The new site Fiverr has brilliant and simple premise: giving people a place to post things they will do for five dollars–everything from writing a poem to reviewing books on Amazon.
Currently, 438 people are offering services that include the word “book.” What do you think? Could this new unit of literary value save publishing, or wreck it?
Here’s a less than enthusiastic response from The Awl: “Annnnnd game over: ‘I will proofread/edit your essay for $5 … If you would like me to proofread something longer than 5 pages, I will still read it but it will take me two days.’ Thanks for bringing down the already unfathomable bottom price of the word industry, jerkface. You lose by winning!”