After the Honeymoon at AC

There's something quite exhilarating about becoming a Content Producer for Associated Content. This is particularly the case if you are fairly new to Internet writing and are just realizing the potential that you now have to reach hundreds or even thousands of people with your work. Creating your profile, submitting those first pieces and reading those first few positive comments on your articles all contribute to the euphoria of being a Content Producer. It's the beginning of the Honeymoon Stage, and for many CPs, this stage is one of pure bliss.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Honeymoon Stage at AC is seeing your Clout Level advance a notch or two. You realize that you are gaining exposure, and that all of your efforts are not in vain. You may visualize yourself reaching level 8 or even 10, and begin to work feverishly toward this achievement.

Then after a while, things change. Could it be frustration over not getting enough page views? Or perhaps you've received a few less-than-flattering comments on your articles, or less-than-impressive ratings? Other issues that emerge may be writer's block, challenges to earning good money on this site with the type of writing that you enjoy, or even the turn around time for having your articles reviewed and published or having your page views updated.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Honeymoon Stage at AC is likely to end at some point or another and be replaced with alternating peaks and ebbs and intermittent stages of stagnation. Welcome to the world of writing! For some, this may take place within the first few weeks. For others, it may take place much later on. So what do you do? Just quit writing, or move on to the next medium for showcasing your work? If you're stomped for answers, here are a few basic suggestions:

1. Deal with your frustration creatively. After all, you are a writer, right? So as you experience the highs and lows of life, write about them! Bashing your alleged "haters" who decrease your ratings, the Content Managers, or fellow writers may gain you a few associates to commiserate with and even a few additional page views, but it may not lend much to your writing portfolio. Write an article addressing the subject of change, or a poem or short story. You do not have to write about yourself per se, but you can capture the emotions that you are feeling in a well-written piece of work.

2. Manage feelings of self doubt in healthy, constructive ways. Some days I feel like a true writer. Other days, the shoes just seem too big for me to fill! Assuming that these feelings are quite normal, I continue writing. The encouragement of my loved ones certainly helps, but I also have to come to terms with the fact that writing is a necessary form of self expression for me. I have been writing ever since I was a child, and it's a part of who I am. So I can't deny a major part of myself - even when things are not going as I would like.

If you share my sentiments, then you must accept that occasional self-doubt is just part of the process. You are a writer. So keep writing!

3. Reach out to CPs whose work you haven't read or commented on before. Avoid becoming part of an AC clique. It's great to establish a network of AC friends and associates, but if you are consistently just reading the same people's work and never expanding your circle, you are severely limiting yourself. There are too many writers on this site to only communicate with the same folks all of the time. You may have your favorites, which is great, but you may also develop additional favorites as you open your eyes to the array of talent that exists on AC.

4. Utilize AC for expanding your horizons. Associated Content is more than just a place to showcase your talent and make a few bucks. There are some fantastic resources available here to help you publish that first book, find more work as a writer, or win a few contests for your talent. Sometimes the information will be right in front of you. For instance, there may be ads by other writing sites that appear on the same page as one of your articles or the article of another CP. Also, the forums are a wonderful way of learning what other CPs are doing out there to advance their writing careers.

If you only visit this site to submit your work, keep up with how it's doing and read an occasional article by one of your favorite CPs, you may miss out on the wealth of information that is right here and can potentially help you get to the next level.

5. Keep the faith. Yeah, that sounds pretty cliché, I know, but every successful writer has to have a substantial amount of faith in order to thrive. There will be lulls and periods of frustration. There will be times when you pour your heart and soul into a piece of work that you truly feel good about and either very few people read it or it just doesn't go over as well as you had hoped. Or even worse, you submit it for pay and it gets declined! Now you must decide whether to submit it for performance bonus money only, or to rewrite it.

You may even read about the money that some CPs have grossed while writing for this site, compare it to what you have earned, and feel like drowning your sorrows with a bottle of whiskey. Okay, have a drink if you must, although I wouldn't recommend the entire bottle. But most of all try to keep the faith! When it's shaky, turn to your AC friends for support or to your loved ones for a quick pick-me-up. And remember, this too shall pass!