Showing posts with label writing for eHow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing for eHow. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2011

My eHow Divorce...

As some of you know, I started writing for eHow a few years ago. At first it didn't pay anything, since it all has to do with ad-generated revenue, and you have to have traffic to make anything off of that. Anyway, eventually I started making a little money off of the articles there, and even mentioned that I wished I'd written more before the changeover to Demand Studio's new program of only on-staff writers and flat pay rates for articles.

The way they first handled the changeover was that you were still paid off of ad revenue for your initial articles, but had to become a staff writer and accept the new payment terms to have any other articles published on the site. I believe that they made this change to improve the quality of articles published on their site.

They did initially accept me as a staff writer, but I hesitated to accept these new terms and so I never did become a part of their staff. I still received payments for my original six articles though, until early this year when they discontinued even that part of their terms. They offered me a dismal amount of money for the rights to my articles (it wasn't even an amount I'd have accepted for one article, let alone six) and said if I didn't accept the purchase terms, then I would retain the rights, but my articles would be removed from their site. Well, I refused the terms and kept the rights. So, I'm no longer an eHow contributor. Ah, well, life goes on.

I'll be moving those articles I wrote over to HubPages soon. My earnings there have started to increase over the last month or so, and so I have the motivation to get back to work! Now that the kids are back in school, I'm hoping to have more time to write. We shall see.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

e-How Writers change to Demand Studios

I starting writing for e-How last year, and was quite excited about it to begin with. After writing six articles though, and realizing that the only way I would make money off of any of them was if people clicked on the ads displayed on my articles' pages, I quit writing for them. I kept my account open though, and basically forgot about them.

Then, this year, e-How stopped accepting articles through their website and switched everything over to Demand Studios. I received notice that I had been approved to write for them, but the way things worked would be quite different as far as article submission and payment.

For starters, there is now a copy-editor involved. This copy-editor can tell you to rewrite your articles and even outright reject them. That's an intimidating thought, but not a deal-breaker. The fact is, most people could use a copy-editor and I'm no exception. In fact, if I could get one for free right now, I'd have them go over everything I write, so that I don't make myself look like an illiterate idiot with some of the typos I make. Yikes!

But then there's also the way payment works. Apparently it's a flat fee (some say it's only $15 per article). That might not seem too bad for some people at first sight--especially considering I had stopped writing for e-how after only making $12 the first six months on six articles--I must tell you that I now wish I'd written more for e-How before the change-over. Why? Because those articles are still making money and I'm not having to do anything now but watch it happen. Though the amounts are still quite paltry, it's increasing over time and will eventually surpass that $15 flat fee per article. That's what you call passive income.

So, I'm unsure on whether or not I'll follow through with the Demand Studios account. I can't rule it out entirely as a possibility to make money writing. They have a great reputation for paying each friday with a transfer to your paypal account. Dependable income can't be overrated.

I'm sure I don't know all there is to know about this company, so if I discover anything new, I'll let you know.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Juggling is definitely the right word for it

I've found that writing articles is very much a job. I don't know how I'd ever considered it as anything else. One thing about me is that I always like to give all that I have to whatever job I'm doing. Usually, that means parenting, now it's also writing.

I'm obviously going to have to learn balance. I have found that if I work first thing in the morning on the house and family stuff, that leaves me more uninterrupted time in the early afternoon (well, unless you count a toddler climbing up on my lap every now and then to see what I'm doing and to make sure she's still my priority as an interruption--or my preschooler coming to tell me she wants a snack).

The problem I'm having is turning the article writing part of my brain off while I'm trying to concentrate on kids and homework in the late afternoon. I keep thinking about what I'm going to write next and how I'm going to advertise it. Yes, advertising, unfortunately is a big part of being a successful blogger and in article writing (if you're going the route I'm going with eHow and adsense).

This could be because this is all so new to me. I'm hoping that once I've gained momentum, things will be easier and I'll be better able to change channels. I'm sure that's the case, right?

As for the business side of writing, I found some encouragement, and more tips on this website: http://freelancewriting.suite101.com/topiclist/article.cfm/how_writers_can_create_passive_income
If you have some writing skills and are looking for a way to make some money, I suggest you check it out.

Anyway, on that note, I have another article on eHow. I've already talked a bit about it in my blog here, but it goes into more detail in the eHow article. Feel free to check it out!

How to Get a lower Rate on your Satellite Bill
http://www.ehow.com/how_4804929_lower-rate-satellite-bill.html

But before you go, take a look around here. I've got plenty of money-saving tips to help you out and there's more to come. Don't forget to tell your friends!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Getting Back on the Horse, so to Speak

So I've taken some time off of writing for a while. Why? Because my family grew from five to six last year. This is, of course, counting my spouse and me. I'm not that crazy--yet.

I'm very happy spending my time taking care of my family. To me, along with God, they come first. There's nothing more gratifying than knowing that you are helping to send a great person out into the world. At least, that's what I hope I'm doing. It's what I'm trying to do anyway.

I've always loved to write, for as long as I can remember. At nine years old I was drawing up my own children's books and trying to sell them to my neighbors for a quarter! No, I'm not kidding. I even managed to catch one nice grandmother on a good day and she bought one from me.

In sixth grade I was making story books for the kindergarten classes. This meant I got out of my classwork long enough to go read my creation to the kiddies. That was cerainly a plus!

By junior high I was writing poetry. All of it was about love, of course. My friends thought I was brilliant, and I have to admit it went to my head. I have to laugh now when I go back and read some of what I wrote then. At least I can say that I had a knack for rhyming.

In high school the school newspaper caught my eye. I spent my last three years on staff and doing mainly book reviews because they were the easiest and most entertaining for me. Of course, I'd have done better if I'd reviewed more of what other people were interested in, and not the romance books I was obsessed with at the time. My teacher did manage to yank a few public interest and feature articles out of me, and even patted me on the back for them, but they were never my preference.

My Creative Writing class was a blessing to me. I got to learn that not all poetry has to rhyme. I also learned that I wasn't nearly as good at it as I thought I was. But I found a love for creating fiction. It's stuck with me ever since and I have a long list of short stories to show for it.

I'd planned on going out into the world, becoming a world famous novelist, and maybe, eventually starting a family. You know what they say about best laid plans...

Instead, I fell inlove, got married, graduated as one of eight valedictorians (I only wish I were kidding), and gave up my full scholarship to start a family. Yes, it was exactly in that order.

Once I became a mother, I tried to continue writing, but my hands were so full of learning to be a mommy to my beautiful baby boy. Over the years he was followed-up with three perfect baby girls. Since adding to my family, I've picked up my writing now and again, whenever time, and yes, inspiration allowed.

I'm hoping to make a bigger impression in that world of writing this time. I'm ready to get back on the horse. I'm ready to start juggling more things and to learn and grow more as a writer and as a mother.

As a result of this particular juggling act, I've written two articles on eHow. I would love for you read them, as I think they will apply to most people in this hard economy. I planning on making a habit/job of this. Wish me luck!

How to Bring Your Family Closer Together without spending a lot of money
http://www.ehow.com/how_4799283_together-spending-lot-of-money.html
How to Save Money On Groceries
http://www.ehow.com/how_4800520_save-money-groceries.html