The Five Buck Deal at Fiverr

So you want a quick critique of a short story, or you’re fed up with the latest round of rejections on your essay. But your critique group’s out of commission or your favorite go-to writer friend/critiquer-extrordinaire is tied up with other business. What you need is a fast and objective critique, but how do you find one?

You could try Fiverr. That’s what the folks there are all about: a five-dollar, let-us-help-you-fast deal.

You’ll have to sign up for Fiverr (it’s free and easy) before you can take a look around. But once you’re in, you’ll find all kinds of writers willing to give you a five-dollar critique on anything from picture books to adult fiction, from fantasy to romance, from a poem to a college paper.

You might find an editor or an agent, a publisher or a multi-published author, all of them willing to share their writing services. And as long as you keep your expectations reasonable—after all, you’re only paying five dollars—you’ll find a bargain as well as good feedback.

Fiverr has a system that makes it easy to find that bargain, too. When a person signs up to offer services, he or she gives credentials. Plus, you can look for high ratings and read a seller’s reviews when you’re just starting out in order to get a sure bang for your buck. Later, you can try newer sellers who might not have built up ratings yet but are just as serviceable for a basic gig.

And there are other services besides critique that a writer might find beneficial at Fiverr. Maybe you’re looking for a new website banner, a professional press release, or a crowdfunding campaign. Or maybe you’re like me and don’t realize you need something until you come across a clever posting that grabs your eye. (A frog puppet? That sings? Awesome!)

I mean, it’s only five dollars, right?

On the flip side, you might want to look into offering your services on Fiverr. Do you have excellent editing skills? A keen eye for finding what’s missing in a pitch? Can you whip up graphics, draw a cartoon? If you have a skill, chances are good that someone out there wants it—and will pay five bucks for it.

My only caution to you is that you need to be fast. I don’t mean with your turnaround of services (though that’s recommended if you want good ratings) but with your ability to provide the service. For example, if you’re spending an hour to critique 1,000 words for five dollars, then that’s not a deal for you. But if you can dash off a relatively insightful critique in fifteen minutes or so, then it might be worth your investment of time and effort.

I haven’t had a chance to use Fiverr yet; I researched the site, then found myself swamped with work. But I know a couple excellent writers who offer their services and enjoy the payout. (Note: Fiverr makes a commission from each gig so you don’t make five dollars. But you will be paid promptly.)

So how about you? Have you tried Fiverr—or do you think it’s a gig you’d like to try? A penny for your thoughts!

~Cathy C. Hall