Write to Earn

I was just reading about Felicia A. Williams’ Ehow experiment to see how much money she can make writing articles for Ehow. I’ve been doing the same thing, so I thought I’d let you guys know how it was coming along.
I have 196 articles on Ehow and so far they have been netting me about $5 more each month. Here are the figures for this year:

Sep 2008     $75.94 USD     Completed     $75.94 USD
Aug 2008     $68.53 USD     Completed     $70.20 USD
Jul 2008     $58.22 USD     Completed     $60.60 USD
Jun 2008     $58.30 USD     Completed     $58.30 USD
May 2008     $54.51 USD     Completed     $54.51 USD
Apr 2008     $45.55 USD     Completed     $45.55 USD
Mar 2008     $44.69 USD     Completed     $44.69 USD
Feb 2008     $30.86 USD     Completed     $30.86 USD
Jan 2008     $25.42 USD     Completed     $25.42 USD

So, as you can see, I have progressively been making more money each month. This is without much promoting or adding more articles. I have only added two articles in the last six months. Not a bad side deal for my freelance writing.

I hope you guys find this helpful. If you want to take a look at my articles to get a feel for Ehow writing here is my profile.

One of the newsletter’s I subscribe to and religiously read is C. Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers . In it, Hope always has tons of great advice for freelance writers. One of her mantras for getting more work as a freelance writer is “Keep 13 in Play.” At all times, she keeps 13 queries or articles sent out looking for work. When one gets refused, she sends another out. When one gets accepted, she sends another out.

After reading about Hope’s lucky 13, years ago, I decided to give it a shot. I have to say, that one tip was one of the biggest things that got me to the success level I am at today.

So try it! Get 13 queries, articles, or job requests out there and see what happens!

I thought that today we would take a break from talking about how to make money for ourselves and talk about an organization that uses writers to raise money for the needy. I just got an email from  Soles4Souls Inc. and Epinions announcing their new program that uses shoes reviews to provide shoes for needy people. Here’s what the email had to say:

Soles4Souls Inc. and Epinions

Announce “REVIEWS 4 SHOES”

Shoe charity and online consumer review site create program to provide shoes to needy people worldwide

Attention all shoe lovers, critics and writers: Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity, needs YOUR help!  Just 3 minutes of your time will equal 3 pairs of shoes for kids in need.

How is this possible? Our friends at Epinions.com are always on the lookout for simple, well-written reviews on products from toasters to cars.  Shoe reviews make their website better and gives honest feedback to consumers looking to buy their next pair of sneakers, work boots, fashionable pumps and comfy flip-flops.

Epinions is looking for anyone to write a paragraph or two on your favorite (or least favorite) pair of shoes in your closet. As an incentive, they will donate $5 for EACH REVIEW to Soles4Souls. That equals about 3 pairs of shoes for 3 minutes of work!  

To get started, visit www.epinions.com/shoes and sign up to become a member (it’s fast and free).  Then write some reviews about your pairs of shoes (and if it’s a bad review, you can always donate them to Soles4Souls).  But please, don’t wait too long - this promotion will end on December 31st. So break out your critiquing skills and start writing…some bare soles will thank you for it.
Remember, 3 Minutes = 3 Pairs.
If  you have any questions about this promotion, please visit www.giveshoes.org for details.

 This sounds like a great opportunity for us writers to use our abilities for a good cause.

I’ve been asked this I don’t know how many times by other writers looking for writing jobs. My Suite 101 buddy Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen has just posted an article on her blog called “The Top 10 Reasons to Write for Suite101 ” that explains the benefits of Suite better than I ever could. One of the best parts of her article  is when she talks about how Suite provides a steady stream of income:

“If you’re a freelance writer, you need multiple streams of income. You can’t rely on Reader’s Digest or Sports Illustrated for a steady paycheck, even if you’re the best freelance writer in the whole wide world,” Laurie writes. “Editors leave or get tired of your style of writing, and your paychecks dwindle or vanish altogether. So, one of my best reasons for writing for Suite101 is the steady trickle of income it offers.”

So true! Just the other day an editor wrote me an email saying, essentially, that places that pay ad revenue are sweatshops. What? I know many writers that make good money at Suite.

I keep getting paid no matter if I quit Suite or keep writing. My most viewed articles have made over $100 a piece so far and with every month that passes I’m still earning. That’s much better, to me, than the $30 I got paid for one of my articles getting placed in a traditional print magazine last month!