Can you REALLY depend on DS?

jasperd · Sep 9, 2010

I've written a couple How-To's for DS and got paid in a timely manner but I'm thinking about leaving my job and working part-time along with doing these articles. I work up to 70 hours a week and I'm a single mom. My kids aren't doing well in school and I hardly get to see them.

I have a job offer for part time work with good health insurance but I would need to subsidize my income. I've always wanted to write and I'm thinking about starting with DS but I don't want to get myself in trouble if all the sudden they dry up.

I'm also going to look into magazines but for now, would I be able to rely on DS (as long as I put in the work, of course)?

Deleted member 42 · Sep 9, 2010

I would spend at least two months working for DS and other employers before considering this.

Get established *first*

triceretops · Sep 9, 2010

I'm supporting an entire household on the DS income I'm getting. You do have to work at it and it's formula-type writing with tons of keystrokes, but they have never missed sending me some whopping checks. I'm at the point now where I hope this dream doesn't explode on me. I can't believe how fortunate I've been, and I've only been with them for two months.

Tri

Cleopatra Jones · Sep 10, 2010

I think DS can be depended upon for the foreseable future but it's never a good idea to only have one client in a freelancing business. Look at all the well-established magazines that folded last year....Good luck!

jana13k · Sep 10, 2010

Medievalist said:
I would spend at least two months working for DS and other employers before considering this.

Get established *first*

I second this advice. Writing a few articles part time is no indicator of whether or not you can turn out enough articles to pay your bills every day. I personally, could not do it full-time because it bores me silly. I am a technical writer at my day job, published romance author and write for DS part-time. I think diversification is the key to success. DS is legit, pays on time and pays better than any other content site, but nothing is forever. I would be leary of quitting a job in this economy if you don't think you can find another easily. I would also be leary of quitting a job to write for DS if that's your only writing credentials. If DS closes shop, you won't be qualified based on writing for them to do writing outside of the content market.

It's a constant catch-22, I know. If I didn't work a day-job, I could write more novels, but I make a good salary and have excellent benefits. My novel writing income can't replace it yet, but if I don't quit, it may never.

It's the economy that's keeping me still right now.

lastlittlebird · Sep 13, 2010

I would suggest applying for a couple of other sites, such as Brighthub or Suite101. Sites with relatively good reputations for quality articles and helpful editors.

Suite101 has a better reputation than Brighthub I believe, but only pays residuals, while Brighthub pays upfront AND residuals. I know from Suite101's forums that being a Suite writer has opened doors for many people.

Not only will this diversify your income to help protect against sites going belly up, but it will also help you learn to be a better internet writer, and help you build up your writing resume.
Good luck

ColoradoMom · Sep 23, 2010

triceretops said:
I'm supporting an entire household on the DS income I'm getting. You do have to work at it and it's formula-type writing with tons of keystrokes, but they have never missed sending me some whopping checks. I'm at the point now where I hope this dream doesn't explode on me. I can't believe how fortunate I've been, and I've only been with them for two months.

Tri

How do you find enough articles to keep you busy? Maybe it is just me but so many of the title make no sense. Do you stick to certain categories or do you write in all categories?

It is a good job and you can make a ton of money - but I too write full time for my own business - also non-fiction - so writing more for someone else is hard to get into. But it is good to know that if I need the extra cash I could count on them.

writernow · Sep 23, 2010

As long as you can stand the boredom of churning out tons of bland articles, and write fairly quickly, you can make decent money on DS. It is an OK way to get paid as you build up a portfolio of writing samples to show other clients. I would suggest you allow about 30-60 minutes a day to look at and respond to some of the various online listings of other freelance gigs. Also at least some time each week to do your own writing, whatever your passion may be, and then send off query letters to publishers to get that published.

triceretops · Sep 23, 2010

ColoradoMom said:
How do you find enough articles to keep you busy? Maybe it is just me but so many of the title make no sense. Do you stick to certain categories or do you write in all categories?

It is a good job and you can make a ton of money - but I too write full time for my own business - also non-fiction - so writing more for someone else is hard to get into. But it is good to know that if I need the extra cash I could count on them.

I basically stick to list and how-to articles. I'm very good at interpreting the those stupid titles, disciphering them for the true intent of the question.

Just did one called "What weight anchor chain should I use?"

Stupid. Chain comes in link diameter, not measured in weight. But the larger the link the more it weighs. But strength, length and link size are what determins what kind of chain you need. I always explain to the copy editors exactly what I've done to improve the article--haven't been rejected yet with over 180 articles in the can.

The titles are very stupid when they specify shit like like "How do I repair a carburetor on a 1988.5 Camaro SS, that has a rag top, billet wheels, and a whore in the passengers seat."

I'm spoofing here, but you get my drift. Nobody on this planet could goodle such a topic and use it as a legitimate reference, because you would have to include each of the descriptors in the article body. Can't be done. Pisses me off sometimes, so I go for the real easy, general stuff.

Chris

Angie · Sep 24, 2010

I've almost completely stopped writing for DS. Not because they're bad; just because I've found more lucrative freelance work elsewhere, and just use DS to fill in the holes now. I agree with prior advice to write for them a couple months before you quit your day job - especially, as Jana said, with the economy the way it is. It would be miserable to quit, realize you *can't* churn out enough articles in a day without going insane, and then not be able to find another job that will give you the same income and benefits as you had before.

I also strongly suggest diversifying. Especially to those who are making their sole income from DS right now; especially especially if you're not looking for other freelance work while doing so. Right now, DS is a decent gig for a content company, but a lot of factors could change that. Next week they could announce they're closing operations. I don't think that would happen, but there's no guarantee. So it's better to have income coming from several sources -- then, when one dries up or goes belly-up you've still got money coming in.

I did work solely for DS for a couple of months, too, but I was scrambling the whole time to find other gigs.

Motley · Sep 24, 2010

I also know people who use DS as the bulk of their income, but do write for other content sites as well. I used to write for about 10 different sites, but am currently living off residuals while I focus on fiction.

It's definitely a good place to add to your repertoire, but I wouldn't recommend counting on one site for everything.

novelette · Sep 24, 2010

triceretops said:
The titles are very stupid when they specify shit like like "How do I repair a carburetor on a 1988.5 Camaro SS, that has a rag top, billet wheels, and a whore in the passengers seat."

BEST laugh I've had today.

I wrote off DS a while back and was happy to do so. Every now and then, when I'm feeling masochistic, I log in and look at the titles. I agree, they're inane. But just because DS isn't for me doesn't mean it's not for others; I know some people happen to love it.

Uncarved · Sep 24, 2010

I do DS for the funds, not for fun.
Suite 101 gets my fun stuff (and any rejections or abandoned rewrites from DS)
I've just started up a blog that incorporates my book and is helping me get my foot BACK in the door at a newspaper. Newspaper columns are my true luvs

ColoradoMom · Sep 25, 2010

triceretops said:
The titles are very stupid when they specify shit like like "How do I repair a carburetor on a 1988.5 Camaro SS, that has a rag top, billet wheels, and a whore in the passengers seat."

LOL...it might be a joke but I could totally see that as a title! Thanks - I feel better about my whining.

Bookworm0o0 · Sep 27, 2010

Newbie here. What does DS stand for? Any other suggestions, apart from Brighthub and Suite101? Injured so I can no longer work as a psychologist, I'm trying to get some sort of writing gig.

Thanks, folks!

triceretops · Sep 27, 2010

DS stands for Demand Studios. You can google that and see what their program is all about.

Tri

scottVee · Sep 28, 2010

Hi tri. Nice to bump into you again. When I look at DS, or almost all freelance writing gigs, it's seems like it's always always stuff I absolutely don't care about. I just can't see writing that way. I have nothing to say about horses or cars or fashion or business or music websites. Even the things I have significant expertise in, like web development or astronomy, it feels like everything has been done to death. Who needs another article on this stuff, really? I try to be objective, and say it's not the worst way to do what I hate for a living, but I just don't know how people do it. Having a real struggle with insane levels of boredom these days.

Bookworm0o0 · Sep 28, 2010

triceretops said:
DS stands for Demand Studios. You can google that and see what their program is all about.

Tri

Thanks!

And thanks to everyone on this thread. When you're injured and find yourself no longer pulling in big bucks but living on the edge, DS and the others mentioned are answers to prayers.

MJRevell · Sep 28, 2010

How do you find a decent article to write about on DS?

I've just had a look through, and it seems clogged with random rubbish that doesn't make sense. I ticked the Animals box, and it was filled with odd car-related topics. The Sport category brings up very little "sport".

I thought I'd give it a go, but when I start trudging through the available topics it just infuriates me...

triceretops · Sep 28, 2010

scottVee said:
Hi tri. Nice to bump into you again. When I look at DS, or almost all freelance writing gigs, it's seems like it's always always stuff I absolutely don't care about. I just can't see writing that way. I have nothing to say about horses or cars or fashion or business or music websites. Even the things I have significant expertise in, like web development or astronomy, it feels like everything has been done to death. Who needs another article on this stuff, really? I try to be objective, and say it's not the worst way to do what I hate for a living, but I just don't know how people do it. Having a real struggle with insane levels of boredom these days.

Hi, Scott. Yeah, it's insanely boring but I'm pulling four bills a week clean and it takes me five hours a day to do it. So....I endure.

P.s--I've been trying to get a hold of you to send you an ARC copy of my SF book, for a potential blurb. Left a message at your website. Let me know if you're interested, okay?

Tri

jana13k · Sep 29, 2010

triceretops said:
Hi, Scott. Yeah, it's insanely boring but I'm pulling four bills a week clean and it takes me five hours a day to do it. So....I endure.

Tri

This! I think you must view writing for DS like a regular job. It's the thing that provides money, not satisfaction with your work. Get past that, and you can churn out articles for quite a decent paycheck, then use the rest of your time to work on more important things.

triceretops · Sep 29, 2010

jana13k said:
This! I think you must view writing for DS like a regular job. It's the thing that provides money, not satisfaction with your work. Get past that, and you can churn out articles for quite a decent paycheck, then use the rest of your time to work on more important things.

QFT. This IS a job, just like any other. It requires grudge work and persistence. I'm not allowed to play, watch TV, go anywhere until my work is finished. Every day...without fail. That's what brings in such whopping pay check twice a week.

Tri

Bookworm0o0 · Sep 30, 2010

Triceretops: By "four bills," do you mean $400.00/week?

jana13k · Sep 30, 2010

Bookworm - I am not sure if he meant $400/week or meant to say $4k/month. Either are completely and totally doable, depending on how much time you have to put in. I average $1k a month in addition to a full-time job and writing at least two novels a year on deadline.

triceretops · Sep 30, 2010

Bookworm0o0 said:
Triceretops: By "four bills," do you mean $400.00/week?

Yeah, $400 a week, sometimes less.

Tri

Can you REALLY depend on DS?

jasperd

Deleted member 42

triceretops

Cleopatra Jones

jana13k

Yep. I can.

lastlittlebird

avem narrans

ColoradoMom

writernow

triceretops

Angie

Shaddup and lemme think.

Motley

New kid, be gentle!

novelette

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave

ColoradoMom

Bookworm0o0

triceretops

scottVee

Bookworm0o0

MJRevell

www.mikerevell.com

triceretops

jana13k

Yep. I can.

triceretops

Bookworm0o0

jana13k

Yep. I can.

triceretops