The majority of private messages received through Faithwriters are not specifically targeted to you - they are general "call for submissions" to various markets and everyone receives them.

Again, if you keep up with the Writer's Markets books and are on a few writer's mailing list you'll probably get the same info.

Deciding whether you want to pay on the chance that one of those messages are actually from someone interested in hiring you or buying one of your pieces is up to you

Some people have found a lot of work through the site - I think it depends on how involved you want to be with it.

I do have to say that Faithwriters is not a scam in any sense of the word. The private messenger feature is not just for getting opportunities for jobs. It's like anything else - you get what you put into it. The private messenger feature is very useful to me. I really think using the word "scam" is untrue. I have received several calls for submissions that are sent to everyone; I've received targeted emails from publishers who want my work; I am now a staff writer for Central Appalachia Christian News because of the PM; I got the job as Editor-in-Chief for Sisters in the Lord through the PM feature; I have used the PM feature to ask unpublished authors for permission to use their stories that are on their profile/webpage - this allows the unpublished writer to become published and on the road to paying opportunities; I also have an article under consideration (it's down to the last step) for "Rocking Chair Reader" that came through the PM.

For anyone who thinks Faithwriters is a scam, I encourage you to research the site. It is not necessary to sign up for private messenger and it is not a requirement. If you are well-versed in searching out markets and don't want to publicize yourself through Faithwriters, then by all means, don't use the PM feature. It's definitely not a scam.

If you browse around the Faithwriters site you can also find FREE Market Guides with links -http://www.faithwriters.com/myaccount/market-guide-magazines.php; FREE market postings on the Message boards - http://faithwriters.com/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=b634a50bd582440e54049736e3865ccf;act=SF;f=3
plus FREE articles on writing, FREE conference listings and much more. The amount of FREE services available are worth way more than a $36.00 Private Messenger subscription.

Evie is correct that many of the Private Messages are a general call for submissions; but if you have a profile on Faithwriters, meaning you post articles regularly and you fill in all the blanks with search terms, etc., then your chances of being contacted by a publisher increase. For instance, I needed a specific article on being a single parent and searched with that term. I found articles - not many, but two that I liked. I then used PM to contact those two writers because neither of them had a webpage or other email information posted.

There are many benefits to being a member of Faithwriters and the services the site provides for free are far beyond any other site. I don't believe it's fair to apply the word "scam" to an organization that gives far more than it receives.

I have been a member since April 2004 - almost a year exactly. Before then, I was published nowhere. Through them, I have been published in two books, several magazines, received some paying opportunities, and have grown my portfolio from zero to well-balanced.

I suggest taking more time to explore all the areas of Faithwriters before writing them off as a scam. The benefits, even without spending a penny, are only as much as a person wants to make them. By regularly participating in the message boards alone, for free, writers will find many writing opportunities. And if one enters the challenges, and wins, you are published in a book - another kudo.

The Forum part of Faithwriters is much like Boomer Women - with a small group of people being active. And it's those people who regularly seem to move forward. They make contacts, join the Critique Circle (another freebie), find opportunities, and have a support group.

Private Messenger is only one small part of Faithwriters. Again, I benefited in several ways from that $36.00 a year; but I believe it was because I pursued each message, kept my profile updated, and followed the guidelines. I have benefited so much from being affiliated with Faithwriters, that I look at the $36.00 a year for the private messenger feature, and the $10.00 a month I give on top of that to support the site as money well spent.

As a member of the FW 500 (the 10.00 a month support), I also landed a position as an editor for the Faithwriters Magazine, which netted me free advertising. By being a member of the 500, I help to support the enormous amount of material made available for free to the public - the site is huge and has over 10,000 regular members who benefit without paying a dime.

I feel my $10.00 a month is money well spent to continue to support a site that caters to writers who want to write in the Christian Markets. Just maintaining the site is an enormous expense because of it's size; not to mention the amount of work done behind the scenes to keep everything going.

I hope all that helps anyone who wants to know more about Faithwriters. In all instances, even if you never pay a cent out of pocket, as a writer you will benefit if you take the time to look around the site and become involved in the many free features.

I'm going to agree with what Dian offered. I too belonged to this site at one time. They are definitely not a scam. They are just trying to make a living just like any other writing site, such as Writer's Digest. I will say again, they are not a scam.

I do feel however, it is NOT worth the $36.00. The messages I received from them were general and to the public. They DID say I had someone, or some enterprise interested in my work but it turned out to be a general call for submissions. I was disappointed and felt they had mislead me. This was a few years ago, and was a trial offer. But, I didn't feel we had a fit, so I left the site. Writers don't have a lot of time to play around with their work, so I think we stick with things that show progress...such as what Dian has done with Faithwriters. It has proven itself time and again for her, therefore, she stays with them. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with that, or see a scam therein.

On the other hand, it did not work for me after giving them a try, and I felt mislead, so I moved on. Nothing wrong with that either.

You have to do what works for you as Evie said previously.

Just another two cents worth.

JJ

hi jawjaw & dian, that's comforting to know. I've just joined FW last week and signed up for this PM thing as it informed me that I had one message. then when i opened that message it was a missent, i.e. it was not intended for me, so i emailed back the one who missent it. that person apologized. i felt like maybe it was a scam. oh well, anyway i could discontinue the service next year. hmmm

My professional writer friends refer to faithwriters as a writer scam. I've posted, but never joined. Those who did felt they were mislead.
They paid the fees after being notified via email that they had a "Private message." The emails implied that someone was interested in them specifically because of work they had posted on the faithwriter site. However, the "private messages" turned out to be more like "public" calls for submissions and appeared to have been pretty much spammed to everyone on the faithwriter site.
Most of the leads went nowhere, and almost all of the "publishing opportunities" turned out to be non-paying internet sites.
The faithwriter concept is a good one and should be supported in some way. Maybe they should ask for contributions and acquire advertisers or be less misleading in soliciting members.
Dotsie could be the poster child for never misleading or taking advantage of anyone and I would be the first to contribute to this site if that becomes feasible.
Just my take.
smile

[ March 28, 2005, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: smilinize ]

The reason I paid the fee was the same. It said I had PMs. But I have not dedicated much time to the site, because I've been so busy .

I'm sure if I spent more time with them and posted, I'd definitely had more probablility of getting something out of that. But I enjoy reading the entries when I have a chance.

For me it has not been worth the expense, because I have not been able to get involved. But I don't consider it a scam.

I'm not sure I consider it a scam either though I do find their email solicitations misleading.

I sympathize with anyone who perhaps can not afford the fee, but pays it anyway thinking they will be compensated in payment for their work. That's sad.
smile

I am back from fishing and had a great time. Will post more on that later.
Here is the reply I received from Faithwriters. I am satisfied to say that I did not read the terms of service closely and stand corrected.
They are NOT a scam.

Andria:

Thank you for writing. We are very up front about this whole process.
We say
this in our terms of service that all members agree to at sign up, on
the
private messenger area of your account we make it clear that there is a
cost
for this service. It is of our few upgrade services that help support
the
site. Without these upgrade services we would have to go offline. I
wish
there was something else we could do be we have a VERY LARGE site that
takes
a tremendous amount of time and money to keep going. It is not like
running
a small website.

FaithWriters is provided to members at no cost whatsoever. As part of
this
free embership, members will receive messages via the private messenger
service, however, they can only access those private messages by
subscribing
to that service.

This is done for two reasons. The private messenger service is an
add-on to
the basic membership and does help support FaithWriters financially. It
is a
small way for members to be able to give something back to a site which
trys
to give alot back to its members. We do not ask for much since we have
kept
the cost where anyone should be able to afford it. The Private
Messenger
service also ensures that the members' e-mail addresses are protected
from
SPAM, which is a potential problem when people post their e-mail
addresses
in any public forum.

Yes, there is a cost for the service - but it is very small, working
out at
just $3 a month. Basically, if they are members of FaithWriters who are
enjoying all the benefits of that free membership, but feel they can't
afford the cost of the Private Messenger, then one of the things they
will
have to put up with is the fact that there will be messages sent to
them at
times that they can't access. It is part of being a member of
FaithWriters.

By the way, we tried donations but we had very few members who would
actually make a donation.

God Bless You Richly,
Scott Lindsay
FaithWriters.com
"The HOME for Christian Writers!"

[ April 03, 2005, 04:18 AM: Message edited by: chickadee ]

Welcome home.
Can't wait to hear about the fishing trip.

That's a nice letter from faithwirters and I certainly understand their need to support the site. However, I agree with my friends who say they are misleading potential members when they notify them that they have a "Private Message." That indicates that a personal message has been sent to only the person receiving the membership solicitation notice whereas it is not really private at all. The message would better be described as a "public notification" because it is being broadcast to thousands of potential members. I'm sure they accomplish some good things though.

Back to fishing. Tell us MORE!! I am envisioning you somewhere with some of those wild Oklahoma catfish cowboys NOODLIN' the lakes. Yippee Yo OH!! Ride 'em Cowboy!! Catch 'em Catfish!

smile

For anyone who cares to, Faithwriters has published a whole page on what exactly Private Messenger is all about at this link, or read it below. http://www.faithwriters.com/private-messenger-more.html

MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP!


WHAT IS THE PRIVATE MESSENGER?

The FaithWriters Private Messenger is our in house Member's Messaging System. Receive private article critiques, writing projects, and messages from publishers, literary agents, and visitors. When you see this icon, you will know that you have received a message. Some writing projects may be general writing projects sent from the FaithWriters staff or posted by those seeking a writer.

HOW DOES THE PRIVATE MESSENGER WORK?

When you receive a new message for a writing project, you will receive a notification email message that specifically states that A NEW FREELANCE WRITING OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU THROUGH THE PRIVATE MESSENGER SYSTEM ON FAITHWRITERS.COM.

When you receive a general message from a member or visitor, you will receive a notification email message that specifically states that YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NEW MESSAGE THROUGH THE PRIVATE MESSENGER SYSTEM ON FAITHWRITERS.COM.

After receiving your notification email, simply login to your account and click the Private Messenger link to view your messages. With our INSTANT email notification, you will never miss that important contact!

WHY DO YOU CHARGE FOR THE PRIVATE MESSENGER?

If you are a beginning writer or a seasoned veteran, FaithWriters' ever increasing suite of services can benefit you. Not only do we provide a format for Christian writers to gain needed exposure, we actually bring readers and publishers to you! In order for us to continue to provide these services, we must have some revenue to expand our outreach. Members who subscribe to the Private Messenger support the site and therefore, provide greater opportunities for their work to be seen.

WHY SHOULD I USE THE PRIVATE MESSENGER?

Keep your email address and contact information private.


Private article critiques from other members.


Instant email notification. When you receive a new message for a writing project, you will receive a notification email message that specifically states that A NEW WRITING PROJECT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU THROUGH THE PRIVATE MESSENGER SYSTEM ON FAITHWRITERS.COM. Never miss that important contact again!


Connect with other members privately and discreetly without your message being posted on a public message board for others to see.


By subscribing to the Private Messenger, you will help support FaithWriters.com so that we can continue to expand our suite of services to Christian writers.


There will never be advertising through your Private Messenger as there is on a regular email account. The Private Messenger is used for communication ONLY for FaithWriters members and for general writing projects or submission requests from publishers and editors. YOU CAN NEVER RECEIVE SPAM!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For only $3.00 per month you can connect privately and discreetly with the whole FaithWriters community plus receive instant email notification for writing projects!


Members, click the link BELOW to login and sign up for the Private Messenger!

MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

If you are not a member, click the link BELOW to sign up for your FREE membership!

SIGN-UP FOR YOUR FREE ACCOUNT!