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Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed
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I am curious to know if it is possible to sell articles that you submit on your own, or does the requested content sell more?
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Celeste Stewart
- Posts: 3528
- Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:28 pm
- Location: California
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Hello,
Yes, submitting your own articles can be rewarding if they have broad appeal. For example, gardening and parenting are popular topics. I recall one writer had a tough time selling his articles because they were extremely specialized with limited appeal. I'm sure they were excellent articles but they would have needed the right customer to come along with that particular need.
In general, for me at least, it takes much longer for an article of my own creation to find a home but eventually a percentage of them do sell. Writing for requests has a more immediate effect because the customer is there needing the content right away.
One article I wrote sold instantly - like minutes after it was posted - while others are still sitting there from a year ago. . . But when old articles eventually sell, they are like frosting on the cake! I try to do a balance of both. Give it a try, you never know!
Yes, submitting your own articles can be rewarding if they have broad appeal. For example, gardening and parenting are popular topics. I recall one writer had a tough time selling his articles because they were extremely specialized with limited appeal. I'm sure they were excellent articles but they would have needed the right customer to come along with that particular need.
In general, for me at least, it takes much longer for an article of my own creation to find a home but eventually a percentage of them do sell. Writing for requests has a more immediate effect because the customer is there needing the content right away.
One article I wrote sold instantly - like minutes after it was posted - while others are still sitting there from a year ago. . . But when old articles eventually sell, they are like frosting on the cake! I try to do a balance of both. Give it a try, you never know!
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J. A. Young
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:27 pm
- Location: U.S.A.
Like Celeste, I try to write both types. For me things go in cycles. Some months only the requested stuff sells while other months I have great success with my own articles. I'm often very surprised (and gratified) when my personal choice articles sell--I wanted to write about ancient Romans--and boom--it sold within the week I posted it. It just depends on who comes along or what customers subscribe to what categories. In looking over my sold material, about 80% of my articles were NOT written for a specific request which is why I'm thrilled to be here. However--I've had lots of repeat customers so I tend to gear my work to fit some general needs.
Lately, it seems like the requested articles are selling better.
It really takes time and lots of writing. Stuff may sit for months--I've had articles sit for a year and finally sell so no effort is ever wasted. Lately I've been working on requests, but I'd like to get to some other subject matter and tap into some areas I haven't tried before. The key for me is usually just to write about things that interest me. Then, hopefully, it will interest someone else. Good luck. JA
Lately, it seems like the requested articles are selling better.
It really takes time and lots of writing. Stuff may sit for months--I've had articles sit for a year and finally sell so no effort is ever wasted. Lately I've been working on requests, but I'd like to get to some other subject matter and tap into some areas I haven't tried before. The key for me is usually just to write about things that interest me. Then, hopefully, it will interest someone else. Good luck. JA