Bright Hub Fired Me. Seriously?

I like to keep my writing options open. There’s certainly no shortage of article content sites online. When I decided to apply to Bright Hub I knew I’d only be making a measly $15 per 750 word article, but I went for it anyway.

The powers that be at Bright Hub approved me to write for two “channels”. This is just Bright Hub speak for “subjects”. I wrote two articles, was complimented nicely by the copy editors who received my articles for editing. No edits were required and all was going well. In fact, I commented to my husband how refreshing it was to write for a site who didn’t expect a thesis-quality document in exchange for $15.

I completed my last, and seemingly final, article, “Retaining a Multigenerational Workforce”. It was thoroughly researched, written and included impressive resources. The completed article contained just over 1000 words. I was happy with the result and submitted it.

Shortly after submitting the article, I received a request to rewrite the entire article. It seems the copy editor who received my article felt I had not addressed the “keywords” properly. Bright Hub is VERY big on keywords. They make a great deal about HTML and META tags. She also stated the article was “too general”. An article with over 1000 words, addressing each of the four generations that now make up the current workforce, addressing how employers could and should attract workers of all generational groups, but this editor (who typically writes crafting articles) was saying my article was too general. Not only are writers required to extensively research some fairly involved subjects, but we are expected to be proficient in keyword usage. And, this is all, as I’ve mentioned, for $15 for an article that is at least 750 words.

I begged to differ with the editor’s assessment of the article. I consider myself pretty darn knowledgeable on SEO techniques; having written SEO content for private clients for quite some time now. I respectfully disagreed with the editor and expressed my opinion that I had written the article with as much information as was available. I told the editor that I didn’t intend to completely rewrite the article and wished to return the assignment to the queue.

The next day I received a curt response from the managing editor, Michele McDonough, informing me that she agreed with the editor. In addition, and to my utter surprise, she advised me that she was taking away my “channel options”, basically firing me.

I don’t recall reading this punishment in any of Bright Hub’s guidelines. I sat faithfully through the ridiculous Learning Hubs required of all new writers. I don’t remember seeing the little cartoon character telling writers that if they dared disagree with an editor or returned an article to the queue we would be stripped immediately of all writing privileges. For all I know, Ms. McDonough could be establishing these rules as she goes along.

I contemplated sending a message, but didn’t feel I could do so without injecting a bit of umm, sarcasm (perhaps suggesting Ms. McDonough get acqainted with my friend Jenny Craig). I decided to just let it go. I did enjoy working with the previous editors. They were quite pleasant. I didn’t enjoy writing long, extensively researched articles for pennies, however. I also didn’t enjoy the once-per-month payout either.

Even if I were somehow successful in having my writing privileges returned who’s to say this kind of thing wouldn’t crop up again. Ms. McDonough seems to have quite a few “channels” under her and I honestly have no desire to communicate with her again.

How about other writers? Do you have any experiences writing for Bright Hub? I’d love to hear from you.