DMS Has Hit Its Iceberg

Demand Media Studios -- or DMS -- seems to have hit its iceberg. Many of us have been predicting this since around January 2011 and have jumped ship months ago. Some folks couldn't just leave DMS as easily as I did and I get that. Plus, DMS did do things in a very shady manner. Today, many titlers got an email that in a nutshell said, "you suck goodbye." DMS has never been known for tact, but their actions lately go beyond lack of tact. They are deplorable. I understand basic business principles. I drop clients that simply are not working for me, but the client has ADVANCED notice so said client is not completely screwed. DMS does not seem to care that thousands of writers, around the holidays no less, are left with nothing. Let's not forget that this company also left titlers and CEs screwed too with their recent shenanigans.

If they want to redo their business model, then good on them. But, to leave thousands of innocent people bobbing in cold dark water at the expense of sudden change is simply cruel and unusual.

I am proud to say that I have not written a word for this poor excuse for a company in nearly eight months. I hope that all of you who are currently on this literary Titanic can soon say the same thing. I will make a point of posting job leads several times a week to try and help you. There is a list of sites a few posts down where you can start. While LoveToKnow has since folded as well, the rest should still be active. Do not wait for DMS to surge again or to be great to you because it will not happen.

Photo is Public Domain

Great Show Last Night

Last night fellow freelancer Amy Browne and I did our thing and hosted our radio show, The Freelance Connection, on Blog Talk Radio. We discussed a person who we have received several reports on that is not paying her clients. This is the very first thing we discussed at the very beginning of the show. Check it out and if you have had any experience with this client, feel free to drop a line in the comments and/or check out the ongoing thread about her over and Absolute Write and share your experience to help your fellow writers out.

Amy talked about Bestcovery, a great writing site that many freelancers are not familiar with and shared some info on the work they have available now.

I talked about the process of being hired on with LoveToKnow and the wonderful women I have had the pleasure to communicate with via email and phone so far during the process.

We also talked a bit about the new Writer's Evaluation Program taking place at Demand Media Studios. It ain't pretty, but it's honest folks. I will share some more thoughts on this program in a separate post this week because I am gathering information from folks who I know who were put into it.

Then, we chit-chatted about some other random writer stuff. Also, writers, editors and everyone else who spends a lot of time sitting for work, or just sitting, get up and move around. Do not sit for more than two hours at a time as it can have significant and dangerous health consequences. We talked about this at the end of the show. Amy herself was the victim of multiple heart attacks and her being a writer forced to sit a lot was a major cause of this. She, and I, want to encourage all of our fellow freelancers to get up and move. You just need to take 5 minutes every 2 hours and walk through your house, jump up and down, stretch, or anything that involves some movement. Please, your body and those who love you will thank you.

If you missed the show, you can click the link above and catch a recording of it at your convenience. The next show will be the second Friday in September at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time (I'll post a reminder closer to that time). We are also always excited to have our fellow freelancers as guests on the show, so if you are a freelancer and would like to chat with us in September, send me an email at kitchen.rose@yahoo.com and put "The Freelance Connection Guest" in the subject line and we will talk about getting you on the show.

Until next time. Write on!

New Gig Posted

I just posted a new freelance writing gig in the Freelance Writing Gigs section. Be sure to check it out and add another egg to your basket of clients.

Also be sure to stop by the Tips and Advice, Writing Tutorials, and Getting Started as a Freelancer sections for some new posts, and some great information for you as a writer.

Good luck!