About.com?

Oh, and about the sweepstakes, the focus will be on U.S. sweeps, but there will be some international ones as well. Plus, the tips (except for the tax tips) should be pretty much the same everywhere

ahhh well in that case I could be a regular watcher, especially if there is anything relating to TV or celebs, as I have a reality TV website.

I'm late to the party, but great page Wolflady! I'm not much of a sweepstakes person, but you might make me change my mind.

Funny thing, the manga site was supposed to go live ages ago, and it has yet to.

BlueBadger said:

It took me 8 weeks to get a (positive) response to my initial About.com application, then I waited about a month after Prep to get my rejection. Most people seem to hear back at a much faster clip.

The thing with About.com is, I spent about 100 hours on Prep, and the person who beat me out reportedly put together even more content. It's kind of heartbreaking to spend all that time on a project only to get turned down, but I guess that's part of the gamble. About makes it clear you don't get compensated for Prep time unless you're selected, so it's on my shoulders.

(If I can be petty for one more minute, I won't argue About.com hires very qualified writers, but given how sparse their anime section is, I'm wondering if quantity takes precedent over quality during Prep. Though, the manga section isn't live yet, so I can't fairly apply the same theory.)

Click to expand...

Yes, Blue, I spent a LOT of time on Prep as well, followed the qualifications they requested, and they said they were going to continue their search for a Paintball Guide because they would have liked to have seen 'more content.' I felt like I covered all the basics and definitely met all the minimum requirements during Prep. I also spent a lot of time learning the software interface, and did not get as much guidance as I had expected I would, or as they made it seem like I would.

Not to sour other people on About.com... I'm sure that there are people out there well-suited for it...but it was a huge investment of time but still, I felt like if I could have devoted even more hours to it during prep (or had an extra week or two) I reall could have done what they wanted.

The funny thing is, I know the writers with expertise in paintball, and it may sound conceited, but I dont' think they are going to find anyone better who is willing to put the time in to such a site. I'm betting the slot will stay empty for quite a while. But that's fine...other fish to fry and all. LOL

Dawn

I got my acceptance today into the prep program for About.com's SciTv site. It probably took about...2-3 weeks to get a response.

My prep starts end of next week and goes through mid-June. I'll post back with my experiences.

Dan O'Halloran
www.danomatic.com - A Resource for SciFi, Fantasy and Horror Writers

Congrats, Dan!

Squuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I just got my Congrats on Graduating the Prep Program email for the pagan/wiccan site! You're looking at a new About.com Guide!!

For those of you about to go into Prep, I'll just tell you that I put about sixty hours into Prep during my two weeks, and I created a BUTTLOAD of content. I also had to teach myself HTML basics in three days.

And it was totally worth it.

I'll let you know when I have my launch date!!!

Congrats Patti!!

Congrats on graduating prep, Patti. You will receive a lot of great guidance from the new guide email list for your first three months after prep.

Good luck to everyone else in prep (and others applying).

--Kori

Kori Ellis
About.com San Antonio
BellaOnline.com Football
SpursZONE.com

Yay Patti! And congrats to Dan! Wolflady, I checked out your contest site, and it's very cool--congrats on a great site!

Wow, I pop my head up, and there's so much going on!

Congratulations on Dan on getting accepted to Prep, and an ENORMOUS congrats to Patti for graduating Prep! I'm looking forward to seeing you in the lounge and the newbie listserv!

Thanks also for the nice comments about my site! They really make my day.

I worked like crazy during Prep, and after being accepted and before my site went live, and I STILL am having to keep up nearly the same pace now that it's live. Or more, since there's more stuff to learn, and people can actually read what I'm writing! I am really enjoying it, but good feedback like what I've gotten here is what really makes it worthwhile!

Congratulations, Dan, see you on the newbie list, Patti.

- Deb

Thanks all and congrats Patti!

Btw, Deb, I read your About.com blogging site religiously. Good stuff!

For the recently accepted guides: in the prep e-mail I received, it said they are going to wipe out all the previous content on the site. Is this accurate? There is a large amount of useful information on the site I'm Prepping for and I'd hate to see it gone.

Thanks.

-DanO'

DanOHalloran said:

For the recently accepted guides: in the prep e-mail I received, it said they are going to wipe out all the previous content on the site. Is this accurate? There is a large amount of useful information on the site I'm Prepping for and I'd hate to see it gone.

Thanks.

-DanO'

Click to expand...

Yes, save anything you want as reference. The previous Guides content will disappear.

My understanding is that once you go live, everything from the previous guide will cease to be available.

I did go back through and look at the existing site for my topic, and it seemed like it included a lot of oustide links, but not much original content. There are one or two structuring ideas that the previous guide had that I thought were good, so I jotted those down for later on.

Not only is it completely removed, but the previous guide retains copyright to it. The good thing is that the same applies to you as well - you license About to use your content, you don't lose control over it altogether.

If you are curious about how former iterations of your site looked, you can use the Wayback Machine: http://www.archive.org/

However, you are encouraged to look forward and create the content you want to have, rather than looking back and redoing the content other guides created.

DanOHalloran said:

Thanks all and congrats Patti!

Btw, Deb, I read your About.com blogging site religiously. Good stuff!

Click to expand...

Thank you so much! Let's hope the fine folks at About like it too, three month review is coming up soon.

DTNg said:

Thank you so much! Let's hope the fine folks at About like it too, three month review is coming up soon.

Click to expand...

Deb-

I'm sure your review with go well. I read it every day (and so do a lot of people I know).

I think you do a terrific job.

--Kori

kewrite said:

Deb-

I'm sure your review with go well. I read it every day (and so do a lot of people I know).

I think you do a terrific job.

--Kori

Click to expand...

Thanks Kori, and thanks for all of your advice on the newbie list.

Glutton for punishment

Ok, I applied for contraception. I know a lot about it, sent off my writing sample, and got rejected. I did not cry in my tea too much. I applied for STDs. I know a lot about it, sent off my writing sample and got rejected. I boo-hoo'd a bit more.

But today, the clouds parted and the sun shone and the angels began to sing!

BREASTFEEDING!!!

This is a topic I am truly passionate about. I know more about it than anyone else I personally know (docs, midwives, nurses). I have personally spent more than nine years of my life breastfeeding. Heck, this weekend I gave one of my fellow midwives breastfeeding advice. If I am the one midwives come to, then I know my stuff.

I want a shot at this. I really really do.

I am lacking a platform. I know that is a huge problem. But I have the knowledge and the passion.

So I wanted to know more about how much detail you all went into when you sent in your applications. When I did the STD application, I wrote six paragraphs about trich. I kept it informative and conversational and included information about trich in pregancy and on adult toys too.

I guess I am just wondering if it is possible for me to send an excellent writing sample and be picked up for the training without a platform.

If anyone still has their writing sample that they sent and wouldn't mind me seeing how in-depth it was, I would love to read it. Maybe if I see what has worked, I can give them what they want.

Or would any of you who have made it to the next round be willing to look at my sample and let me know if you think I am on the right track?

Is there a single guide who's only platform is that they know what they are talking about?

I need to stifle a bit of my exuberance since I probably won't make it too far on this topic either, but any help at all would be so appreciated.

Thanks....

Cool midwife, I was going to apply for breastfeeding too. I saw the topic up about a week ago. But now I've been thinking that I'm going to pass. I was thinking about the same platform issues you mentioned. I've written for nationals about breastfeeding and pregnancy, plus trained and worked as a doula, plus went to school for RN. But after looking over some of the related topics it looks like a lot of people train specifically in the field they write about (when it comes to health topics). I think some individual who is a former or current lactation consultant may come in a sweep away with that category.

I can't decide if I should apply or not. Plus I've got a lot of projects I'm working on? Ahhhh, Maybe I'll wait and see if anyone answers your questions.

Thanks for bringing it up.

Take care
~ Jennifer

Hey Jen,
That may be true, but it sounds like you have a good background and more published that might be an advantage. Good luck if you decide to go for it! Women need all the good breastfeeding info they can get!

Midwife, did you come to a decision? I've been wondering all day (really).

I'm way too entrenched -- when I'm not writing I'm considering other people's writing issues.

Take care
~ Jennifer

Hi Jen,
I am going to apply. I just need to make this try different from the others, since the others bombed out.

So I am pondering exactly how I am going to do that.

I recently received a rather desperate email from a friend about breastfeeding issues, so I am sort of inspired to make her problem the basis for my sample. But I am not sure.

I would love some feedback from folks who made it to prep (HINT HINT!!!)

So, paging Deb, Patti, Kori, or anyone who might be so kind and generous as to help out a desperate wanna-be????? Anyone care to read what I am thinking about sending? Might you, Jen? You are a much more experienced writer than I am.

Thanks for thinking about my dilemma!