In my post The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Writing Proposal Letters, I blithely advised to read all ads carefully before applying. I guess it’s time I took my own advice, huh? I misread an ad earlier this week that almost led to quite a bit of wasted time on my part.

I read that a freelancing job in my city advertised, “We can offer an array of services and compensation.”  Now, the wording of the whole ad was a little clunky, but hey, I was very qualified, it was in my city, and I don’t expect my clients to be professional writers. That’s why they’re hiring me, right?

But when the client immediately emailed me back and said there would be a group meeting for all applicants at a certain address. This struck me as a little odd so I asked for more about the position. As it turns out, the ad had read “we can offer an array of services as compensation.”

The compensation I would have received included hair styling (which of course I could use, have you seen this mop?), and black hair products (for which, unfortunately, I don’t have a use .)  I almost drove across the city at rush hour for a job that doesn’t actually pay in cash. And while I’m all for barter (it’s environmentally friendly!), that isn’t the direction I’m taking my business at the moment. And one little word caused all that.

So yes, do as I say, not as I occasionally do. Read the ads carefully.