Buhay Freelancer

I am a freelance writer, yes. I normally work all by myself, because being around people serves as a distraction. It can get lonely sometimes, but I have my own source of laughter. Amidst the writing rush, meeting deadlines, nosebleeds and understanding other people's own perception of the English language, I come across laughable situations. In an attempt to let you take a peek inside my world, I'll share one story with you:

I posted an ad somewhere, said I was looking for writers. I do outsourcing you see. It spares me from writing, but pummels me with editing. I had this applicant. Let's call him K. 

K: "Hi. I saw your ad and I would like to apply for the position."

Me: "Are you willing to do a test article for me?"

K: "Sure. What topic?"

Me: "Please write a 500-word review type article on the BEST MAKE UP PRODUCTS FOUND IN DRUGSTORES"

K: "Can I submit it by one o'clock? I need to do some research." (It was only 9am then)

Me: "Sure."

(After 3 hours)

K: "Hi Emjay. I just came from Mercury Drugstore. They don't sell Avon products anymore, only Ever Bilena and Careline."


I could have died then. i should have told him that the target readers are foreigners. So, umm, Careline and Ever Bilena should not be a part of the article. My bad.

Also, in this business, we rely on the internet to give us information. I didn't know that what he had in mind was FIELD RESEARCH. But I'll give him points for enthusiasm.

What ultimately closed the deal was when he said this:

"So I'm hired? I am an employee now? You are my boss? We should TOTALLY add each other on Facebook!"

Yeah. I hired the guy.


Guest Post by: Emjay Annavi Baclay