Make a Living Writing Online?

It's not about the networking.  Okay, so maybe it is a little.  After all, without networking, you couldn't make friends with your fellow writers and have that support system with help and leads that we all love and need.  What I'm saying is that if you think you're gonna increase your page views by digging heavily into networking, unless you have a network of millions, it's not gonna work like you want it to.

But I've learned a little something along the way.  If you want the page views, if you want to make the money, here's what you do:

• Don't just write for AC.  I currently write for AC and Examiner.com in addition to my blogs.  I could probably make a lot more if I wrote for other sites as well but I prefer to keep it to two sites and concentrate extra time on my creative writing.  If you'd like information on different sites that pay, you can consult experienced writer Suzanne Alicie's site, Freelance Writer Online.
• Stick with it.  Trust me when I say that you WILL get frustrated.  Your pay will suck while you are starting out and learning the ropes.  But if you keep working at it, you will eventually learn what I have and earn a descent pay out of it.
• Write frequently, write often, write well.  If you need a critique and some advice on your article writing, hit the AC forums and put your work in the Workshop for more experienced contributors to take a look at.  Don't be too shy to do this.  It could mean the difference between your failure and success on AC and other sites.
• Research frequently searched topics and hot topics.  In addition to writing articles that can last over a long period of time, write for the heavy hitting as well.

Another thing I've learned about this biz is that there are two types of contributors out there.  On one hand you have the hobby contributors who publish here and there when it suits their fancy.  Three such contributors are, Randy Barefoot, Dell Billings, and Erich Rosenberger, MD.  On the other hand, you have the contributors that want to make a living of this.  There are too many of those to list.

If you're one of those people who want to make a living of it, in addition to the points above, you have to understand that you have to treat your content writing as if it were a job where you get up and go to work everyday.  Everyone thinks working at home is all about watching all the television you want, taking breaks when you want, being able to just take off when you want... and while the flexibility is great (it's awesome being able to make a doctor's appointment without having to check a work schedule or check with a boss), you will need to be in the mindset that it is a job.  If it helps to get up in the morning and shower and dress like you would if you were leaving the house, then do it.  If it helps to sit down and schedule your writing throughout the week, then do it.  Often, you will work harder than you would if you were leaving the house to work.  But in the end it is worth it.

But you have to understand that it will take time.  Even after all this time, I'm still learning.  Just stick with it.