making me run around the room grinning and doing a good impression of a demented human windmill, this email has another importance:
I have no reputation.
I'm brand new on the site. The publisher who contacted me is very reliable - ten stars out of ten, no less - and originally had a preference for female writers based in the US. As if this wasn't enough, the subject matter she's interested in is beyond me. I know doodly-squat about it. After a little messaging and me being honest in saying that anything I produced on that subject would be second-rate, she's still interested for other subjects.
Now, I know I've been lucky. Not every publisher is going to be as reliable or as nice as this one. The important thing, though, is that she obviously looked at the samples I sent and, despite my having the wrong genitalia and living in the wrong country, is still interested. She didn't just ignore my bid because I'm new.
So that's darned good encouragement for other new writers out there who, like me, are finding it hard to get started. It's possible. We can do it. Right now, though, I'm of to continue doing my windmill impression... wheeee!
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