Writing shorter articles so that you can charge less = okay. For example, if an author typically writes 1200 wd pieces, she might try writing a couple of 500 wd pieces to balance out her portfolio.
Sacrificing the integrity of the writing to charge less = not okay.
Thanks,
Ed
Where did the public request go?
Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed
Re: Where did the public request go?
If you know the material, I can see writing a $20 in less than an hour. Probably 30 minutes. A lot of the tech articles I write don't have any research and only take 30 minutes. It's the proofing that drives me nuts. 
Re: Where did the public request go?
This is where I saw it:
Maybe I'm just too wordy but I don't think I've written anything in less than 1.5 hours. Mine are often 2 hours start to upload and run somewhere between 500-700 words. Seems to be how it flows for me. I've had a couple go over 1000 and a couple go under 500 I think. I've been wondering lately if I simply put too much info in each article.
Many of the articles I've written are subjects I am intimately familiar with. Ed might be surprised at that one based on some of the topics that I'm sure must bore him. It's what I do at the day job that I'm hoping CC soon replaces...Re: How to Sell More Articles
Postby Constant on Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:42 am
The key with pricing is to make sure you are getting what you feel you are worth. So if we are suggesting that articles within the 30 - 40 dollar for fullrights range are the most salable, then make sure the time you spend is commensurate. Its sometimes better to adjust the time spent and not the price.
Maybe I'm just too wordy but I don't think I've written anything in less than 1.5 hours. Mine are often 2 hours start to upload and run somewhere between 500-700 words. Seems to be how it flows for me. I've had a couple go over 1000 and a couple go under 500 I think. I've been wondering lately if I simply put too much info in each article.
Re: Where did the public request go?
My breakdown:
<500 = 3
500-800 = 9
800-1000 = 6
1000+ = 4
Someone said to shoot for a variety of topics and word counts, I think it qualifies Oddly enough, both my sale and my one in waiting are over 900 words.
<500 = 3
500-800 = 9
800-1000 = 6
1000+ = 4
Someone said to shoot for a variety of topics and word counts, I think it qualifies
Oddly enough, both my sale and my one in waiting are over 900 words.Re: Where did the public request go?
A few points I'd like to make:
1) I don't think that writing time is always accurately represented here on the forums. Proofing, re-reading, editing, tweaking, fact-checking - this is all a part of the actual writing process. It shows when a writer has put time into an article. Readers notice when they get satisfaction out of reading a well-crafted, clearly-expressed piece. The converse is also true.
2) Everyone writes at their own speed. No one should be comparing their writing speed to anyone else's writing speed. Everyone's writing process is different. And everyone is writing in their own environment with their own set of distractions. This can change from day to day. An article you may have been able to write in a relatively short period of time in complete silence on a really good morning may take twice or three times as long at the end of the day after you're exhausted and you're surrounded by people who need your attention.
3) In the end you have to do what works for you. There are writers who have been around here for years who stick to writing about what they love - they don't approach requests and they don't let article length bother them. Some, due to the quality of their writing, have gotten private requests they may or may not have accepted. Others haven't, but their joy in their writing shows, and if they're still writing and submitting, it must mean they're making sales.
4) We all want to make money, and we all want to make MORE money. But the price tag is not the sum of the article's value. Deriving pride from a really great piece that expresses exactly what you mean to say and represents you as a writer is also valuable. In my opinion, this personal value goes hand-in-hand with the monetary value of the piece, and in some cases, one begets the other. Finishing one piece that you are really proud of entices you to repeat the feat, which means you're growing and developing, able to complete more complex tasks with greater ease at a higher level of sophistication - and becoming a better writer who can make more money!
Sharion, I think the financial and tax related articles that you've submitted are better with the level of information included, and there's value in being able to clearly present this information to the reader.
Thanks,
Ed
1) I don't think that writing time is always accurately represented here on the forums. Proofing, re-reading, editing, tweaking, fact-checking - this is all a part of the actual writing process. It shows when a writer has put time into an article. Readers notice when they get satisfaction out of reading a well-crafted, clearly-expressed piece. The converse is also true.
2) Everyone writes at their own speed. No one should be comparing their writing speed to anyone else's writing speed. Everyone's writing process is different. And everyone is writing in their own environment with their own set of distractions. This can change from day to day. An article you may have been able to write in a relatively short period of time in complete silence on a really good morning may take twice or three times as long at the end of the day after you're exhausted and you're surrounded by people who need your attention.
3) In the end you have to do what works for you. There are writers who have been around here for years who stick to writing about what they love - they don't approach requests and they don't let article length bother them. Some, due to the quality of their writing, have gotten private requests they may or may not have accepted. Others haven't, but their joy in their writing shows, and if they're still writing and submitting, it must mean they're making sales.
4) We all want to make money, and we all want to make MORE money. But the price tag is not the sum of the article's value. Deriving pride from a really great piece that expresses exactly what you mean to say and represents you as a writer is also valuable. In my opinion, this personal value goes hand-in-hand with the monetary value of the piece, and in some cases, one begets the other. Finishing one piece that you are really proud of entices you to repeat the feat, which means you're growing and developing, able to complete more complex tasks with greater ease at a higher level of sophistication - and becoming a better writer who can make more money!
Sharion, I think the financial and tax related articles that you've submitted are better with the level of information included, and there's value in being able to clearly present this information to the reader.
Thanks,
Ed
Re: Where did the public request go?
Thank you, Ed. Your advice is incredibly helpful. I've been struggling this week trying to find a topic that will come out shorter but my flow doesn't seem to want to go there. Even the one I was worried would go under 100 words ended up over 700. And I was worried, LOL!
I did have one whopper (now sitting in review) that took 8 hours. I think it will be a quick read though because it was really fun to write, and fun to research. Every fact I uncovered led to a question and I wanted to make sure the info was accurate so I kept digging deeper. No idea if there's a market for it but it fascinated the dickens out of me! Time just got away
More than likely I will be more like the writers who write what flows. Even the heavy duty articles flowed. I kid you not, it's like a topic starts nagging me and says, "Let me out!"
I did have one whopper (now sitting in review) that took 8 hours. I think it will be a quick read though because it was really fun to write, and fun to research. Every fact I uncovered led to a question and I wanted to make sure the info was accurate so I kept digging deeper. No idea if there's a market for it but it fascinated the dickens out of me! Time just got away
More than likely I will be more like the writers who write what flows. Even the heavy duty articles flowed. I kid you not, it's like a topic starts nagging me and says, "Let me out!"
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Elizabeth Ann West
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Re: Where did the public request go?
I just read all the posts. I can't believe you were taking on MY math skills Celeste LOL Me, the girl who came up with the formula to figure in even Paypal's cut (back when they took one). I think the confusion came up when you thought it was multiplying by .65 instead of dividing by it.
LOL Me, the girl who came up with the formula to figure in even Paypal's cut (back when they took one). I think the confusion came up when you thought it was multiplying by .65 instead of dividing by it.-
Celeste Stewart
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Re: Where did the public request go?
I think I got into the mindset that you have to have a multiplier. Back at my old job, we had different multipliers for different clients/products. So way back when, I asked myself "What's CC's multiplier?" and did the math to come to the 1.538462 figure - completely ignoring the obvious easy way or completely not realizing that there even was an easier way. I think it's funny.