Writing For Demand Studios and Earning $500 A Week

Freelance writing for Demand Studios won't make you rich. A gig at Demand Studios, mixed with a few special ingredients, can earn you cash steadily. Streamline the research, writing and editing processes, have a firm grasp on the Demand Studios Editorial Guidelines, and be tenacious. You will see that earnings of $30 an hour and average earnings of $500 a week or more are not only attainable, but attainable in your space time. It has been five months since I started with Demand Studios and my paychecks go towards rent, debts: real money paying real expenses.

Three general practices help me write effectively and timely: mastering the Demand Studios system, researching thoroughly and quickly, and writing efficiently.

Beginning freelance writers at Demand Studios use the Workdesk, a platform through which writers can select titles, write articles, view editor critique and monitor payment information. After reviewing the guidelines for at least one article format, new writers should investigate the title selection interface. To earn a flat fee per article, you must write an article tailored to a computer-generated title. There are hundreds of thousands of titles available. While this helps to guarantee appropriate titles for everyone, it also makes these appropriate titles harder to find. Streamline your title search using the tips below. Reviewing and studying your copy editor's amendments also helps you master the Demand Studios system.

• Learn one article format at a time. Writers can choose from a variety of pre-determined article formats. The most widely available of these formats is the "how to" format where readers receive direct instruction on how to complete a task. As each format comes with its own rules and regulations, reading all guidelines and knowing all rules will save you editing time in the future. You may have to re-reference the guidelines at first, but once you've mastered a format, you will have dramatically fewer rewrite requests.
• Create saved title searches. So many writers put off this task in an attempt to see every available title. Reading through page after page of unusable titles eats up time and morale. Select 3-4 broad categories relevant to your niche or interests, the pay range you desire and the article formats with which you are most comfortable.
• Check for titles often. Even if you do not have much time, quickly check the title pool now and again using your saved searches and sorting the queue by "Newest." Easy to write titles DO come down the pipeline, but get snatched up very quickly. Refreshing your search from time to time may yield some surprisingly simple titles. New titles pop in all of the time. Grab these before another writer does!
• Look at your article's edits. The Demand Studios interface allows writers to see the tracked changes their editors made to their articles. This easily clues you in to small changes you can make to avoid rewrite requests down the road. Do not just look at articles that return for a rewrite, look at articles that were approved on a first submission too, to see what was done well and what small edits were made.

Don't always stick to a title's suggested category. If you KNOW that there is a more appropriate category for a title, use that one. With computer-generated titles, some cataloging may be off from time to time.

The importance of good research is not only clear when writing for Demand Studios. All information provided in an instructional setting where the reader trusts the expertise of the author must be corroborated by evidence. Good research yields good articles. A well-researched article should cover all facets of the subject. Rather than offer one method, a well-researched article offers several methods to achieve one particular goal. Good research does not have to take a lot of time.

• Save reputable reference websites that relate to your interests. Consider the category selections you chose in your saved searches, and find resourceful websites in those fields. You may already frequent a website or two that can end up serving as a reference for you. Demand Studios offers a list of suggested reference sites, and categorizes them. Choose some websites you like and visit them for references.
• Investigate the history of your subject material. Sometimes, you can write an article based off of your own expertise, or finding an acceptable reference source proves otherwise difficult. To prevent this from causing you any time or stress, research the history of the subject material. Add this information to your article's introduction in a compelling manner, and list your source as a reference.
• Get creative with your search terms. Sometimes, scouring the Internet for good information may feel a bit like detective-work, but once you find exactly what you've been looking for, you feel great. Instead of entering the article title in Google, think of other ways to phrase the title, with different keywords, and search for those.
• Look for eBooks or downloadable manuals. A lot of "how to" articles ask about the operation and maintenance of specific products and appliances. Rather than search for "How To Repair A Samsung Galaxy S Phone," instead look for the Galaxy S manual.

When using search engines such as Google, add .org and .edu extensions to your search. For example, if writing a piece on Mayan architecture, Google "Mayan architecture .org" and "Mayan architecture .edu." These searches will yield more reputable websites, making them ideal references.

Like good research, good writing isn't important for Demand Studios alone. For any freelance writer, the goal should ultimately be good, better then great writing. When writing online, present information clearly in as few words as possible. Online instructional content readers lack interest in your ability to craft a 22 clause sentence. Write the point. Avoid the passive voice and the verb "to be." Practicing these tips will enhance and tighten your writing, regardless of its final published location.

• Learn Associated Press Style Guidelines. Demand Studios uses the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook as its primary style guide. There are numerous websites and tutorials dedicated to helping writers understand AP style. When you have a stylistic question, search for the solution with respect to the AP guidelines. AP rules apply to the hyphenation and capitalization of words, spelling out of numbers, use of commas and other potentially tricky points.
• Avoid the passive voice. This takes your writing to the next level of professional journalistic quality. Many young writers write with a programmed sentence structure subconsciously controlling their style: subject is something. Here's an example: The king is in possession of the throne. Rather, write "The king possesses the throne." For those used to using the passive voice and verb "to be," reprogramming yourself may take some time. Do not try to force yourself to write differently immediately. Instead, write how you normally do, then look over your work for instances of the passive voice. They are much easier to change with the whole sentence already constructed.

Check out Aztekera's "To Be" verb analyzer to track each time you use the passive voice in your writing. Simply copy and paste your work and the analyzer will let you know each instance of the passive voice. Then, get back to your article and make as many changes as you can!

Sometimes, a harsh critique or general bad mood can make you not want to write. If you love writing, then there is no reason to stop writing completely. It is only through writing, writing and writing some more that you develop your style and perfect your voice. With practice and tenacity, you will create captivating content that readers will enjoy time and time again.