Categorizing Submitted Content

[PatriciaLu]

I'm still new at this and getting a little more savvy, and I have a question so I hope someone can guide me. Everyone seems very sharing here, but I do understand that we are competing with each other.

I created a piece for one of the 'requested content' that was for scrapbooking retailers. When I went to submit it, it clearly belonged in business, not in the crafts/scrapbooking section. However I was afraid that the requester might miss it if it were in business. I ended up labeling it as 'scrapbooking' and it is now under review.

Any strategies about categorizing submissions?

I am also curious about whether most people post a question/answer to requested content requesters. I hesitate to do it because it reminds me of some kid wildly waving their hand yelling 'pick me, pick me!!" So I got over that feeling and did post the approval/availability of a piece and it sold a few hours later. Is posting a piece's availability recommended?

Thanks for any feedback. I appreciate it!
Pat in NYC

[Lizaj]

I think it's a great idea to post the availability of your article to the requester. When you do that, the requester actually gets an email letting them know that there has been a response and s/he doesn't have to go wading through all the possible categories and articles.

[PatriciaLu]

I hadn't realized the person got an email, so it really does make sense to post a piece's availability once it's approved. Thanks.

Pat

[Dorothy Edison]

I'm really not sure what it is about this site that makes everyone reiterate the "competition" aspect. I've never felt in competition with anyone here; every customer is looking for something different, and each one of us has something unique to offer--because of our style, knowledge, or our writing's availability.

I don't know. Maybe it's just the Capitalist aspect of our society, but I think this site is probably the least competitive of any writing market I've come across--here, if you write, you sell. Period. I write about what I want to write, and so does everyone else. There are so many topics and so many ways to present those topics, there's really know way that any one of us have to go head-to-head with each other.

DE

[PatriciaLu]

I mentioned competition because it is a reality of the writer's life. However, I think like few other places, there is a very lovely sense of community here. I agree that there's plenty of work for everyone, but I have also -- elsewhere -- been on the receiving end of plenty of newbies wanting to instantly know the strategies and tactics without reading the information or working the system themselves.

If someone has discovered a tactic that works for them, I don't think they're under any obligation to share it with me.

Pat