Writers' Row

[debng]

I received an invite for Demand Studios - I remembered they were owned by the Write for Cash people and thought I'd check it out. The model is the same as WFC and the topics are reminiscent of WFC as well. Now, I don't know if I'll ever write for them, but they're there if I need them I guess.

They pay between $10 and $20 per article if anyone wants to check them out.
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[debng]

Heh - I saw a topic about ehow/wfc below - one I started in October. I hear the memory is the first thing to go.
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[mtatum4496]

For folks who signed up with Demand Studios - how is it working out? Do you find your submissions are edited and processed in a timely manner? Payments coming across on time?
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Mike Tatum
Montgomery, Alabama

[debng]

I haven't used them yet but I know a lot of people who seem to be happy. It's like the old WFC from what I understand.
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[mamarama]

I signed up, but haven't written anything yet. I looked over their titles and had a flashback of working at Wisegeek (zany topics galore ).

[rshreeves]

I've been lax on applying for new jobs this summer because it's summer and I want to have fun with the kids. So I've been picking up two or so Demand topics a week - suggesting quite a few of them.

It's not difficult work and I can usually do both articles in an hour.

If you've signed up but haven't started writing yet, I suggest you grab a topic (or better yet suggest one you can write easily) and pick up a few extra bucks if needed.
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Robin

http://robinshreeves.blogspot.com/
http://robin.shreeves.net/

[mtatum4496]

I did eventually sign up with Demand Studios. Things have gone pretty well up until a couple weeks ago. I received a couple of editor notes that didn't really make sense to me, and I had a hard time making myself go through with the changes.

From what I read on some other boards, I must be doing pretty well. Some writers were reporting an upsurge in rejections, the insertion of incorrect information into their articles before publication, editor comments that were not exactly provided in a constructive choice of words, and a few other questionable events. In the midst of this, Murphy's Law reared its ugly head and DS missed the usual Friday payment the other week. Although they don't guarantee payment each Friday for accepted work, that was the pattern they had established. Even though they processed payments the following Monday, no comment or explanation for the delayed payment ever materialized.

The insertion of incorrect information into the finished piece really caught my eye. It made me go back and review the published versions of the how-to articles Demand Studios purchased from me. While I came across a few minor changes that I don't really like that much, I didn't see anything that changed the focus or flow of the finished piece.

Still, it got me to thinking. My work for Demand has been under my own name. Any prospective client with a little initiative can do a search and find my Demand/eHow page and read the articles posted under my name. While I am okay with what is out there right now, is it wise to risk having something appear under my name that is not a fair representation of my work? I'm beginning to wonder if the risk is worth that one time pay of $15.00.

Understanding that most of us tend to be protective of our work, some of the gripes about Demand Studios are likely to be unfounded. Still, some of them are mighty detailed and convincing. I can't help but think where there is smoke there is at least a little fire.

I am making enough with my other clients that I don't have to rely on Demand Studios for regular income. For that reason, I have decided to back off and see how things pan out. This may be a phase in the growth of their program and things will eventually iron out. We'll see.

In the meantime, I am wondering if it would not be in my best interests to create my own topics and post my work directly to eHow, setting up an additional revenue stream. Is anyone currently doing this, and what are your thoughts?
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Mike Tatum
Montgomery, Alabama

[rshreeves]

I've only had one come back for revisions because they said I didn't write to the topic. I did, but upon reflection the topic could be taken either the way I wrote it or the way they wanted it written. It only took me about 15 minutes to write the original, but would have taken much longer to completely rewrite what they wanted so I let it expire.

Other than that, I've had no problems.

On How to Do Things when it was a good paying gig, I had editors insert wrong information a copule of times into my wine articles - and they would try to sound all wine-snotty while doing so. I just let it slide because I was really enjoying the gift certificate payments. But it still irked me.
_________________
Robin

http://robinshreeves.blogspot.com/
http://robin.shreeves.net/

[mtatum4496]

Robin, it's interesting you mention getting a rewrite request saying you did not write to the topic. On another board, a writer reported having a rewrite request in which the editor said the article did not go in the direction that the editor envisioned.

Many of the topics are broad enough that more than one approach to the subject matter could be taken. Unfortunately, there is no way to know in advance if what the writer has in mind dovetails with what an editor will have in mind when reviewing the finished piece. Or, as someone on another board put it "I'm not a mind reader".

Unfortunately, there is no mechanism in place right now that allows comments from Demand to be posted along with the topic. That would give the writers some hint of which angle to use.

I did select a couple of topics at Demand this week, but have yet to write them; can't get up a head of steam and do them. I will probably go in later today and release them.

However, I did experiment with eHow this past Sunday, posting one article through my own eHow account rather than my Demand account. Upon checking my earnings this morning, I was pleased to see it has earned $4.20 in the last week. This was particularly nice, since I had basically picked a topic out of thin air - no research into popular keyword variations and such.

I did two ebooks this past week along with other work, so I don't think I will be writing much today - my brain and fingers need a rest. But I may spend a little time searching keywords and identifying topics to whip up a couple more eHow articles.
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Mike Tatum
Montgomery, Alabama

[debng]

I still haven't had time to write for them but they keep sending me notices to write for them. The one time I logged in and checked them out it reminded me a lot of the old Write for Cash -brought back some memories - all good because I did enjoy WFC.
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[rshreeves]

helloooo. hellooo. anybody in here?

Just thought I'd post my frustration with demand. I was using them over the summer as a little cash in pocket type job. I had none of the problems with rewrites that others seemed to be having.

Then in the beginning of November I got one back. Their request wasn't unreasonable so I did the rewrite. Today, I just got it back again - not complaining about the rewritten section but about a section that was fine the first time.

I have nothing to back this up except for my hunches, but I think demand is going the way of wfc, and how to do things. Either going away completely or getting extremely cheap. They don't seem to be posting new topics anymore, and they lowered the rate on suggested topics from $15 to $5.

I don't need demand, I've got enough work. But, if it were something I used a lot, I'd be frustrated. Of course, we need to be making sure our income comes from multiple streams.

That's it. Nothing profound.
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Robin

http://robinshreeves.blogspot.com/
http://robin.shreeves.net/

[Lorie]

I never really got in the swing of things with Demand. Then I started seeing the issues with revisions and a lack of topics mentioned on forums, and it pretty much killed what little motivation I had to give them a try. I don't know what Demand's long-term prospects are, but I doubt that it will ever again be a source of easy $15 articles.