tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post4176579682365165627..comments2023-06-11T02:19:27.429-07:00Comments on Academic Cog: Summertime, and the living is ...full of plan-makingSisyphushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-71182871098907366792012-05-09T19:51:57.966-07:002012-05-09T19:51:57.966-07:00I, too, have done the test-writing thing (reading ...I, too, have done the test-writing thing (reading comprehension questions, with passage condensed from something published, ten multiple choice questions, and ten rationales for why the right answer was the only right one, $500 a pop when I was doing it. With some practice, you can get it down to 10 hrs/set. Of course with self-employment you pay c. 45% in taxes (I always put away 50%, and got a bit back), but it's still a pretty good deal, and flexible (and new/different experience/a different income stream). And it can take a while to get paid, which means more credit-card interest in the interim. <br /><br />Pearson uses test-writers, and ETS used to contract out a bit, too. Also check who is doing the MCAT these days. The higher the level of the test, the more helpful it is to have a Ph.D. if you're applying to write.Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-6921865557626436042012-05-06T16:04:57.247-07:002012-05-06T16:04:57.247-07:00On summer money, what about doing some freelance w...On summer money, what about doing some freelance writing? ACT (the test) used to be in constant need of content writers. I would guess they still are. Several years ago I was doing that "on the side." They paid $300 per 300-word essay. Check their website maybe? Also, I've learned since leaving academe that PR firms pay people to ghost-write op-eds and whatnot. I haven't actually done this, but I know someone who does it regularly. The writing doesn't have to be good, just reasonably coherent. They give you "assignments," and the more quickly you can turn them around the better the pay. The person I know turns around 500-600 word assignments within 24 hours and gets $750 apiece. And, of course, this type of work can be done remotely, so you could stay where you are or go to Cali but still do work for a PR firm in NYC or DC.recent Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01076749808434578362noreply@blogger.com