How Iwriter Is Like A Game And Why You Should Play
Today I discovered iwriter while reading a blog post and decided to check it out.Within an hour of finding the site, I had registered for an account, uploaded a photo and short bio (that I'll probably rewrite later), and written and submitted my first article.
The pay is fairly low as far as professional freelance writing goes.The lowest article listed is for $1.62.While this is only for a measly 300 word article, it's still pretty low.Making a living from it would be virtually impossible and probably not very smart.However, even the website itself claims to be a way to make "extra income." It's the first thing they say on the introduction video.
Primary income it is not.
I know what you're thinking.
Writing for peanuts is not a game.No one should write for less than their writing is worth.
Oh really? What about the thousands of bloggers who post on non paying blogs every day? They get paid nothing, and they still write.What about people who write to get better at writing, to make a point, or simply because they just love the thing they're writing about? There are so many reasons people choose to write without being paid.Fun is only one of them.
So, how is iwriter like a game?
The reason I think that iwriter is like a game, and the reason I believe it will continue to exist for quite some time is simple.It works like an RPG.
You start out on the lowest rank (iwriter has three; standard, premium, and elite) and work your way up.
You are given the option to complete tasks (writing articles) for which you will receive a sort of experience bonus (positive reviews) and a reward (anything from about $1.26 to over $10).
When you complete enough tasks, you move up a level or rank and the rewards get better as you go (higher rating writers can complete higher level jobs worth more money).
You gain recognition for being the best (the Highest Rated Writers board showcases the writers with the best reviews) or having more experience (the Most Prolific Writers board showcases the writers who have written the most articles).
Like a game, you have no obligations.You can log in and write fifteen articles, or you can write one and then go do something else.If you don't see anything you want to write, you can log in and log right back out without writing a word.You have nothing to lose, except maybe your place on the scoreboard.
Writing for iwriter is a lot like playing an online RPG game, except that you don't have to pay for a subscription and the money you earn shows up in your paypal account in a week, two weeks, or a month depending on the option you choose in your account settings.Not a bad deal at all.In fact, it's actually pretty great.
New writers, just getting started in the freelance writing field, can use iwriter to build a portfolio, experience working with clients, and learn to follow job descriptions.Also, they'll make a little money doing it.Seasoned writers can check the article board and write an article or two as a morning warm up, to clear their head of project details at the end of a busy day, or to make a little money when their own work is slow.
So, if you feel like giving iwriter a try, here are a few tips:
-Don't take a project that looks like a lot of research.Jobs have a three hour window for completion.If you take something research heavy, not only will you risk losing the job when the clock runs out, you'll be doing a lot more work that you need to.Pick jobs that look like they'll require little to no actual research.The first article I wrote was a review on a mascara I just tried (it's Maybelline's Falsies Mascara and it's awesome).
-Look for articles on topics you know.If you've just spent a month writing about kitchen tiles and stumble across an article listing for kitchen remodeling, jump on it.You may be able to write the whole article from the top of your head.
-Choose buyers with a high acceptance rate.If the buyer rejects six out of every ten articles he gets, there's a good chance he'll reject yours too unless you really know what you're talking about.Buyers with higher acceptance ratings are more likely to give clear, easy to follow instructions on what they want.
-Don't be afraid to drop an article you're struggling with.iwriter gives writers a three hour window to finish each article for a reason.If you can't write an article in three hours, it's possible you can't or shouldn't write it at all.Don't spend three hours on a two dollar article.If it's not coming together, let it go and choose something else to work on.Struggling takes all the fun (not to mention the profit) out if writing articles on iwriter.
Iwriter may not be as lucrative as Elance or as much fun as World of Warcraft (I still have yet to play Skyrim), but it can be a fun way to sharpen your article writing skills, build or enhance your portfolio, and make a little extra money.
This article is from my blog, Living a Freelance Life. To read more, visit http://www.brinnablaine.blogspot.com/