This is a difficult question for me to answer because I applied to Demand Studios a year or two ago. Back then all I had to provide was a resume, a writing sample or two and advise them of my areas of expertise. Nowadays, it seems that their application process is a little more stringent. I’ve been hearing from time to time about writers who were not accepted as DS writers.

What is Demand Studios Looking For?

One of the best ways to ensure acceptance is to look at their ads. I found various websites that advertise for freelance writers. The classifieds are populated by ads from Demand Studios, Suite 101, Examiner and the like. Often times the ads are specific about the type of writers they’re looking for. For example, just recently I saw Demand Studios advertising for health writers in an online paper geared towards New Jersey residents. I guess a California resident could also apply, but I thought it was interesting that it targeted New Jersey health writers.

Writing Samples

Demand Studios is not secretive about the sites for which the content is written. Take a look at their sites to see what type of content they’re looking for. If necessary, adapt that type of writing style in one of your samples. Make sure your samples are well focused and written in the second (and sometimes third) person. First person samples should be avoided.[smartads]

Tease Them with Your Expertise

Demand Studios isn’t always look for the most highly experienced writers. I’ve seen time and time again that well-qualified college-educated longtime journalists and writers have been rejected by Demand Studios. It’s not because they’re not qualified writers, but online writing is much different than writing for print publications.

It’s my opinion (and just my opinion), Demand Studios wants to see user friendly, informative articles. I don’t think they’ll get too impressed if your samples are littered with $100 dollar words and complicated sentence structures. Just take a look at a few Demand Studios generated eHow articles; simple, to the point and informative.

What about Lack of Experience

According to their website they’re looking for writers who have at least one of the following:

• College degree in journalism or related field

• Writing or journalism experience

• Overall expertise in a certain area (this is the one that will get you in if you don’t have either of the above two).

If you don’t have extensive writing experience but can demonstrate that you are an expert in your field (whether its travel, auto, insurance, finance, etc), you stand a good chance of getting accepted.

As a matter of fact, here’s wording straight from the Demand Studios site:

“Don’t have a writing sample? Compose a quick How-To on something you know. Think about guiding a stranger through a project or explaining a problem and the solution.”

What if They Don’t Accept You?

I’ve heard that some people have re applied using a different e-mail address. I don’t know how accurate that is and it’s only hearsay on my part. I think the best way to get except it is to specialize in an area that they need and provide a good sample.

I welcome input from folks who were recently accepted to write for Demand Studios. Maybe sharing your application process can help other writers get accepted.

In the Beginning

These shows gained popularity over time.  I don’t know about you, but the first few seasons of most of these shows, I can honestly say they were not on my radar.  As the seasons progressed and the hype began to build, eventually I watched a show or two.

As the shows gained in popularity, there were more and more folks clamoring to tryout for the various reality shows.  Unfortunately, some individuals were exploited just for the entertainment value.  However, those with talent or raw ability were selected to go to the next level.

Ask yourself: When did I start writing for ______ ?  Did I wait until I ‘heard’ folks were making lots of money and then decide to join or, did I find a site that had promise and decided to get in on the ground floor?  Better yet, do I have what it takes to create my own site(s)?

Quality

As time goes on, the contestants are challenged.  They have to perform different genres on different stages under trying situations.  What we see in the hour long show are the results of their hard work during the week, learning the ropes.  At the end of the week, some continue on to the next week and some go.

In my opinion, it’s not always the best that stays, but the most tenacious and the ones that give the best performances.  The ones who show that over time, they have what it takes (after all, they have to put up with some rather harsh criticism sometimes).  Sometimes it’s the one who has shown the most improvement week after week.

Ask yourself:  Is my writing the same now as when I started?  What have I done to make improvements?  Am I learning the ropes?  Do I understand keywords and SEO? Can I convert 1st person to 3rd person writing and still hold the reader’s interest?  Do I take critique personally?
[smartads]
Quantity

During the show’s season, each contestant has to perform several times.  From the time they are accepted they must perform, practice and perform again.  There is no way they can go from the first audition to being a finalist based on one performance.

They practice and perform and practice and perform over and over again so that each week when we tune in, we see the best they have to offer.

Ask yourself: Am I looking to make a ton of money off of two articles or 200 page views?  How many articles have I written?  How many page views do I get?  Do I have enough articles published to earn the amount of money I want to make and develop the type of following I’d like to have?

(An Aside:  I chuckle when I hear things like “I’ve had 600 page views and only earned .05.  Does the term CPM sound familiar? CPM means cost per thousand.  Most online advertisers pay a rate per thousand page views. So, 600 views may seem like a lot, but in the advertiser’s eyes it’s just a drop in the bucket).

The True Test:  Time

How many times have you watched as seemingly mediocre contestants improve over time?  Week after week the contestant shows a new ability or wows the audience with a new sense of confidence.

The very same contestant that caused you to wonder if the show was fixed when the judges said, “Congratulations, you have made it to the next round,” turns out to be a true artist.  As the contestant displays her abilities and continues to perform week after week, the fan base grows exponentially.

Ask yourself: What is your fan base?  If your fan base is money, is it growing?  If your fan base is traffic, is it growing?  If not, why?  My guess is that you need to review your Quality, Quantity and Time.

Imagine my surprise this weekend when I had to sit down and have a chat with everyone in the family. The bottom line to my fireside chat was that I wanted/needed to be able to work more.

Checked Myself

I had to take a quick look in the mirror to see if it was really me telling my family to allow me to work more. For all the years I commuted to work and worked the 9-5 routine, I always tried to figure out how I could work fewer hours. You know, an additional vacation day here, a doctor’s appointment there. Now, here I am asking my family to pitch in so I can work more.

The Joy and the Necessity

Working from home is a joy and necessity. My request to be allowed to work is a win-win situation. I get to do what I love to do and I get to earn money from it (actually, don’t tell my family, but it’s my way of getting a bit of peace of mind).

My Guilt Created Monsters

Actually, I created my own situation. My working from home changed the family dynamics. Years of self-inflicted guilt for working out of the house caused me to be “Super Woman” when I started working from home. You know, the need to have the house clean, the meals prepared, dishes washed, clothes washed and folded, etc., etc. I soon realized that I wasn’t Super Woman material. As the writing demands increased, it seemed that the family demands also increased.

The kids and hubby enjoyed having me home and my household responsibilities kept growing. I began to overhear conversations like “Oh, yeah, my Mom will be home, she’ll drive us,” or, “Felicia’s home, why not let her handle it,” or, “She works from home, so she can take care of it.”

Time to Put Everybody in Check

Everyone in my household is old enough and mature enough to be able to pitch in with the household chores. My children are pre-teen and teen aged and my hubby, well; he’s old enough to have kids that are pre-teen and teen aged. Therefore, everyone in the household can and must help out to allow Super Woman to continue to do a super job at being a wife, mother and freelance writer.

Guilt Free Request

My request to my family is a guilt free request. There’s no anger or resentment. The fact of the matter is I’m a wife, mom and freelance writer. If the folks in my family know what’s good for them, they’ll allow me to be all three.

(I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had to give their family a similar fireside chat).

I had full reign of my own time. Not only did I write, I was able to plan my writing assignments and create a schedule. I was extremely productive. Well, I became extremely productive after I gave the house what it wanted.

You see, the minute everyone left the house, I adorned myself with my writing muse clothes and let my muse have its way. Unfortunately, my muse kept getting interrupted by the loud house. The more I tried to write, the louder the house became.

I’m sure you’ve had this experience. The laundry basket starts to clear its throat every time you walk past it. The breakfast dishes in the sink began to hum. The bathroom started to whistle the tune “Clean Me.” I never even heard the tune before, but I knew what it was trying to say. The dog hairs in the hallway began to move together to form tumbleweeds and started rolling around the house. I don’t know how the hairs managed to do it, but they picked up a harmonica and started playing tunes from old western movies!

ARGH! Enough was enough. I told the house to shut up, but it just got worse. As the noise of the house was about to reach a feverish pitch, I decided to give in and clean the house from top to bottom.

I found that once I got it got rid of all the household distractions writing was a cinch. I’ve got to say that I honestly don’t ever remember running into such a situation when I worked outside of the house.

I guess working from home has its drawbacks too.

Employer: Hello

Felicia: Hello, Ms. Employer. I’m calling to let you know I won’t be in to work today. Please put me down for a personal day.

Employer: Not coming in? Why not?

Felicia: Last night I stayed up helping my daughter pack for camp and I’ve got to drive several hours today to drop her off.

Employer: You already used up your personal days with your family, I’m sorry but if you take off today, you’ll have to come in on Christmas Eve and put in a full day

Felicia: (long pause)

Employer: Hello, Felicia are you there?

Felicia: Umm.….

BUZZZZZZZZZZ!!!! (The sound of an alarm clock)

Whew! It was all a dream.

Every once in a while when working at home gets a bit tough, I wonder if I made the right decision. After all, I left the security of having a steady paycheck, to the not so secure position of going out on my own and earning money with my writing ability.

No matter the difficulties I face with my daily work at home challenges, I’m 100% sure that I made the right decision. There’s no going back so I have to make this work!

The above wasn’t all a dream. I’m off to take my daughter to camp. One of the fringe benefits of working from home!