Associated Content Myth Buster: Why AC Isn't a Day Job

To me the current Associated Content phenomenon is an interesting development in my writing career. I have referred a couple of friends to the site and we have been very happy with the results. Recently we joined a group that is devoted completely to the AC content producers and in general it is a very supportive group. To start my editorial piece on my group experience I want to give a little of my work experience here.

The current working world is hellish at best. Many of us have learned from experience that in order to survive we must join that old parody of the Jamaicans that have 8 jobs. This is what we have to do to survive. I am a designer of jewelry, a fairly successful Wedding photographer, a professional Belly Dancer/Instructor, and a content writer. All of these things articulate my talents and creative passions. In addition to all that I have a full time day job. With my many "jobs" I have a good deal of difficulty making ends meet.

When I joined AC it was with the intention of honing my writing skills and creating a writing resume and body of writings that I could use to build my writing career further. The bonus was that I managed to make some bucks to pay for a few lattes and perhaps even my Internet bill, which with Comcast is quite hefty. I am spread a little thin and have not been able to write as much as I would like but all in all it has been a great experience.

My friend encouraged me to join an AC group and I have had a really interesting experience reading the posts. I was astounded to find that there were people actually making a living from writing for AC. Wow. I found that unbelievable because I never expected to make a living from this writing. One day perhaps I would earn a living writing but I anticipated having a variety of venues that I would write for in order to bring in any income of size.

I have a friend that has written a monthly astrology article for 18 years. It started out in paper print and later evolved into online writing. She started at $100 per month. Two years ago her writing was pushed by a small extra writing assignment for the same site and she now makes the sum of about $450 for what amounts to 1600 words a month.

Obviously she nurtured this along until she got where she wanted to be, but she and I have been writing friends with her for years and she and I hoped that we would ultimately move into something more lucrative. She recently asked me what I thought her writing was worth and if I thought she was being paid commensurate with what she wrote. I believe she is getting dead on getting what she is worth. I do think that in the next couple of years she can ask for a bit more.

My friend has a good education but is not degreed. I have spent over $30,000 in my education and have a BA in English. This does not, however, promise anything. I have to put in the work. Since I have joined AC two months ago I have written a paltry 7 articles and I find it unbelievable that someone would write 40 or 50 articles a day. I guess that would account for some of the poor quality of writing that I have found.

It has come to my attention that there is a staff of about 15 employees at AC and they alone read these articles and set fees with publishing to follow. How in the world could they possible read and rate the thousands of articles and videos that they receive everyday. It is impossible to determine where they receive their revenue that pays their salaries and gives us our payment for stories.

I see AC folding (or at the least going to page views only) if its writers continue to have unreal expectations as to what they can expect in payment for their writings. This is a paid by assignment gig, not a job. You have no contract and are really promised nothing. I have searched thoroughly and have not found any other site that pays they way AC does. They ALL want you to write for page view only. Those of you interested in seeking other ways of writing and making a bit of cash can refer to this site www.aboutfreelancewriting.com . There is a weekly compilation of writing job leads that have been gathered from Craig's list by the site owner of aboutfreelancewriting.com.

Be advised that most writing gigs are for next to nothing. I have had outrageous proposals and accepted none of them. The ones that do have substance require an almost hellish interview process that is a writing gig all unto itself with screen after screen of questions and information about the applicant.

AC is the only site that makes it incredibly easy for you to write and actually get published. Squidoo has been mentioned as another good place to write but once again they are page view only. I find them to be incredibly difficult to use and stacked against the ease of use I have at AC, I am not interested in using them much.

I worked for a now defunct ISP company and I saw their excesses bankrupt them. In view of the prolific writing some content producers have engaged in I foresee AC folding if they don't change they way they do business. That may piss some people off, but people cannot continue to have unreal expectations about Associated Content being a "job". It is a writing opportunity that may lead to other opportunities. I for one am very grateful for this experience and my confidence has had a real boost in this endeavor.