Things To Do Before Becoming a Full-Time Writer

There's a lot I wish I'd known before quitting my job to write full-time. Freelance writing can be a rewarding way

1. Tripled or quadrupled the amount in my savings account. At least.
2. Learned SEO fundamentals.
3. Been an early Twitter adapter.
4. Learned AP style rules.
5. Spent more time in writers' forums.
6. Checked out books on freelance writing.
7. Learned about blogging.
8. Picked up some part-time non-writing work to supplement my writing income.
9. Created a cache of articles.
11. Remembered a writing teacher's advice: Say it in as few words as possible.
12. Spent more time studying each writing site before diving in.
14. Joined RedGage and other sites that boost page views and pay you for previously published content.
15. Set up a solid website to display my writing and traded backlinks with better-known sites.
16. Read articles by the top writers at various sites to learn what works.
20. Bought a crystal ball so I could see how Google's algorithm updates would affect my income.

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

I committed to writing this blog, but kinda fell off the wagon recently. It isn't that I haven't had anything to say -- it's that I didn't have anything nice to say. I love writing, but have been a little frustrated lately at the financial side of things.

Writing online can be rewarding if you have the right mindset, and work really, really hard at it. But it can also be irritating as hell. If you had any romantic notions about writing before going into it full-time, you're better off leaving them at the door if you're going to pursue writing online.

Like any other industry, writing sites are businesses looking out for their bottom line. They're going to pay you as little as they can for your writing, and that's something you just need to be prepared for starting out. It isn't that the people who run these sites are evil; it's just the nature of business.

That's why so many writers seem to become internet entrepreneurs. They have to spend almost as much time learning about marketing and how the internet works as they spend actually writing. The smartest writers usually end up being successful with their own websites. You can complain about sacrificing art for commerce, but the bottom line is that this is how it all works.

For all the times I long for the financial security I had as a member of the rat race, the thought of giving up freelance writing breaks my heart. Some writers have hourly dollar goals, and if they don't make them, they give up writing for a particular site. I just can't work that way.

I left a regular job because I don't want to feel like a worker bee. Despite what seems like unfair pay for a whole lot of work sometimes, I actually get paid for doing what I've always loved doing. And I am seeing some improvement in certain areas of my writing income.

Writing for a living is like any other business. We writers are entrepreneurs, and we have to educate ourselves on the business end of things. And like any entrepreneur, we have to get through the rough patches and use them as learning experiences.

Writer's Quarters: Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online W...

Writer's Quarters: Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online W...: "Although I'm always looking for quality sites to write for, I definitely have my favorites. I rotate between a handful of revenue share and ..."

Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online Writers?

Although I'm always looking for quality sites to write for, I definitely have my favorites. I rotate between a handful of revenue share and upfront payment sites. Although Demand Studios takes quite a beating for several reasons -- mostly for underpaying writers -- I'm thinking some of its critics haven't plumbed the depths of the online writing world.

A lot of writers feel they're giving away their work for $7.50 to $30 an article (more for certain special projects, from what I hear). Yes, you do give up all rights to your work. Demand Studios keeps all profits after the initial payment, unlike revenue share sites that pay you for page views.

Another complaint some Demand Studios writers have is the time vs. pay ratio. I've found myself spending waaaay too much time on a $15 Demand Studios article -- sometimes to get a rewrite request or even a rejection. That's when I have to back off to avoid getting burnt out, or try not to think about it and move on to the next article.

But, as much as I appreciate getting work from a number of revenue share sites, it's hard to imagine making a living off of them without adding Demand Studios and a few other non- revenue share sites into the mix. Even some online writers who have learned the SEO and backlink ropes claim to make enough only to pay a bill or two from their revenue share articles.

I'm sure that some writers who really know their stuff, write about in-demand topics, develop a following, and constantly promote, can write full-time for revenue sites. But Demand Studios, Textbroker, and other sites that offer upfront payment in lieu of revenue share are indispensable sources of quick income for a relative newbie like me.

They also have something to offer in terms of education for online writers. Revenue share sites are great for seeing what topics work. But Textbroker assignments give you a good idea of what people want for their websites. Sometimes, clients are web designers who don't have the time or inclination to create content for their sites.

Their instructions for which keywords to use and where to place them are actually starting to help with my writing for revenue share sites. And while Demand Studios has been slammed for being overly commercial in its approach, I can get an idea of the types of searches people do from the thousands of titles in the queue.

So, for the time being, a smattering of upfront payment sites mixed with revenue share are my bread and butter. Each has its own merits. Both my bank account and my attention span would suffer if I dropped one type of site in favor of another, and from my perspective, their symbiotic relationship can only help.

For a different perspective, check out Factoidz writer Lysis's article on the subject, "5 Reasons Why Writing Revenue Share Pays More Than Selling Articles for Full Rights."

The Shape of Things to Come: Search Engines and Web Content

The world of web content on demand has changed the way we communicate. Some would say it's a positive change, while others lament the downfall of language as we know it. From content farms to commercial websites, the search engine rules the web content universe.

Maybe because I create web content as a ghostwriter in addition to penning articles on subjects I choose, I'm both fascinated and repelled by the way writing for the Net has altered communication. The supply-and-demand factor that once mostly affected retail now guides the way we write.

Whether we're devising web content for clients' websites or writing articles, writers working online are generally guided by the public's demand for certain kinds of information. From how-to articles to "about us" pages, keyword choices and placement are our gods -- especially if we write for money.

So what does that say about those of us who come up with all that web content? It all depends on your perspective. One of my professors said -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- that if we're not communicating with our audience, we may as well not bother writing.

That might sound like a given, but it really isn't. I grew up writing short stories, journal entries, and essays for fun. I never showed them to anyone, because for me, that wasn't the point. I just enjoyed the activity of writing, and tried out different formats to give my brain a workout.

The concept of providing web content for any purposes other than the pleasure of having strung certain words together in my own style -- well, that and money -- would have probably struck me as odd.

And that might strike you as odd. But the joy of seeing words take on a life of their own had nothing to do with usefulness, and everything to do with creativity. When web content is your livelihood, that all goes out the window. Communicating with the other humans is key, leaving you with less control over your creation.

Of course, communication is a wonderful thing, and there's almost as little room for self-indulgent writing in print as there is in the land of web content. Print publications must offer something useful and interesting, or no one will buy them. But while topic selection and tone are important in print, the almighty keyword that lords over web content isn't so crucial.

Some argue that keywords come naturally in a well-written article, but sometimes the demands of web content creation can hamper a writer's intentions. Because a certain number of people typed a phrase into a search engine in a seemingly logical way, the web content creator must use these words to convey the original meaning, and incorporate them in a way that makes sense.

So, the person doing the searching not only gives retailers a clue about their shopping habits via unfiltered Googling; he or she also shapes the online universe by revealing their innermost desires.

From Christmas shopping to asking an embarrassing health question, the searcher has unwittingly determined, at least partially, the web content that will be available for his or her next search.

Some content farms cull these searches to come up with automated batches of titles for their freelance writers. Others offer the results as suggested topics that just might bring in a lot of page views, i.e. money.

"Real" journalists and writers upset at the demise of the newspaper and the rise of user-provided web content find this change of events appalling. Say what they will, it's actually a good thing for consumers.

Digital journalism is all about providing what people want. Unlike focus groups and surveys, though, our searches offer up our true desires. From researching a major purchase to drunken late-night queries, search engines provide the fodder for the web content people really want to see.

This might be frustrating when we can't write an article exactly the way we want because of SEO considerations. It is the way web content creation works, though, and coming up with something good based on some oddly-arranged words can be an exercise in creativity itself.

And when all else fails, you can just churn out the web content people want, then have fun writing a blog or poetry just for you.

Switching Gears: Staying Inspired While Writing Online

Despite the fact that I love writing online, some days I just have a hard time getting into it. Whether I'm exhausted after a bout with insomnia, distracted by something going on in my life, or lacking inspiration, sometimes I'm just not feeling the writing online thing. Or I hit a brick wall after a couple of hours of feverish productivity. That's when I find it's best to switch gears.

Switching gears might mean writing online in a completely different format, doing some other online activity, or tackling a household chore just to get away from the computer for a while. Often, I come back completely refreshed and ready to write again. Sometimes, it's best just to throw in the towel, at least for a while, because any hope of writing online productively is futile.

Usually, though, I get back into the swing of things and avoid guilt if I stick to writing online in some shape or form. That's when this blog comes in handy. Or maybe I'll whip up a fun list or two for best5everything.com. Often, writing online purely for enjoyment -- financial considerations aside -- kicks my brain into gear and I'm ready to crank out some articles again. In fact, I sometimes get article ideas from these exercises, mainly from getting lost in the information labyrinth that is the Internet. For example, I might write an article expanding on a list I devised of the best five 70s detective movies or the best five ways to maintain a healthy digestive tract (don't look for these lists --- they're not there).

Writing online for multiple sites also helps me maintain some semblance of sanity. When I need a break from creating web content for a Textbroker client, for example, I might write a Factoidz review of an inspiring documentary. After writing about taxes or skincare for Demand Studios, switching to local articles for Associated Content provides a nice change of pace.

The resulting productivity is pretty satisfying. Just knowing that I was able to stimulate my brain to keep producing content is a little -- yes, I know this word is overused, but I'm gonna say it anyway -- empowering.

We freelancers spend our time writing online because we enjoy it. Although it's difficult to completely avoid boredom, I never want writing to feel like just another job. Mixing up my routine a bit allows me to get the most out of the writing experience, even if the subject is "How to Avoid Athlete's Foot" or "Choosing the Perfect Laundry Detergent." Switching gears reminds me that writing online, no matter what the topic, beats just about any job I've ever had.

Choosing A Home For Your Web Content

I'm a big believer in not putting all my eggs in the proverbial single basket. I'd get bored providing web content for one or two sites, for starters. And if there's anything my online writing experience has taught me, it's that each site has its strengths and weaknesses. Experimentation is one of the best ways to find the best sites.

Choosing from all the online writing gigs out there can be overwhelming at first. It's hard to know which web content providers are legit, and beyond that, which ones are worth your time. Articles, blog posts, forums and reviews of online writing opportunities will quickly reveal a sort of "top 10" of web content mills. Don't stick with that list; you'd be amazed at the sheer number of quality sites willing to publish your work or hook you up with clients in need of web content.

I'm not putting down the content mill concept. Sites that churn out amazing amounts of web content (with or without the benefit of editorial guidance) provide easy entry into the world of online writing.

But some sites for freelance writers are better than others. The trick to finding the best fit for your online writing is doing your research. Just as you would research the facts for your articles, thoroughly checking out potential homes for your web content is essential.

Even though it seems like a given, I'll mention this anyway -- don't pay anyone to display your work. There are plenty of online writing sites that will pay you for web content. Of course, many pay less than what your writing is worth, but welcome to the world of digital journalism.

If you're interested in more information on choosing the best online writing sites, check out "How to Make Money Writing Online by Choosing the Best Freelance Writing Sites."