How much time do you devote to CC?

[Lysis]

I mainly write for two places - CC and DS. I want to really shift my focus and spend more time on CC. Some of the problem is the monthly pay since I can't hold out a month for pay, but I know that's just the way it is. However, my new increase in acceptances has given me a little more courage to do more with CC since I seem to be doing better work.

I'm curious how much time people spend a day/week on CC articles. I can judge by profiles and my own experience how much I can expect to sell, but I'm somewhat afraid of devoting too much time since two things DS has are guaranteed payout and weekly pay. I guess I'm curious if anyone devotes a majority of their work day on CC articles and do you find it rewarding?

One thing I love about CC is that I can write whatever I want on topics that come to my head and interest me. It's really great and I love it. DS is great too, but it's very limiting.

Also, I'm curious if there is a limit to how much you submit. I know CC is tougher and I can't expect to kick out 10 a day here, but I'm wondering if Ed gets sick of reading the same writer's stuff. LOL Basically, if I slammed out 15 in a week, would that get on his nerves? I know it sounds like a dumb question, but I remember someone else a while ago mentioning he had something like 40 articles and Ed asked that person to submit them slowly and not all at once. That's basically why I have the question.

Thank you in advance for the input!

[Ed]

Authors should not submit at a pace that impairs their ability to submit error-free, quality content.

[Lysis]

Authors should not submit at a pace that impairs their ability to submit error-free, quality content.

Well, I wasn't expecting an answer from you this late.

I hear what you're saying. I don't think I could do more than 2-3 here, but I've been writing CC content each day and I just hold it in my progress folder. I doubt I can focus for more than 2-3 articles during the proofing process. My thoughts were if I did 2 a day and proofed 2 a day, that would be 14 a week. I want to make sure this isn't an issue. I'm not saying I'll slam out 10 a day here. I don't think it's possible with the stringent guidelines, but it would be nice if I could devote more time to CC.

I'm a numbers girl. I analyze numbers all day, so I know it seems neurotic to calculate it all. Anyone who is a numbers person can tell you that we run numbers through our head all day long. I'm really trying to get an idea of how others treat CC. I'm not planning to slam you with 50 articles a day. I guess I'm just trying to analyze limits.

[Debbi]

Lys,

I know just what you mean. I am always pulling out my calculator or opening a spreadsheet to work out this or that scenario.

I wish I could churn out even 3 articles a day. I feel lucky if I get two done, and usually it's more like one. I guess I'm a slow writer. That's probably why it took me two months to write 50 articles. I turned in 6 this weekend and 5 of them are still sitting there. Seeing all those in the "Under Review" list has slowed down my writing for some reason; nothing written today or yesterday.

I seem to go in spurts. I'll have about four articles in progress at any one time and I go back and forth among them writing here and there off and on. Then one day I'll think,"Hey, I should finish those!" and I'll wrap them all up at once. Usually, it's just a matter of checking that one fact or proofing it for the last time, but sometimes I can't seem to let go of the article. My little baby birds might not fly!

Debbi

[Antonia]

I wrote a few things for DS and I agree, the guaranteed payout is nice, but for me personally it seems to be more worthwhile to stick to CC. I price based on time spent in addition to wordcount, so I am motivated to write quickly--not sloppily--just in an extreme state of focus! And there are certain topics that I know will sell instantly, so I try and balance my time between those and other topics.

These days, I write anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours a day. The most I've submitted in one day was I think around 10 articles. I try to submit at least 1 per day. Lately I'm a bit busy with personal things so I haven't been too strict with setting specific goals for CC. My husband and I are going to the USA in a couple of weeks, so our cost of living will skyrocket, and I'm planning on spending a lot more time writing then.

This is an interesting thread. I like hearing how others approach the writing life (ugh, such a pretentious expression!).

[Debbi]

I gave DS a look today and see that it could be a steady income. The "assignments" seemed a bit daunting, very formulaic, rigid structures, and such odd titles. I might try to write a few, but I sure like CC's sense of freedom. I haven't really found my niche yet, just sort of trying everything and I am surprised sometimes at the things that sell. If I didn't have to worry about money at all, I'd happily write for CC exclusively and fill my portfolio with articles that have long-term sales possibilities, but my son keeps telling me, "multiple revenue streams, mom!" so I keep looking at other writing sites. The others keep coming up short in one way or another, though.....

Debbi

[Lysis]

DS is nice when they dump a truckload of titles in the queue, but they are in their growing stages so there's problems too. It's a great place if you need an extra few hundred dollars for the week. The weekly pay structure is great. I hate the restriction on format and type of article. It's just one of those things where you take the bad with the good. Being able to work there has saved me from massive debt in school loans, but I would like to focus on CC more.