Author Scott Carney is hoping to raise $6,500 to build a publishing platform for journalists “to share payment structures, rate editors and sell pitches.”
The WordRates platform will give journalists to tools to assess the freelance writing market to identify magazines, blogs and online news sites based on how they work. WordRates users will be able to share Yelp-like ratings of editors and publications. In addition, the site’s Pitch Lab will allow writers to workshop pitches with seasoned journalists and to get agent-level insights into contract negotiations.
Here is more from the Kickstarter page:
Antitrust laws make it illegal for freelancers to unionize so the only practical solution is to rely on the principles of the free market. It is time for a disruptive website that will change the playing field for freelance writers and photographers. By sharing information and promoting a business model that has been successful in both the book publishing and film industries it will be possible to get a bigger piece of the overall publishing revenue.