Writer Spotlight: How to Find a Constant-Content Writer

This month, instead of highlighting an individual writer on CC, let's look at Constant-Content's Authors page. Here you'll find "Expertise Groups" along with a list of writers that have sold articles in that particular area. From here, you can click a writer's name and view that writer's portfolio or switch categories. This page also has a link to the "Freelancers Hall of Fame" where you will see top ten lists detailing the most prolific writers and top-selling writers on the site.

One of the best ways to find a writer on the site is to browse the category that you are interested in and actually read the articles. You'll get a better sense of the writer's style, depth, and even price range.

Attn: Freelance Writers - Check out this Constant-Content eBook

Whether you're new to Constant-Content or have been using the site to sell articles for some time, Celeste Stewart's 39-page eBook is for you! As one of the top-selling writers at Constant-Content with well over 2,000 articles sold, this writer knows what she's talking about. The eBook is loaded with step-by-step advice, CC-approved screenshots, and tips for sales success.

Celeste recently updated the book to include newer strategies such as using RSS feeds to send a constant stream of Twitter updates about your new CC articles for sale. Currently priced at just $9.95, this book thoroughly introduces you to writing Web content and selling your articles on Constant-Content.com.



Click here for more information and a free excerpt from Celeste's eBook.

Constant-Content Customer Account Video

Christmas Articles for Sale on Constant-Content

As soon as Halloween is over, the store shelves will be filled with holiday cheer and the Christmas shopping season will be underway. Is your Web site ready? How about that ezine? If you need holiday content and don’t have time to write it, no worries because the writers over at Constant-Content.com have already done it. Below is just a sample of the hundreds of holiday articles available for sale in varying price ranges:

In a Frugal Frame of Mind- Great Gift Ideas for Girls, Teens & Tweens

Keeping the Holiday Magic Alive for Your Children During a Recession

How to Create a Holiday Budget

Five Resolutions You Can’t Afford to Neglect

How to Pick the Perfect Christmas Tree

How to Spread Holiday Cheer on a Shoestring Budget

5 Ideas for Decorating Your Home in Time for the Yuletide Season

The Mold That's Stealing Christmas

How to Make the Holidays More Meaningful

Increase the Wow Factor by Adding Flair to Gifts

Three Ways To Get Ready For Christmas

Healthier Holiday Goodies

Using Leftover Holiday Ham

November’s Writer Spotlight: Dances with Words

This month, the writer’s spotlight focuses on Constant-Content writer, Dances with Words. Below, Dances with Words shares her story:

 

Where to start?

I guess I’ll begin with my handle, danceswithwords. This name struck my mind quite randomly in a moment of clarity and true inspiration when I was house sitting and pet sitting for a coworker about six years ago. Away from home and somewhat bored, I decided to give blogging a whirl for the first time, and signed up for a free account on Blogit, aka: the Blogging Network / BN. I quickly fell in love with the real time publishing and instant access to readers and writers, to conversationalists, critics, and people generally looking to be creative and have a good time doing it.

When the name “danceswithwords” suddenly popped into my mind back on that wintry night as I tried to think of a screen name to begin my blogging, I didn’t know how much it would impact my life. I simply thought it was a clever screen name for a new online writing social network I’d stumbled upon. Danceswithwords soon went from my blogging handle to the name of my writing and marketing business that I created shortly after, Dances With Words, LLC, and of course, it became my perfect handle on Constant-Content. I love the name because it instantly gives the right idea about my creativity and my passion for writing, words, and projects involving them. At least I think so.

I started writing way back when I was a young girl, teaming up with my younger brother in creating our own pretend newspapers and then later starting dozens of short stories of juvenile fiction on my own. It took me until college to realize my calling was creative nonfiction. To this day, I still credit my college journalism professor for giving me the push I needed to realize my career dreams, to believe in myself, and to make it happen. As part of our grade – actually, to pass the class – we had to get something published in a newspaper or magazine. She required it – and thank god, because I honestly don’t know how long it would have taken me to figure out it really isn’t that difficult once you believe in yourself and stay motivated despite any rejections you may get.

When I found Constant-Content, I knew I’d landed on a gold mine. I can’t exactly remember how I stumbled upon it – quite possibly someone else’s ad on a writing site or even Craigslist…. But the main thing is that I’m so glad I did find it. I started out with all the hopes and dreams when you realize you’re only so far along but you actually know what you want to do with your life. Constant-Content allowed me to be myself – as creative as I wanted to be, writing about any topics I found interesting, and all the while feeling great about my successes and my potential as a writer.

Constant-Content opened my writing horizons more than I could ever imagine. In gaining such great experience in so many topics, I soon found that I could branch out and be creative on many more levels. CC showed me that my only creative limitations are those I place on myself. After meeting a new Web savvy friend at my work back in 2007, I soon found myself running my own Web site, Life Love Beauty, which is a women’s interest site on beauty, relationships, weddings, and more. This site now takes up a good bit of my free writing time, but I still try to keep myself involved in Constant-Content and a bunch of other writing endeavors as I find them, or as they find me. I’m also beginning to write my first book that I fully intend to publish.

As Word Gypsy mentioned, I did pester her to jump on the CC bandwagon. I am so glad she did, for I really am proud of all her successes. I can’t imagine what CC would be without her. Personally, I have been busy with a fulltime job and my other writing endeavors (not to mention a wonderful husband and an adorable border collie puppy, trying to keep the house clean, and on and on), but I do believe it may be time once again to come up with a new motivational contest for some of the writers on Constant-Content. Just as long as I don’t have to catch up to #1!

View DancesWithWords' Constant-Content articles.

Gearing up for a new writer’s spotlight

It’s nearly that time: time to profile another Constant-Content writer. Check back on November 1st when we’ll spotlight a writer that’s been writing for Constant-Content longer than most.

What is Your Favorite License Type?

Whether you’re a Constant-Content writer or a customer, we all have our individual preferences as far as how we use content. For example, one-time usage articles are terrific, low cost articles for ezines and printed content whereas if you want unique Web content you’re better off with a unique or full rights license. Writers like the fact that they can resell usage articles, love getting a byline with unique licenses, and enjoy the higher sales price of full rights articles. Your thoughts?

74,000 Google Searches for Website Content

According to the Google Keyword Tool, Web surfers entered the phrase “website content” 74,000 times in September. Were you one of them? Where do you get your Web site content? Do you write it yourself? Hire your own writer? Buy articles from sites like Constant-Content? Use free article directories? We’d love to hear your experiences.

Writer Spotlight: The Fabulous Word Gypsy!

If you’ve spent any amount of time exploring the Constant-Content.com Web site, you’ve likely encountered a writer known as Word Gypsy. This month we’re shining our writer’s spotlight on her. Below is a brief autobiography in the words of Word Gypsy herself:

As a young child, I loved reading the Sunday comics with my father. I enjoyed spending the time with him and the comics were rather amusing. Once I began to read on my own, I constantly read every book that I could get my hands on from the classics to science fiction to biographies to fiction. Coming from a family where public transportation and walking were our main methods of getting around, I would walk an hour and a half round trip just to visit the library and bring home my pile of latest finds. Oh the joys of reading for pure pleasure could not compare to anything else.

Soon after, I took it upon myself to begin writing my own short stories while in eighth grade on a Smith Corona typewriter that I received as a birthday gift. I quickly discovered that this was not my forte at the time. In high school, I moved on to poetry, which I wrote every day instead of listening to the teacher’s presentations. In fact, my first published content happened to be two of my poems dealing with self reflection and emotion. Since then, I have written hundreds of poems on dozens of topics. In all honesty, this is my favorite type of writing, but the opportunity to earn money from it isn’t all that great.

Life went on. I married and had 4 children. Time flew by. As my younger children began to enroll in college, I found myself needing a greater supply of money to pay those exorbitant college tuitions. My oldest daughter had already established herself as a writer for print publications and on several websites including Constant Content. After months of cajoling, I finally took her up on her suggestions that I join and take on the challenge of writing for the Web.

Since my daughter was already signed on as an author, we started a small competition to see which of us could get onto the “Top Selling Freelance Writers” list first. This was back in November of 2005. Kate already had several articles sold, so she had a head start. At the time, the #10 place had something like 68 articles sold. It seemed like too big a challenge, but I was motivated. I wanted to leave my current job and increase my earnings. Plus, it was fun as we egged each other on.

Fortunately for me, Kate had also referred me to one of her outside clients who purchased everything I wrote while allowing me to retain full rights to my articles. I simply placed these on CC for usage rights, responded to every single public request, and wrote every free minute I had. It wasn’t always easy, but it was a successful strategy for me.

After a few months, I finally made it to that coveted #10 spot on the list. I haven’t looked back since. I have, however, crept up that list to the #1 spot where I am quite content to stay. Since I still love writing, it doesn’t take much effort at all but it does take a constant flow of articles- something which I am more than happy to provide. Having already sold thousands of articles on Constant Content, I plan to make this site my home away from home for a long time.

I currently have two novels in the works, plans for a series of short novels, and a project or two in the works. Finding Constant Content has given me another direction with my writing, as well as a belief in my ability to write about almost any topic. Research is critical to a well-written piece. There are a few topics that I won’t touch, but not many. My repertoire of articles comprises an eclectic array of topics including personal finance, beauty, travel, fashion, weddings, relationships, mortgages, loans, gardening, home descriptions, computers, do-it-yourself, real estate, home improvement, pet and animal care, family and parenting, diet and health, romance, unique gifts, trivia, and more. In addition to articles, works include home pages, press releases, poetry, photograph captions, and home descriptions for print publication.

View Word Gypsy's Constant-Content Profile.

In Honor of National Punctuation Day

Tomorrow is National Punctuation Day – are you ready? Celebrate by posting a punctuation article on your Web site or blog. If you don’t have time to write one yourself, check out these punctuation articles for sale on Constant-Content.com:

Punctuation: What it Does and Why it Matters

Punctuation Marks: The Stop Sign and the Park Bench

The Importance of Thorough Proofreading

Preview of the Punctuation Celebration by Elsa Knight Bruno

Searching for Content on Constant-Content.com

One of the neat things about searching for content on Constant-Content.com is that if you do not find what you are looking for, you can put in a request. It doesn’t take long before writers start submitting completed articles for your review. These are finished, edited pieces, not proposals or bids – and you are under no obligation to buy!

So, go ahead and start searching for content or browse the categories. If you don’t find what you have in mind, submit a public request and wait for the articles to come pouring in.






Buy at AllPosters.com

Writers - Listen Up!

If you're a writer reading this, why not sign up for an account at Constant-Content? Constant-Content is a marketplace for content. If you can write it, you can sell it! Set your own prices, choose the license type, and sell your writing without having to sell yourself. No bidding for jobs, no marketing. Customers browse the site for existing articles as well as put out requests for new content. If you need help getting started, let me know and I will walk you through it.

September 2009 "Fun with Keywords" Challenge

The writers at Constant-Content love to challenge each other. This month, writers are focusing on creative ways to use keyword phrases. Past challenges have involved getting out of the comfort zone, titles, alternate angles, summaries, conciseness, and writing in-depth.

 

Constant Content • View topic - September 2009 "Fun with Keywords" Challenge - Who's in?

Writer Spotlight: The Writing Team known as "eekane"

This month, we're shining the writer's spotlight on a husband and wife writing duo known on Constant-Content as "eekane." Emma Kane does the writing while Evan Kane does the editing. Below are Emma's thoughts about writing for Constant-Content:



When I was young, I loved to read books because they took me on adventures all over the world. I thought I wanted to write books as a grown-up, but instead I went and had a few adventures myself. I met Evan when he picked me up at the airport of a Mediterranean island. We worked together for several years for a non-profit foundation, during which time I wrote and he edited. When we returned to the U.S., we just kept doing it that way.



Between Evan's knowledge of everything that runs or can be made into something else, and my willingness to try anything, we managed to buy a derelict house in the country and make it livable. Evan promised it would take three months and sure enough we were moved in by that time, but it has taken over a year to make it my idea of livable. Since it's always best to "write what you know," I've used the experience to write many articles about home improvement, from how to get rid of construction waste to how married couples can put up with each other while remodeling.



Perhaps I should write an article some day about writer-editor marriages. The only reason it works for us, I'm sure, is because we started out in those roles before we were married, and I became immune to Evan's pronouncement that something I'd written was "no good" or "pure drivel." I'm very grateful for his editing, even when he slashes entire paragraphs. When he writes an article he has me edit. I think of the two of us, I am the more critical editor. Once he gave me a children's book he had written, and I rewrote the entire thing. He must love me a lot.



Constant Content provided a profitable avenue of opportunity for us almost from the very beginning. I was just beginning to submit our work to various publications when I found CC. It remains to this day the very best site for writers to place work for sale. I write for a few other publications that I found on my own outside of CC, but I still spend the majority of my time writing articles for Constant Content. It is absolutely wonderful to write about nearly anything, name your price, and know that about 7 times out of 10 that article will sell. Eventually. Which is great because Evan and I feel like we have a world of experience in our heads. Maybe we're only experts at a few things (well, he's an expert at quite a bit more than I am, but I have curiosity, which goes a long way for a writer). But you don't have to be an expert to research a topic, talk to a few people in the know, and write about what you've learned.



Most memorable assignments? One of the first private requests we received was for a CC public request. A client asked for writers who would be willing to conduct phone interviews and write up a short summary afterwards. I was new and eager and jumped at every feasible public request at the time. The client chose a few CC authors, including us. What I didn't realize was that he wanted us to tape the interview and send him a copy of it, from which he hoped to use blurbs of the interviewees in a future media advertisement. We managed the technology of that okay, and the interviews were a lot of fun, but I'm pretty sure someone experienced in radio or television would have done better.



We have tackled a few subjects for clients that were outside of our comfort zone. These were slightly New-Agey subjects, and because we've read about and studied various religions,it was easy enough to write about them objectively. It's great writing for Constant Content because if a public request comes in that doesn't appeal, you can ignore it and go write about something that really interests you. Strangely enough, that handful of topics that we wrote about received great comments from readers.



Writing for Constant Content has worked out very nicely for us since we joined in February 2007. It's given me the flexibility to help remodel a house, and now I enjoy the lovely view of the Midwestern countryside from my office window. I've also had the freedom to build up my portfolio of topics I am most interested in or qualified for.



And now I'm going to take advantage of the beauty of freelance writing and leave the computer for the rest of the week, because my mother is here and everything in the garden is simultaneously ready to pick.

View Eekane's CC Writer's Profile

Coming up soon, a new writer spotlight!

Getting ready for September and shining the writer's spotlight on another Constant-Content.com writer - in this case a writing team. I'll let you know when the interview is complete.

I just discovered a fun little Web site, Wordle.net. Simply add an RSS feed or copy and paste your text into the box and it will create a unique word cloud based on the words found. The image you see is a word cloud based on the business articles RSS feed from Constant-Content.

Give it a Wordle a try. Not only is it fun, it gives you a sense of the keywords that appear in your text.

The CC Blog

Did you know that Constant-Content has a blog? It does. The CC blog contains a mix of posts by CC staff members with topics ranging from grammar tips to SEO. Periodic updates let writers and customers alike know what's currently going on.

Constant-Content RSS Feeds

Love a Constant-Content writer? Have a specific niche? Whether you have a favorite writer that you want to follow or a specific category, subscribing to a Constant-Content RSS feed makes sense. As soon as a new article meeting your criteria is available, your feed reader will be notified. Subscribe to RSS feeds based on writer or category and be one of the first to find out a new article is available.

Article Agent also posts a few fresh links to Constant-Content articles on Twitter (Follow us at www.Twitter.com/ArticleAgent) - just a few though. Enough to give you a taste without overwhelming your Twitterstream with tweets.

Constant-Content's Editorial Standards

If you've ever searched for Web content on the Internet, you've likely come across poorly written proposals and articles. Constant-Content also receives its share of poorly written content - but you won't see it thanks to the high editorial standards enforced by the Constant-Content editor.

The writers guidelines are lengthy covering everything from acceptable file formats and fonts to grammar and punctuation expectations. In addition, specific rules are enforced with your needs in mind. For example, hyperlinks are not allowed so you do not need to worry about your purchased article pointing your visitors to another site.

Requesting Content on Constant-Content.com

If you've used Constant-Content.com for any length of time, you've likely seen the options for requesting content. You can make either a public request or a private request and receive custom, no-obligation content written to your specifications. With a public request, the request goes out to all registered Constant-Content writers whereas a private request goes out only to the writer that you pick from the list.

Most customers start off making public requests. This allows you to see the work of multiple writers. You'll see which writers are able to consistently deliver what you are looking for. As you become familiar with the different writers and their styles, you may find one that really grasps what you need and is able to reliably supply you with exceptional content. That's where private requests come in.

The request system is a neat system that eliminates bidding and reviewing samples. Instead of bids, resumes, and proposals, the articles speak for themselves.

Who Buys Content from Constant-Content.com?

There's something for everyone available for sale on Constant-Content! Whether you're a blogger that wants short, fresh content for your blog or a webmaster needing hundreds of articles, tutorials, or reviews, you will find plenty of high quality articles available. Plus, if you have special needs, submit a request for content and the writers will start writing articles for your consideration.

Writer Spotlight - Celeste Stewart

Celeste Stewart has been selling articles via Constant-Content since January 2006. "I was instantly hooked," Celeste said. "I sold my first article within days of submitting it and I haven't looked back since."

Since that fateful winter day, Celeste has sold thousands of articles through the Constant-Content Web site. "It started out as a fun way to earn a little extra money and then morphed into a full blown career. Even though I write day in, day out, writing remains fun."

Though she writes about a variety of topics, Celeste has found her niche writing about technology. Not only does she write articles and Web content, she also writes training manuals, tutorials, press releases, and copy for marketing materials.

When asked about her favorite article, Celeste responded with a laugh, "I can't say it was my best article ever, but one of my favorite articles was about $40,000 handbags. It was inspired by my mom's obsession with expensive purses. I also enjoyed writing Punctuation: What it Does and Why it Matters."

Celeste was quick to point out her most challenging writing assignment to date: a training manual explaining service management and IT Infrastructure Library concepts. "I don't mind tackling difficult topics," she said. "But I do like to lighten things up after completing a particularly hard assignment."

With topics ranging from high fashion to IT infrastructures, you have to wonder if Celeste has a nemesis. "Definitely. A client wanted me to write a series on Six Sigma and I simply could not wrap my brain around that one - even with a husband who's an expert on the subject readily available to help. I declined that project because I would not have been able to do the topic justice. If you can't truly grasp a topic, you have no business writing about it."

While Celeste has built a reputation for writing non-fiction, she also has a passion for a good story. "I have two young adult novels in the works," she said. "Writing a book from start to finish is an incredible accomplishment and a valuable learning experience. I think that I will always be working on a novel, no matter where I happen to find myself professionally in the non-fiction world."

If Celeste Stewart's smile looks remarkably like that of the Article Agent, your hunch is correct: Celeste Stewart is the mastermind behind the Article Agent concept. As one of Constant-Content.com's biggest fans, Celeste began tweeting RSS feeds about the latest articles available for sale - from all Constant-Content writers, not just herself. "There's such a huge pool of talent over at CC. I want the world to know about it!"

View Celeste Stewart's articles for sale.

Excerpts: Why can't I see the whole article?

Each individual writer makes the decision whether to display the article in its entirety or to post excerpts. Constant-Content requires that at least one third of the article is posted so that potential buyers can get a sense of the article's direction and style. Many writers will indicate that what you are seeing is an excerpt or sample while others don't. If you're reading an article and it appears to end with no real conclusion, it's most likely an excerpt.

The word count gives you a clue as to whether or not what you are viewing is the complete article or a sample. Complete samples are fairly obvious in that the display shows you an article with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

Why do some writers opt not to put the full article on display? Good question. Some may be concerned with driveby plagiarism (though Constant-Content does have measures in place to combat the threat). Others are simply following the submission instructions that say to post at least a third of the article. Others believe that potential customers should be able to see the whole article and choose to post the entire piece.

If you're viewing an excerpt and want to see the rest of the article before you buy, consider using the "Contact Author" feature to ask the writer to show you the rest of the article. Most writers will be more than happy to accommodate your request. You can access this feature by scrolling to the bottom of the sample and clicking on the writer's name. That takes you to the writer's profile page where you will find the "Contact this Author" button.

What to Buy: Usage, Unique, or Full Rights?

Constant-Content offers three types of licenses: usage, unique, and full rights. Which one is right for you? Each license grants you different rights to the content and how you use it, so make sure that you understand the implications.

Constant-Content Usage License
A usage license grants you one-time rights to the article. This means that you can use it once. It also means that someone else can come along and buy a one-time right to use that same content. And someone else. And someone else. In addition, with a usage license, you can NOT change the content in any way. If you plan on posting the article on a Web site and are concerned about duplicate content, a usage license is not the best choice for you.

On the other hand, if you want to use the article in a newsletter, buying a usage article from Constant-Content.com can be a real bargain! In this case, you're not concerned with duplicate content issues and most writers price usage articles at the lower end of the scale.

Constant-Content Unique License
A unique license is a good choice for those with concerns about duplicate content that also do not need to customize the article in any way. A unique license transfers the article to you and you only. No other person can come along and buy the article once you buy it. You can also post the article in more than one location, using it over and over. For example, you can use it in newsletters as well as on your website, blog, or print publications.

However, you cannot change the article in any way. If the writer placed a byline on the article, you must give the writer credit. If the article discusses a topic you'd rather not have on your site, you cannot delete that paragraph. If you want special keywords included in the article, you cannot go in and change the words to better suit your needs.

Constant-Content Full Rights License
For those of you who want full control over the content that you buy from Constant-Content.com, full rights is the way to go. You can do anything that you want with the content with these rights. If you want to drop the author's name and put your own name in instead, go for it! If you want to add keywords, delete paragraphs, or even create an audio version of the text for podcasting, you can. If you want to use the article on your website, in your ezines, and in print materials, you have full rights to do so.

So, how do you want your content served up?

Article Agent's Blog is up!

Let the blogging begin. By blending Twitter with blogging, I hope to share insights about writing in greater depth. Working with just 140 characters is fun and challenging, but sometimes you need just a few more of those characters.

Plans for this blog aren't overly ambitious. I'll be sharing information about filling your site with content, primarily the written word. Tips for getting the most out of your dollar, working with writers, what to expect when commissioning a job, and interviews with top writers are all planned.

Your input is always welcome. Feel free to ask questions and let me know what you're interested in.

Article Agent Starts Blogging

Some of you may be familiar with Article Agent after stumbling across various "Articles for Sale" posts on Twitter. Article Agent looks for content that is currently available for sale so that don't have to search too hard. Keep your site current by investing in fresh content from some of the Web's finest writers.

We recommend the services of Constant-Content.com where you'll find reasonably priced articles galore! Best of all, if you don't find what you need, you can request an article and the site's writers will write it for you. This is a no obligation service that works well for writers and webmasters alike.

Each month, we will feature a different writer, category, or feature of Constant-Content. In addition, we will explore other sources of quality content. Let the hunt for well-written Web content begin!