Dear Diary, I Mean...Associated Content

Alright. I'll admit it. Some of my past submissions to Associated Content have been contrived. I forced them out hoping to squeeze a few pennies onto my PayPal account so I could swing into my local Taco Bell and saddle up with a spicy chicken soft taco and a nacho cheese gordita. That's not the point though - how can someone make contributions that really are worthwhile? How can you make frequent, high quality submissions? It's hard to write about things you don't know. I don't know much about finances, but I do know the ways I've scraped and scratched through my couch cushions looking for hidden pennies and quarters to take down to the grocery store CoinStar machine. I also don't know anything about electronics or modern gadgets, so I can't offer sound reviews or advice for purchasing products. I don't have a completed college degree yet, but I do have four years of military experience and some time spent behind a cash register during my senior year. The only advice I can offer new contributors is to stick to what you know. Whether that's how to make the most amazing spaghetti dinner or how to fold an origami swan - push out the tid bits of information you do have and own them. Make them count for you. I mean honestly, I don't know how to make an origami swan, but someone might want to find out. I'm sure if I stop for a second I can search Associated Content and find some articles that would lead to me to become an origami master. Yep, there's quite a few.

The point is, writing to make money with Associated Content isn't going to work for you if your time is consumed with trying to force out articles that require extensive research that you would consider to be arduous and unrelated to any of your own personal interests. You need to write about things you are interested in learning more about, already possess a point of view in regard to it, or already have knowledge on the subject. I spent a good hour and a half the other day trying to find some way to write an article about child psychology and the demise of the "older child". What's that even supposed to mean? I changed my mind and decided to submit photographs from my trip to St. Thomas. I know I'd rather be looking at emerald waters than trying to write a haphazard article on something else.

Now, I'm obviously not a feisty content producer like some of the top contributors on Associated Content, but when I do sit down to write an article or create a submission, it's important that what I'm writing means something to me. And yes, that includes pot roast. I love pot roast. So, on with the personal goals. Make a list of the topics you want to write about, and start chopping away. I have a list, and it has many different topics on it - but I think I manage one article per month if I'm lucky, and even those articles aren't exactly shining stars. By personal preference, I'd rather submit material that's high quality and low quantity, versus 15 articles a day that are sloppy and pushed together quickly (for that Taco Bell treat, wink wink). People need money nowadays, and I'm one of them - but I suppose sticking my name to a cheesy, cheap, half-hearted article isn't something I'm willing to do to make a few quick dollars. That's just my two cents.