Dec 22 2008
Take Your Suite Time and Earn Money Writing
The title wasn’t too cool, but its holiday time and I’m feeling very festive (get it, Suite…sweet?).
If you’re a serious freelance writer and are looking for another writing gig, check out Suite 101.com. They’ve been around for over 12 years and they have a growing reader base. The reason I mention serious freelance writers, is because Suite takes their articles seriously.
Here’s the story with Suite 101
In order to become a Contributing Writer for Suite 101 you have to apply. Your application includes a resume along with several writing samples. If they approve your application, you must sign and return your contract before you can begin writing.
Each section has an editor, and your first article must be reviewed and approved by an editor before it appears on the site. Your subsequent articles can post to the site prior to editor review, but the editor will still review them. If the editor finds that your article needs a few revisions, you’ll be notified. If your article is a disaster (by disaster I mean you write an article contrary to Suite 101’s terms and conditions), your article will be disabled until it is fixed.
The Up Side to Write for Suite
Suite forces writers to produce quality work. Some online content sites are more concerned about making money than producing quality; Suite is not like that, they want quality first.
Based in Canada, Suite 101 accepts international writers. They pay once a month via PayPal once your accumulated balance exceeds $10. For more info on Suite, visit their site.
I’ve been writing for them for a little over a year and have enjoyed my time with them. I recently took the plunge and became a Suite 101 Feature Writer. I was on the fence for a bit as to whether or not to commit to becoming a Feature Writer. I guess money talks so I decided to do it. Feature Writers get an additional bonus that Contributing Writers don’t get. I’m ashamed to admit, but my decision to become a Feature Writer was based on getting additional cash (shame on me).
When I applied, I submitted a resume and a couple of online samples.
Nice title! I have been neglecting my Suite writing. I better get busy!
I’m with you Julie, I’ve been having a difficult time the past week or so with the holidays drawing so near.
Generally I try to write one or two per week.
Why would you say “shame on me” for taking a featured writer job for extra money? As a working writer, you cannot be in this just for the “art.” Everyone has to make a living. You make it by being paid for your skill - writing. There is no shame in that at all.
Rosemary
Thanks Rosemary,
I’m in it for the money. There are some writing gigs that I take because I thoroughly enjoy writing on a particular topic, others I take strictly for the money.
The Feature Writers spot on Insurance is not a labor of love. I have too many years of insurance knowledge and if I could get paid for it, I might as well.
However, there are times when I’m knee deep in the middle of an insurance article, I remember exactly why I left the insurance industry.
Can you tell me what they are paying?
I’m sort of getting tired of making $3/hour for good writing. It’s like websites just offer less and less. The problem is with survey companies, too. First Socratic Forum offered $10 a survey, now it’s $3. Too many people online writing, I guess. Good for you for insisting on better pay. It helps us all.
According to my contract with Suite, I’m prohibited from sharing my earnings, but I’ll tell you this, I’ve been writing for them for a little over a year and my earnings have increased.
Hmm, how can I say this without violating my contract terms. Last month my residual earnings with Suite averaged more than $5 a day but less than $10 a day. Don’t think I can get more specific than that.
Ever since I got promoted to a Feature Writer I started to write a little more regularly (I’ve been a FW for a month now). Prior to that I wrote enough articles to meet the minimum requirement of 10 articles in a three month period of time. Now I try for one or two per week.
All in all, the earnings aren’t too bad for the amount of writing I do.
Do Suite Writers get any residual income? In other words, do they make anything off of the articles that Suite sells? It’s helpful for us to know if its worth our time.
Bright Hub has been a good place to write articles. But I’m finding that some channels are getting full. For example, I submitted a good article the other day to Associated Content without first previewing what they had on their site about that topic. My offer was so puny I refused it in hopes of doing better with another company. This concerns me about how much writing there can be done on some of these websites any more.
Also, I’m starting to get a bit more concerned about the topic of pay for bloggers and article writers in general. I found a good idea of what the pay is on Blog Herald, and that helped me when applying for other online jobs. I think it’s good for all of us to know about this topic. Good luck to you.
Hi Wearmanyhats,
Suite writers only make residual income. They do not get paid up front for their articles. The author continues to get paid for as long as the article is on the site.
I make a few hundred dollars a month with them at this point. According to their contract, I cannot share my earnings so I have to be vague.
I started to check out Bright Hub, but I think I’ll have to wait until after the holidays to fully investigate it. I signed up, was given a password, etc., but stopped there. UPDATE: After posting this comment, I received an email from Bright Hub stating “Thank you for your application, but we are currently not accepting any new writers for this channel at this time.” Oh well, at least I won’t have to spend time investigating Bright Hub. LOL
As far as pay for blogging sites like Pay Per Post and the like, I personally prefer to earn residual income. I like to work once and keep getting paid in the future.
Regarding how much can be written on websites, I think its all a matter of how much you feel like writing. Some days I’m very prolific and then there are other days when its better for me to do the laundry, go for a run or visit with a friend. It’s all cyclical.
There are tons of opportunities on the internet and I believe there are more opportunities than there are people to fill them all.
Have you tried writing for eHow? I just started with them at the end of September (9/25) and my earnings have grown monthly. Each month I earn more than the prior month. So far, I’m on my way to doubling my last month’s earnings.
Check out my eHow Experiment to see how I’ve been doing.
You should give them a try if you’re not writing for them already.
I, too write for Suite 101 and feel it is a good opportunity–especially for those looking to brush up on their online writig skills.
Increasingly, writers are making the switch to online writing and Suite 101 makes the transition somewhat easier.