I tend to take a lot of flack for some of the things I write, but I’ve found that most people don’t read the articles and immediately jump to comment after only reading the headline. This has resulted in a myriad of accusations and more that I’m hoping to kill with this FAQ.
Should I comment without reading the article?
No. Please read the article before you jump out and tell me I’m wrong about something. In almost every case, I’ve already addressed your concern in my article, so all you need to do is read it.
Can I still comment if I have something to add?
Sure! I love to engage with my readers, so please let me know your thoughts. If you find anything that’s incorrect, please let me know so I can issue a correction. Sadly, this occasionally happens in this industry and I don’t want anything incorrect to remain out there.
Why don’t you have the article text on your posts?
I don’t own the vast majority of articles I’ve written. As a freelancer, the site that publishes them owns the text, so while I can link to each article, I cannot include the article copy. Doing so could potentially take eyeballs and clicks away from the sites that employ freelance writers, and I don’t want to do that. Also, because I don’t own the text, I’m not legally allowed to include it. I’ve had a few nasty comments complaining that the text isn’t included, but there’s always a link to the article, so please follow that and you’ll be able to read what I’ve written.
You have some dead links … do you want me to tell you?
Yes, please let me know if a link is dead. I’ve written for sites that are now defunct, and most of these links are likely dead. If you bring them to my attention, I may be able to find a copy in the Wayback Machine or another Internet archive. Telling me helps get this taken care of, and since I’ve written thousands of articles, I don’t have the time to go through and verify my links.
Do you offer guest posts?
Not at all. This website is my personal portfolio, and I’ve written every article I’ve posted here. It wouldn’t make sense to feature another writer’s work on my portfolio, so I won’t do this under any circumstances.
Will you publish something I’ve written under your name?
Absolutely not. This is plagiarism, pure and simple, and I will not entertain this request. I will immediately block anyone who asks this of me, and yes, it happens several times a week.
Do you work for Listverse?
No, I am not an employee of Listverse, though I am displayed prominently as one of the site’s featured writers. This could change in time, as I don’t write for the site as often as I used to. Because I’m not an employee, I cannot help you in the editing or pitching process. I cannot see if your article is being considered, nor do I have any insight into this process. I don’t work there, never have, and am a freelancer like everyone else on the site.
Can you offer any advice about writing online?
Yes, I can and do often offer advice when asked, but I don’t always have the time. I wrote a book on this very subject because during COVID, I got asked for help by around 4-5 people every day, and it became impossible to get any work done and help folks out. I will always offer advice when I can, but if I’m not able to do so, it’s probably because I’m swamped with other tasks.
Can you help me get a writing job somewhere?
Unfortunately, no. I used to recruit for Static Media, and I helped hire dozens of writers, but I don’t work in that department any longer. My best advice for finding writing jobs is to apply for as many as you can on sites like Mediabistro, LinkedIn, and Indeed.
Can you help me with my resume?
I don’t have the time or necessary skills to help people with their resumes, which are vital in finding writing work. Most sites require them, so I definitely suggest you have one. While I can’t help you directly, I reviewed thousands of resumes and cover letters during my stint as a recruiter, and I’ve definitely got some insights. Instead of helping people directly, I’m pasting my resume below, which was updated in December 2024. I’ve redacted some personal information, but everything else is available. Here’s one tip I can definitely recommend: include links to your work. Here’s my resume:
