Hello everyone...
I joined CC a few days ago and I just joined this forum today and I'm looking forward to the potential I have as a contributing author here. I've been a writer for 10+ years and I'm doing everything I can to find venues to earn revenue and a decent living with my writing. I try not to be jaded or cynical, but I've heard so many horror stories about other writers getting jipped and being lied to here and there on various sites and I really don't want the same thing to happen to me. So, forgive my cynicism, but how has everyone's experience been on here so far? Is everyone happy or is anyone having misgivings and difficulties? Constant Content looks like a wonderful place for writers to meet readers and have their writing voice heard and I'd really like to do all I can to maximize my potential here. I don't completely understand the entire principle, I'm learning as I go. I suppose I should look on the site, but is the content written exclusively for CC and do we have to write something from scratch each time? In other words, this isn't similar to selling already written pieces to various magazines, right? Thanks again for letting me share. Good to meet everyone.
cheers,
Earthwriter
Newbie member excited to be here!
Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed, Constant
-
earthwriter
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 9:30 am
- Location: Florida, USA
- Contact:
Hi, Earthwriter - welcome to CC!
I've been writing here for...um...you know what? I don't really know how long I've been here. More than two years - I do know that much at least
So far, it's been a great experience. CC is not quite like the other sites. Instead of purchasing the content from us, CC works as a sort of middleman. They give us this great place to post our content - and the buyers get this great place to buy our content CC also handles payments, so we don't have to track down an editor who's forgotten all about our checks or something. (CC definitely earn their commission!)
The horror stories all over the Internet? Well...everyone's experience is different. Some writers come here expecting to post whatever they want without any editorial review. Here, though, the editors must approve all content. Sometimes they do in fact punt back articles for whatever reason (often grammar and/or spelling problems - but sometimes incorrect formatting and other problems).
So...it can be frustrating sometimes - especially when one is new to CC and not entirely sure of what's going on just yet. Many writers have work punted back quite often at first. But many of those writers learn from the rejections, improve the articles and resubmit without problems.
And that's cool, because the buyers know that CC is the place to go for quality content.
As for being cheated out of money? Hasn't happened to me even one time since I started here. In fact: CC actually reduced its commission some time after I started writing.
And then there's the licensing question. There are three licenses at CC
Usage: If you still have the rights to an article that you've sold elsewhere (as in: you've sold only usage rights), you can post it here. The article can be sold more than once to different buyers, too.
Unique: Cannot be published or sold elsewhere. One buyer gets the rights. You get your byline.
Full rights: Cannot be published or sold elsewhere. One buyer gets the rights. He or she can make changes to the article (and remove your byline - but in my experience, many buyers leave that in place).
So...I hope that this long-winded rambling helps
I've been writing here for...um...you know what? I don't really know how long I've been here. More than two years - I do know that much at least
So far, it's been a great experience. CC is not quite like the other sites. Instead of purchasing the content from us, CC works as a sort of middleman. They give us this great place to post our content - and the buyers get this great place to buy our content
CC also handles payments, so we don't have to track down an editor who's forgotten all about our checks or something. (CC definitely earn their commission!)The horror stories all over the Internet? Well...everyone's experience is different. Some writers come here expecting to post whatever they want without any editorial review. Here, though, the editors must approve all content. Sometimes they do in fact punt back articles for whatever reason (often grammar and/or spelling problems - but sometimes incorrect formatting and other problems).
So...it can be frustrating sometimes - especially when one is new to CC and not entirely sure of what's going on just yet. Many writers have work punted back quite often at first. But many of those writers learn from the rejections, improve the articles and resubmit without problems.
And that's cool, because the buyers know that CC is the place to go for quality content.
As for being cheated out of money? Hasn't happened to me even one time since I started here. In fact: CC actually reduced its commission some time after I started writing.
And then there's the licensing question. There are three licenses at CC
Usage: If you still have the rights to an article that you've sold elsewhere (as in: you've sold only usage rights), you can post it here. The article can be sold more than once to different buyers, too.
Unique: Cannot be published or sold elsewhere. One buyer gets the rights. You get your byline.
Full rights: Cannot be published or sold elsewhere. One buyer gets the rights. He or she can make changes to the article (and remove your byline - but in my experience, many buyers leave that in place).
So...I hope that this long-winded rambling helps
I just ran a Google search on CC. I was led to a few reviews and a few forum comments. I noticed most of what I found in reviews and outside forums were from 2005, when CC was still pretty new. While many of the reviews were positive (which is great), they aren't necessarily indicitive of how CC is running today.
From what I can see, a lot of changes have been made at CC, including pricing, CC's commission, etc. These changes have helped make CC a worthwhile site for freelance writers. I have also never heard of anyone getting jipped or lied to. CC's editors are strict, but they are always working to make sure that CC provides the best content for it's customers. I personally would rather have an editor point out my shortcomings and give me chance to fix them (to become a better writer) than spend my life as a miseraly poor writer.
In addition, many of the poor comments (I ran across only one at Writers Weekly) were due to a lack of understanding of how CC works. It is unfortunate that anyone would specifically make a point of making disparaging remarks without actually even visiting the CC site.
So, what I'm trying to say here is give CC a chance. Everyone here welcomes you and wishes you the best.
j
From what I can see, a lot of changes have been made at CC, including pricing, CC's commission, etc. These changes have helped make CC a worthwhile site for freelance writers. I have also never heard of anyone getting jipped or lied to. CC's editors are strict, but they are always working to make sure that CC provides the best content for it's customers. I personally would rather have an editor point out my shortcomings and give me chance to fix them (to become a better writer) than spend my life as a miseraly poor writer.
In addition, many of the poor comments (I ran across only one at Writers Weekly) were due to a lack of understanding of how CC works. It is unfortunate that anyone would specifically make a point of making disparaging remarks without actually even visiting the CC site.
So, what I'm trying to say here is give CC a chance. Everyone here welcomes you and wishes you the best.
j
I'm just a newbie myself; I've only been here since January. But I have to say, it's an AWESOME site. I know the kind of websites you're talking about...Associated Content is one of them. ( :shudders: ) But CC isn't at all like that. Their commitment to quality is outstanding, and their customers know it. A lot of other content sites let just anyone post just anything, and you're expected to earn your revenue through ad clicks. Peanuts!! Here, you can actually make a living at it, if you keep writing and uploading articles. It's so cool. I'm totally in love with this site.
One month, CC even put out a post in the forums because payments were going to be a couple of days late!! I was amazed they took the trouble to do that.
You can actually post reprints of other articles you've sold as long as 1) you own the reprint rights, 2) you only sell them for "Usage" rights (see the FAQ about the different rights or numerous posts here in the forum for more information on what that means and how to do it) and 3) you put a note in the "Short Summary" when you're uploading the piece, saying where the article was previously published and that you have reprint rights to it. (This keeps the editors from flagging it with CopyScape and rejecting the article.)
I would heartily recommend CC. It's nothing like other article sites...it's clean, professional, and they've always treated me really well. So, yeah. Read around, learn more about how it works, and then jump in!
One month, CC even put out a post in the forums because payments were going to be a couple of days late!! I was amazed they took the trouble to do that.
You can actually post reprints of other articles you've sold as long as 1) you own the reprint rights, 2) you only sell them for "Usage" rights (see the FAQ about the different rights or numerous posts here in the forum for more information on what that means and how to do it) and 3) you put a note in the "Short Summary" when you're uploading the piece, saying where the article was previously published and that you have reprint rights to it. (This keeps the editors from flagging it with CopyScape and rejecting the article.)
I would heartily recommend CC. It's nothing like other article sites...it's clean, professional, and they've always treated me really well. So, yeah. Read around, learn more about how it works, and then jump in!
welcome!
<I've been a writer for 10+ years and I'm doing everything I can to find venues to earn revenue and a decent living with my writing. I try not to be jaded or cynical, but I've heard so many horror stories about other writers getting jipped and being lied to here and there on various sites and I really don't want the same thing to happen to me.>
Welcome! I've been at CC for over a year and have not had any negative experiences like you described. I've never participated at any other content site because the business model struck me as better suited for writers looking to build writing credits and gain experience rather than an income.
I'm not one of CC high sellers by any stretch of the imagination, but for the time and effort I have put into the site I've been satisfied with my sales. I do have several strategies for improving my numbers, but I've been too busy with non-CC work to use them. So the limitations I've hit with CC have all come from me, not the site.
One area in this market (not just CC) that does concerns me is the number of low paying requests. Not all customers, but many, make requests that come to .08 and .06 a word. By the time I pay CC, then that translates to .05 or less a word. When I do the hourly wage (which I must do for business purposes) the potential earnings from these jobs is very discouraging. Of course I have the option not to write for those requests, and I normally don't, but I still see these requests as a market weakness.
These low requests are all over the web (check any online job listing). and are not limited to CC, but it has been a stumbling block for me when I consider future work. (Also my style and work pace may not be well-suited for the content market.)
I've found that writing for specific sites that are tied into print publications is definitely more lucrative. (Yet are those technically content writing markets? Maybe that's an unfair comparison.)
But anyway these are my lessons, perhaps I have not found
the way yet.
Mary
Welcome! I've been at CC for over a year and have not had any negative experiences like you described. I've never participated at any other content site because the business model struck me as better suited for writers looking to build writing credits and gain experience rather than an income.
I'm not one of CC high sellers by any stretch of the imagination, but for the time and effort I have put into the site I've been satisfied with my sales. I do have several strategies for improving my numbers, but I've been too busy with non-CC work to use them. So the limitations I've hit with CC have all come from me, not the site.
One area in this market (not just CC) that does concerns me is the number of low paying requests. Not all customers, but many, make requests that come to .08 and .06 a word. By the time I pay CC, then that translates to .05 or less a word. When I do the hourly wage (which I must do for business purposes) the potential earnings from these jobs is very discouraging. Of course I have the option not to write for those requests, and I normally don't, but I still see these requests as a market weakness.
These low requests are all over the web (check any online job listing). and are not limited to CC, but it has been a stumbling block for me when I consider future work. (Also my style and work pace may not be well-suited for the content market.)
I've found that writing for specific sites that are tied into print publications is definitely more lucrative. (Yet are those technically content writing markets? Maybe that's an unfair comparison.)
But anyway these are my lessons, perhaps I have not found
the way yet.
Mary