Constant Content

Hi, *waves*

OK, so I've got the general idea of what the site is - but where's the section for writers?

Everything I click seems to come back to buyers.

As a writer, how do I search for what is currently requested etc? Or is such a section only available once one is a registered writer here? I presume registering on this forum doesn't count?

OK, that's enough questions of that nature. I'd love to ask and chat some more but wifey is dragging me away from the comp.vmgbjbb....

help.... hdfc

You'll need to register separately as an author, at which point you can view the requests, what's being sold, etc. Welcome to CC!

:waves: Welcome to CC! As I understand it, there are three separate registrations; one for buyers, one for authors, and one for the forum.

Again, welcome!

Thanks peoples, I figured it was something like that.

I do have some more questions..

Anyone here a member or registered with other such systems, elance etc? If so, how does this place compare? I've spent almost a week digging through searches trying to get the low-down on freelance writing and there's plenty to see, but little solid information.

Specifically, how does the model compare, the idea of writing and then seeing if someone likes it, rather than bidding etc?

The rest of my questions I guess I can find out as I go so will ask the obvious one - is there anything I ought to know? Asides from not being silly with plagarism (sp?) and erm, spell-checking, that kind of obvious stuff, what's the biggest mistake or the most important nugget for a newby?

OK, one other question, anyone ever get regular clients from this?

I guess I should introduce myself a little, male, 40, from UK, living in Asia, looking for some income, doesn't need to be much but not pocket money either, say around 200-300 dollars a month? Plenty feasible or...?


S.

Mmm, new question - is there some place I'm supposed to have a profile or anything like that?


S.

Anyone here a member or registered with other such systems, elance etc? If so, how does this place compare? I've spent almost a week digging through searches trying to get the low-down on freelance writing and there's plenty to see, but little solid information.

Hi! For the most part writing for CC is the same as writing on spec in the print world. It is different from the bidding sites because you write first (usually) to get the sale instead of having a guaranteed assignment and writing to fill it. Writing on-spec is usually a no-no on most freelance writing advice lists, but given the differences in online and print writing, imo, it's worth investigating.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by a lack of solid information on freelance writing. There are many books, online sites, and information here on CC that offer basics. Do you want to make $200-300 a month with CC? There are several threads that address how successful CC writers approach making money on CC. If you are talking about making $200-300 a month through CC and other freelance sources then you'll have to figure out how much time you have to devote to each market and piece your income sources together like you would a puzzle.

(I start with what I want to make a year and then figure out how to make that happen.)

Hope something here helps,
Mary B.

Specifically, how does the model compare, the idea of writing and then seeing if someone likes it, rather than bidding etc?

OK, one other question, anyone ever get regular clients from this?

Oops! I didn't read your post carefully enough! I apologize! Bidding vs. spec writing ---- to me CC is a gentler form of the bidding on elance. You get a chance to put your work out there and show the buyer why it is worth the price you have assigned instead of relying merely on bids, ratings, etc..

There's an interesting article in Writer's Digest this month about elance and why it isn't working very well for many writers because of the over-abundance of low bidding. You'll see a mixture of prices offered here, but low-balling hasn't taken over like it has been reported on other sites.

Regular clients - I've read in other threads that several CC writers have developed good working relationships with some of their customers and write for them on a regular basis. (They still go through CC.) I've had two offers, but turned them down because of scheduling. So, yes the potential is there.

Mary B.

I've tried iFreelance with barely any nibbles no matter how low I go or how convincing my bid sounds. I got one job - a decent paying "check for punctuation, formatting" type of job --- and then the guy never paid me because they were having "financial trouble" - well thanks alot! He screwed me out of $400 bucks worth of work - on my birthday no less. grrrrrr.....

With those sites, I spend as much time writing a convincing proposal and bid as I might in actually writing the article...so duh, CC is a much better model. I recently rejoined iFreelance at $22 for the whole year so I'd have some options but once again, no response. What I have done though is point requesters to my CC credentials and the CC webpage in hopes that perhaps they will see this model meets their needs (it's allowed under the terms of the iFreelance contract - don't worry - I wouldn't do it unless it was allowed). For $22 bucks a year, it's my hope that maybe I'll help CC land a few new clients....and maybe score a few choice jobs as well.

Ouch! Those creepy customers are such a pain. Did you report him or go through a writer's reporting service like WritersWeekly.com?

I know what you mean about spending as much time on the proposals as the work. I've done the same. Sigh. Live and learn, right? That's what I tell myself. All these lessons give me wisdom right? (Although I'd prefer to have a frozen marguarita with extra salt.)

Mary B.

I'll take a simple Coors Light any day.....no I didn't report him, I may still bug him about it but I've moved on, it's not worth my time. I mentally wrote him off so I'll just consider it a lesson learned.

Thank you for the replies.

I got into the idea of freelance writing having for some time used RAC to hire coders. Being very familiar with the process from the buyer's side it occured to me, why not do some work for the evidently high number of people who's English is not so good? I also dabbled in the idea a couple of years ago, specifically writing content for affiliate site owners although that was purely via contacts, rather than marketing. They liked my work and paid OK but it was hardly regular and I ended up concentrating on my own sites and products.

It is true that as a buyer one sees many low bids but despite my tiny budget I would rarely go simply for the cheapest, just the cheapest coder that I had confidence in!

I could certainly give you tips on what a buyer looks for.

CC would be pretty good for me I think but it seems my grammar is not up to par. Ironically enough I have real-world and online sales knowledge, while the technical grammar stuff is a bit of a mystery to me. As such I could write you an article that would sell, or trigger emotion and so on, but you'd probably never see it because I split an infinitive and tripped over a participle or something.



I do some occasional English teaching (as a second language) locally here in Borneo but informally. I'm aiming to raise the cash for a professional course in such teaching and one of the courses I've looked at has an additional option of 20 hours tuition in teaching English grammar. I'll probably take that option if only to learn the subject myself...

Have resubmitted my wedding arbor article, regardless of the fact the work seems to have gone. I just want to see if I can get the thing to pass muster on the grammar side. Have also submitted a couple of unrelated articles, taking extra care over the grammar as an experiment. If I receive 3 "Your article was rejected" emails in a row I think I'll give up on this site, for this year anyway.

Fingers and toes crossed.


S.

Your Article Has Been Rejected
Your Article Has Been Rejected
Your Article Has Been Rejected

No hard feelings but I'm outta here. Seems I'm better at selling products than I am at selling my ability to sell products.

Best of luck everybody! *waves*


S.