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What was the assignment (writing, building a website, translating, etc.)? I was contacted on Christmas Eve 2004 about a freelance writing assignment (my first paying one) from Geoclicks, based in Hong Kong, which publishes the georeviews.com and you-review.net websites.  

Basically, they wanted a series of articles regarding consumer electronics in the form of buyer's guides. I jumped on the opportunity, and although it took some time to get a hold of them, we eventually touched base and got things rolling.

How did you get the assignment (sent a resume, fax, email; made a call; recommended by a friend; referred by a client, etc.)?
I posted my resume on CraigsList.com; they contacted me.   

Did a time difference affect your work? Not so much. I would submit things during the day on the East coast US and usually receive a response the following day during the evening.

Did you have problems getting paid? There was only a small problem when I sent them an email invoice.  The client requested that I simply use PayPal.com to request funds, which I did.  Other that that, payment was prompt.

Has this led to more work? At first, they liked the articles and kept giving me assignments for a few weeks.  The pay was decent and it kept me busy. 

However, after about the 8th article I wrote, I received an email saying they were going to put a hold on the articles, meaning they had enough to work with and would not need any more for some time.  I have not heard from them since.  They originally told me they had budget space for well over a year.  The project lasted about two months.

Did it pay better, worst, or about the same as a U.S.-based gig? 
The pay was pretty substandard, about $100 for 1500 words. I am not sure if this is due to my inexperience or because of the exchange rate.

Were there any unforeseen challenges that others should know about if they choose this type of work? It's always difficult working and communicating via email. It can get frustrating especially if you are not good at communicating in print.

I would suggest always getting things in writing.  It's also very unnerving when you can be essentially fired on the dime.  My other complaint was that it has been months since I wrote and was paid for the 8 or so articles and all but one still have not been published on the website.  Again, get everything in writing.

Overall, was it a good or bad experience? Overall, I would say it was a good experience because it gave me some money, a door into the freelance world, and a modest body of work to show to other clients.  Nothing beats working from home and this job taught me that.  I love having the independence, but along with that comes greater responsibility to keep track of payment and your clients.

About the Author: Mike Spitalieri graduated in 2004 with a dual degree in English and Computer Science. After a few ill-fated stints in the corporate IT world, he quickly gravitated toward writing and journalism.  He lives and works in New York City, contributing to various magazines and websites, and is currently at work on his first novel.  He rarely sleeps.

©2005 – Mike Spitalieri. This article may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in any form, for any reason, without the express, written consent of the author. Violators will be prosecuted.