I know, I know. Writers are solitary animals by nature, the kind who demand a little alone time to kickstart the creative process. I like solitude. You like solitude. But listen up, my fellow lone wolves: successful blogging warrants a different skill set. Sure, you’ll still find yourself staring at a monitor any given hour of the week, but this new field of writing encourages a different approach.

You have to write, yes. But you also need to connect.

But don’t let that frighten you. Here’s the punch line: we’re already pretty darn decent at both!

Steps to Success

Ask high-profile bloggers how they made it to the top, and odds are you’ll start seeing a common response: they worked very hard for a very long time and spent most nights sobbing by the computer before they earned the first hundred subscribers. And then they did it again. And another time, and so on and so forth until they’d worked their way up to a nice pile of readers for all that incredible effort. It’s a long, sometimes tedious process, but these clever folk lessened the load like only true social butterflies can do: they talked to people.

Seems obvious, right? But the incredibly social nature of successful blogging doesn’t always click for someone installing Wordpress for the very first time. It didn’t hit me, certainly, until I got off my butt and realized there was some pretty telling trends on my Twitter feed. (Quick tip: stalk every single blogger in your niche!)

See, bloggers talk to each other. They comment on each others’ posts, write funny little emails back and forth on weekends, and just love to tweet about that great new article so-and-so put up on her blog. They read each other, essentially, and the network blossoms into something wonderful and financially viable from there. And when they really get friendly? They exchange posts, often leading to big audience boosts and many celebratory tweets all around.

Call it a game, if you want, but remember this: it’s probably the most important game of your blogging career, and you just so happen to be in great position to play it!

Work Your Words

Ideally, folks, you’d write the best damn post of your life, publish it, and your blog would skyrocket from there. But that sparkly new site of yours is just a drop in a staggeringly large bucket, and you’re going to need some help to raise it to the next level.

Good thing you’re an accomplished writer, right?

Start writing. But take the words, this time, into lands far beyond your own realm. Write friendly emails to other bloggers in your niche and cultivate those friendships over the next months. Sign up  for Twitter, if you haven’t already, and get cracking: retweet other bloggers’ comments, tweet about their latest posts, and strike up a conversation just often enough to not get annoying.

It works. In the last two weeks, I’ve chatted with a few high-profile bloggers in my niche, only to see one then leave a comment on one of my posts. That’s exciting stuff for a new blogger, and the exact kind of connection-building so crucial to gaining any headway in an internet already saturated with unique writers. And who knows? If I keep up the conversation, I might get to write a guest post for this popular blogger, inviting a big stream of readers right over to my site – proof, if nothing else, of how valuable social skills can be to the aspiring blogger.

You can’t do this alone, folks. But don’t let that get you down – you’re already well-equipped to rocket a blog to success, so long as you realize that some social support along the way will make all the difference in the world. Blogging isn’t a new game, but it is a different one, and honing your social skills right alongside your writing talent might just be the best ticket to success.

Has social networking changed your blogging for the better? What else do you do to push your blog to the top?

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The Big, Dirty Secret about Blogging

Blogging is so common these days, everyone seems to want a piece of the action.

The problem is that newbies get the idea this blogging thing is a cinch–that you don’t need any particular skills, structure, or game plan to write for the internet.

It’s true to some extent; you can get your own domain and start up a blog with no experience whatsoever. However, creating a blog that people will want to read, and subscribe to, requires more than that.

There are limitless wrong turns one can make when writing a blog post, but here are 5 common mistakes and how to fix them:

1. You don’t know who your audience is.

Who reads your blog? Can you describe your average audience member? Do you know what they want out of life? Do you know what they’re searching for on your site? If you don’t know your audience, you won’t be focused on writing to meet their needs. And, if your blog doesn’t provide ongoing benefits for your readers, they won’t be around long.

2. You don’t bother to outline.

For all you pantsers out there, even outlining a blog post might go against your natural tendencies. But, I’ve found the best way to keep your article focused is to write the headline and subtitles first. These might change as you write, but they give you a sense of where you need to go. When I get a few great ideas for posts all at once, I write my headlines and tentative points, plus find a suitable photo first, and simply leave the outlines in my WordPress editor for later. Once my posts are outlined, they get written relatively quickly.

3. You skip the introduction and conclusion.

Just like you remember from your high school days, your writing needs an introduction and a conclusion to be effective. For example, my article would appear less-than-professional if I’d begun with my headline, then launched straight into the list, and ended abruptly with the 6th point. Many readers wouldn’t have bothered sticking around to find out what I have to say. Introductions and conclusions don’t have to be long, but you should write them every time.

4. You don’t use an effective photo.

Photos aren’t necessary for good content, but they help visually attract your readers and reinforce your point. A poor or amateurish photo can be just as bad as no photo at all, so if you’re going to choose one, choose wisely. Flickr has a huge directory of Creative Commons photos available for use with only the need to cite the owner. While it can be time consuming searching for photos and uploading them, it’s time well spent.

5. You omit keywords and meta descriptions.

When I first started blogging, I had no idea what the ‘keywords’ and ‘meta description’ boxes in my WordPress editor were for. It was only once I’d been writing for a couple of weeks that I discovered those little boxes were for important for helping people find and read my articles. SEO Logic says on their FAQ page:

Both the meta keywords tag and the meta description tag contribute to your search engine ranking, and the meta description tag influences the liklihood [sic] that a person will actually click on the search engine results page and visit your site.

If you’re not using these tags, you’re missing out on potential readers.

Tips for Writing Better Blog Posts

How can you make your blog posts beneficial, focused, and clear?

• Define your audience before you launch your blog.
• Write your headlines first and get in the habit of outlining your posts.
• Always write an introduction and conclusion, even if they are short.
• Choose visually appealing photos that match either the particular post or the overall themes of your blog.
• Learn to identify keywords and write effective meta descriptions for each post.
• Don’t try to make too many points in one post. Choose one and focus on it.
• If you want your blog to be professional (as opposed to a diary-like venture) write your posts the same way you would write an article for a magazine.
• Solve a reader’s problem or include a benefit in each of your posts.
• Proofread your posts at least 24 hours after writing them. Fresh eyes catch more mistakes.
• Ask for reader participation. End your post with questions or invitations for your audience to contribute through commenting.

Learn the guidelines of professional blogging, and you’ll soon find your posts more engaging, and your readership increasing.

What newbie mistakes did you make when you first started blogging? What bothers you the most in other blogs? What are your best tips for writing better blog posts?

Images courtesy of B Rosen, Steve Keys, SuziJane.

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5 Mistakes You Make When Writing A Blog Post

Should writers blog? I believe so. We derive passion from stringing words together, making stories and enlightening people to the human condition. But once you find your nook in the writing world, and decide to blog, how do you choose between the myriad of blogging platforms available?

Start here. I’m going to list pros and cons for four of the major blogging services. These won’t be full-fledged reviews so much as quick glances into how these tools could benefit writers. I’ll look at Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr and Posterous.

Wordpress

When it comes to Wordpress, you have two choices: Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org. Blogging on the dot com platform, like most other platforms gets you up and running in minutes. If you use the dot org platform, you’ll need your own domain and hosting. I’ve used both types, and currently use Wordpress to power my own website and blog. No matter which way you decide, the user interfaces, pros and cons are nearly identical. The Wordpress site has a good article on the pros and cons beneath each of them.

Pros

• Wordpress is a proven technology, wildly popular and supported by a huge community.
• The interface is relatively easy to use for most beginners, and even easier for those with blogging experience.
• Plenty of posts about creative writing exist on Wordpress blogs, allowing you to engage in an already large writing community.
• Automattic, the company behind Wordpress continues to make improvements to the platform, allowing for greater flexibility and creativity for writers and bloggers of all kinds.

Cons

• Some consider Wordpress’ array of choices intimidating, and many who want to just write do not need all the options.
• If you use Wordpress.com, your blog will be subject to ads that you cannot control.
• Wordpress.com has many themes, but you do not have the array of choices you would with employing Wordpress.org and themes. You may not be able to find a theme that fits your style, and if you lack HTML and CSS knowledge, altering one will be difficult.

Blogger

Blogger fast became and remains a popular blogging platform. Google powers it and backs it, so you know the technology will be user-focused and advanced. I previously used it to power my online running journal.

Pros

• Backed by Google, so it integrates well with other Google blogging services like Feedburner, and various Google products.
• It’s among the most easy to use platforms out there, and many beginning bloggers prefer it.
• Blogger’s recently launched template designer allows users to edit and change their site designs without touching any HTML or CSS code.
• Like Wordpress, Blogger is popular, and has a large community of writers already there. One of my favorites is Erika Driefus’ Practicing Writer blog.

Cons

• Blogger is just blogger. If you have some experience blogging, the platform might seem worn. That reason drove me to leave Blogger behind for Tumblr. Granted, it’s my personal opinion, but you may find the same.
• To have access to some of the more advanced features available in Blogger, including the new Template Designer, you have to use Blogger in Draft, where new features are tested. There isn’t a huge difference between this and the regular Blogger, but it’s something you should know.

Posterous

Posterous has gained popularity recently, especially among tech-savvy people. The site boasts that you can not only blog, but post all your updates there, and do it easily. You do all this via email, or a web interface. I recently started a learning journal there, and love using it because of its simplicity.

Pros

• It really is easy to use. You can simply email posts to a Posterous email account, and the email gets converted into a post on your site. Images, video and other content attached to your email converts easily as well.
• Many tech experts lump Posterous into the micro-blogging platform, so if you gear your writing blog more toward short updates, this platform may work better for you.
• Posterous is also geared toward mobile blogging, thanks to its emphasis on posting via email, so if you need to post from anywhere, this platform will work very well.
• Posterous has a bookmarklet, which makes it easy to catalog content you find on the web. It’s a great feature for those writers looking to collect inspiration around the web.

Cons

• Posterous is still fairly new, launched in mid-2008, so the community – although strong – is still growing.
• Currently, Posterous lacks as many themes as some other blogging platforms. However, the site has added a handful of new themes lately. You also need to know HTML and CSS to alter your theme, but you do have free access to the code.
• Even though posting by email makes Posterous super easy, I find myself going into the web interface afterward to adjust formatting, which may annoy some users.

Tumblr

Tumblr, like Posterous, lands more squarely in the micro-blogging platform. Its has a passionate group of users, and is incredibly easy to use. As mentioned before, I now use it to power my running journal.

Pros

• Hello easy. I love using the web interface on Tumblr, but haven’t tried email posting yet. I also enjoy the dashboard at Tumblr, which makes it easy for you to read the Tumblr blogs you follow, placing an emphasis on engaging in the blogging community there.
• Tumblr has an extremely passionate community of bloggers, and some neat creative writing blogs live there.
• There are a lot of creative themes to choose from, some geared toward writing and content.
• Tumblr also has a bookmarklet, making it easy to catalog content and share. I also like the notion of reblogging.

Cons

• If you want comments on your blog, you need to set that up separately using Disqus.
• There’s not an easy way to back up your blog. You can download an app for Mac that will do it, but if you’re on a PC, that’s useless. However, staff has started work on a PC version.
• As far as I could tell, there’s no easy way to import content from other blogging platforms, which could be a problem for some writers.

Conclusion

As you can see, I haven’t touched on every blogging platform out there. I’ve only touched on ones I’ve used. Also, many of these pros and cons center around issues that would effect anyone, not just writers. The two most important factors for any writer who wants to blog:

1. Find the platform that YOU find easiest to use, and that differs for everyone. Once you do, you can concentrate on what matters: writing.
2. Use the platform that has the community you fit into best. Few remember that the reason blogging has become so popular is because it allows people to form communities and express themselves. Don’t lose sight of that.

Final Recommendations

I like Tumblr and Posterous for blogs with shorter bursts of content. I like Wordpress and Blogger for blogs that require more control, and longer form content.

But hey, that’s just me. What do you think? Have you used other blogging platforms and want to share your thoughts? Have something to add to this? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Pros and Cons of Four Major Blogging Platforms

There are several things that have recently contributed to wasting a good portion of my allotted writing time, and these are things I want to learn to avoid.

I’m not saying the following list of programs and habits should be completely shunned; they’re all very useful and necessary. Still, I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to break free of these distractions during my writing time.

From now on, I’m kissing these 7 distractions goodbye:

1. Checking Email. I tend to check it not once, but every five minutes-or-so during my writing. Checking my email always leads to further distractions like replying to urgent (and not-so-urgent) messages.
2. Moderating/Replying to comments. This is one of the evils of checking email every few minutes. As soon as I see there are comments queued to be moderated, I feel the need to log into WordPress. I must then reply to comments so my readers don’t feel unloved.
3. Tweetdeck. Every time I hear that little tweet and see a pop-up on my screen, it takes my mind off writing. I don’t need to read tweets in real time. I can catch up on them later. I can retweet later. I can check out my new followers later.
4. Google Reader. My feedreader is one of the best tools I have for keeping up-to-date on what’s being discussed in the blogosphere. As much as it’s necessary, I often can’t help logging in to see if my favourite blogs have new posts up. Then, of course, I want to read them.
5. Feedburner/Blog Stats. I don’t really need to know what’s going on with my subscribers or traffic, not every day and not during my writing time. There’s really no excuse for this one. Yet, I still do it.
6. Image browsing. Looking for new blog photos can be productive, but I tend to get distracted by them too easily. Give me a thousand pages of free images to look through, and I’m totally gone.
7. Facebook. As much as I adore my friends and my fan page, they can wait until later in the day. There’s nothing urgent about seeing the latest status updates or checking out friends’ photos.

I’ve already started to beat some of these distractions, but others are harder to let go of. I have to keep reminding myself they’ll still be there when my scheduled writing time is done.

There’s a program called MacFreedom, which allows you to disable your internet access for up to 8 hours at a time. It’s available for free download here. Who knows, it might be just the thing to help me get my 2 full hours of uninterrupted writing time each day.

What things distract you from writing? Have you tried to give them up, and were you successful? What strategies have you found for writing without distractions?

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7 Writing Distractions I’m Kissing Goodbye

Although it’s tempting for us storytellers to think of it as less creative, there are many easy ways to add a little flavour to our non-fiction.

Here are 7 of them to get you started:

1. Start with a quotation

Quotations are used to make your reader stop and think about something on a profound level. You can use a relevant quotation to begin your piece with a punch, or use it as a springboard for the content of your article.

2. Create an analogy

Some of the best copy uses analogies to make a point. Someone writing copy for a car dealership might draw on similarities between a specific vehicle and a powerful animal. A cheetah, perhaps. Analogies work well because they make the reader think about something familiar to them.

3. Integrate a story or personal anecdote

If you’ve ever sat through a lecture on a rather mundane subject, you’ll know that speakers often start with a story or personal anecdote. Like analogies, anecdotes spark interest in others by drawing on the familiar, prompting us to apply new information to our own lives.

4. Tell a joke

Who can resist a joke? Whether you tell it in words or use a comic strip to do the dirty work, making us laugh right off the bat nearly guarantees you’ll capture our attention. Just remember, the joke has to be relevant to your subject, and should add — not detract — from your overall purpose.

5. Answer FAQs

For some reason, people love lists of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). Instead of writing about a topic in the same old manner, why not take a different spin on it by answering questions people would naturally have about it? The other beauty of this strategy is that it makes your article more user-friendly; readers can skip questions that don’t interest them, and focus on those that do.

6. Interview an authority

If you’re writing about something out of your area of expertise, find an authority on the subject and conduct an interview. The question-and-answer format appeals to readers on the same level that FAQs do, and people are always more drawn to information written by someone with a great deal of experience.

7. Use eye-catching photographs

Never underestimate the power of a good photograph, especially when writing a blog post. The purpose of using a graphic is to catch the reader’s eye–to capture attention so they’ll stick around to read your content. A good photograph also makes your content look more professional, which is desirable if you’re looking to establish yourself as an authority.

Next time you’re writing non-fiction, use one or more of these strategies to transform your piece from ordinary to awesome.

What are the best tips you have to offer on making non-fiction creative and engaging?

Photo Credits: B Rosen, Darwin Bell, Darwin Bell

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7 Ways to Add Flavour to Non-Fiction Writing

What happened here? The book had potential! How did it become so boring?

Most likely, it lacked conflict.

For any kind of writing, from journalistic non-fiction to literature to science fiction to film to blogging, conflict is highly necessary. It’s what creates drama and urgency. It’s what creates anticipation. Conflict is what compels your readers to find out what happens next, and to read more to see if it comes out all right in the end.

Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. But the story, whether true or fictional, is dependent on whether there is any debate in the matter. Being uncertain of the outcome is why any story interests you.

Conflict in Fiction

Conflict in fiction is usually easy to find. Your character wants something, and other events or circumstances intervene to make achieving that goal difficult. That’s conflict.

The trouble that many writers encounter in fiction is mistaking dramatic action for conflict. For example, if the main character is walking down the street and a sea bird suddenly assaults him, many writers point to that as an instance of conflict.

That’s not conflict. Unless the sea bird prevented that character from achieving a specific goal that was very important to the individual, then the situation is merely dramatic. It isn’t conflict.

So how can you tell the difference? Ask yourself what your character wants, overall, in the story. Maybe he wants to achieve a certain quest, or reconcile with someone, or get out of the one-horse town. Then ask yourself if the situation you created for that character actively prevents the character from achieving his goal.

If not, your plot could use some tweaking to be more interesting.

Conflict in Non-Fiction

Conflict in non-fiction is often harder to manage because you’re bound by the facts. Whether or not conflict occurs seems wholly dependent on whether conflict actually happened in real life.

However, most non-fiction writers forget that they aren’t limited by just the facts of a particular situation. They can add in facts from surrounding situations to create necessary conflict. For example, a senator caught cheating on his wife is not conflict – it’s just fact.

Add in the fact that his actions may mean he won’t be re-elected, and that this has repercussions for the government at large, makes it a conflict. Will he get re-elected? Will he fail? Who’s on which side? Should he win or should he lose? Who’s saying what?

That’s conflict.

Figure out whose goal you support and see what’s in the way. For a non-fiction situation, you have free rein. You could take the senator’s standpoint and display the conflict from his point of view: he wants his seat back so he can achieve certain goals, but will he be able to get it?

You can also present conflict from other peoples’ point of view. The people the senator represents want certain goals of their own – will his re-election help or hinder them? Will they get what they want? Will the senator’s family get what they want? Will the president get what he wants if the senator fails?

Every Story Needs Conflict

Without conflict, you don’t have a story. Not for your journalistic piece, not for your blog post, not for your novel. Sit down and figure out who has a goal in the piece you’re writing, and what needs to happen for that person to achieve it.

Then find out what’s in the way.

When you have sufficient conflict in your story, no one will ever walk away from your writing thinking, “That had such potential . . .” They’ll walk away thinking, “I wonder what happened.”

That’s what you’re looking for. Go rustle up some conflict.

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Where’s Your Conflict?

Where do you find your inspiration?

Every writer suffers from a lack of inspiration at times.

You sit at your computer, staring at the blank screen, wondering what on earth you’re going to write about.

Be it an article, a blog post, a short story or a novel, you’re going to need a hefty dose of inspiration if you want to get down to writing.

Here are 10 ways you can add a little fuel to your writing fire:

1. Photographs

Whether you take them yourself, look through an old photo album, or spend some time searching through Flickr, photographs are a great way to find inspiration for your writing. There’s something about the ambiguity of a photograph (especially of someone or something you’ve never seen before) that helps get the mind going.

2. Music

Play some old tunes that hold special memories for you, or find some music you’ve never listened to before. I personally have difficulty writing while there’s music playing, but sometimes just listening to a few songs while you’re doing something else will help prepare you for a writing session.

3. Books

Go to the library and borrow some books, or pluck an old favourite from your own shelf. Reading what other people have written may be enough to spark a few ideas you wouldn’t have otherwise had.

4. Magazines

Magazines are are a great combination of the written word and visuals. Articles are usually accompanied by glossy images, so you get a double-dose of inspiration. You can find magazines on all kinds of topics as well, which makes them really versatile resources.

5. Newspapers

One surefire way to get ideas for your writing is to read the daily newspaper. Big-city publications hold a ton of information, but don’t neglect a local small-town newspaper. They might have some interesting human-interest stories.

6. Blogs

Subscribe to your favourite blogs through a feedreader, so you can get an on-demand list of newly published articles. Sometimes it helps to see what other people are writing about to give you some ideas. If you’re working on an article or blog post of your own, you can write a response to something you’ve read on another blog.

7. Lyrics or Poetry

One of my favourite ways to get inspiration is to read song lyrics. Often we’ll hear songs and memorize the tune, while we have no idea what the singer is actually saying. I often find ’stories’ in lyrics, because they use a lot of figurative language. Poetry can give you the same result, and no two people will come up with the same interpretation.

8. Eavesdropping

Next time you’re out at the grocery store, the bank or the coffee shop, pay attention to what’s going on around you. Listen to the conversations people are having. Watch how they move, how they speak, how they interact with others.

9. Experience

Go out and do something! There’s nothing worse for your inspiration than sitting inside all day looking at the same familiar surroundings. Go for a walk or a bike ride, take a bus or train around town, drive someplace you’ve never been before. Keep your eyes and ears open while you do it.

10. Writing prompts

A writing prompt is simply a thought, an idea, a word or a sentence starter that you use as a springboard for your own writing. Quotations work really well for this exercise. It might be something as simple as randomly choosing 10 words from a dictionary and seeing where they lead you. The possibilities are limitless.

Are You Inspired Yet?

Remember, we are surrounded by information, by ideas, by stories. Every object you see, every word you hear, every person you meet can inspire your next writing project.

What are your best tips for finding ideas?

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10 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

Tell us a bit about yourself and Charade

Well, I’m a creative writing student living in Bristol in the UK. I’ve always written ever since I can remember. It started with simple lyrics and stories; then went through a stage of angst-ridden poetry, and has settled into a pattern of online journalism and part-time novel writing. Charade is my blog, where I attempt to enthuse and inspire mostly female audience of stylish yet budget conscious students with tales of surviving successfully.

Is your love for writing that made you start Charade?

Yes, writing’s no fun if you are your only audience. I wanted a way to ‘get my writing out there’ and blogging seemed the quickest and most instantly satisfying option. It’s such a confidence boost to have even a very small following supporting you.

What things influence you to write?

On Charade, I’m influenced mainly by my own needs as a reader. I like to think of  the blog as something I’d love to come across if I were surfing the web, and make it an aim to answer questions that have always nagged me through research. In terms of my fiction, I’m also inspired mainly by my own life and experience. I think building on what you know and being as authentic as possible is the key to great writing.

What is your favorite thing you’ve written?

That’s a tough one but I’d have to say The Dream Style Series just because it got so much positive feedback and attracted so many new readers, whilst being enormously inspiring to me as a subject.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I honestly don’t know! I just started blogging one day and never stopped. I have slow months but I just enjoy doing it so much and am so thrilled by all the little intricacies and opportunities I’ve come across that I never get bored. You have to love writing or whatever you’re doing, and then motivation takes care of itself.

Do you think being a student of creative writing helps a lot with having your own website?

Definitely, if I look back on some of my early articles, I can see a clear difference against the standard of my current writing. The study of creative writing is something people are often dubious about, and people regularly ask me how you can be taught something creative. I think writing is a craft and a skill as much as any other, and there really is so much I know now that didn’t even cross my mind before I started my studies.

Lastly, what is your future plan for Charade?

I’m actually just about to release an Annual (a real-life book!) of the best of my articles from the first year of the blog. It’s a really exciting venture and I’ve already seen a lot of positive feedback just from the initial announcement. Beyond that I just hope to stay on the path I’ve already forged and keep learning!

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5 Minutes with Megan and Charade

1. Mashable: The Social Media Guide: www.mashable.com
Mashable, the number 4 site on Technorati’s List of Top 100 Blogs, is the go-to-blog for all things social media and Web 2.0-related.
Click to learn more about writing for Mashable. Also, follow @mashable on Twitter.

2. Freelance Switch: www.freelanceswitch.com
Freelance Switch is a must-have resource for freelancers of all types. The blog hosts a job board and directory, as well as an active forum community where you can engage fellow freelancers and potential clients. Plus, Freelance Switch offers tons of great resources, like financial tools to help your business.
Click to learn more about writing for Freelance Switch. Also, follow @FreelanceSW on Twitter.

3. eHow: www.eHow.com
Do you know how to change a tire? Or cook a rack of lamb? Perhaps you are an expert seamstress or have a knack for selling real estate; whatever you know how to do, eHow wants you to write about it. eHow not only receives guests post, they also have over 160,000 videos created by its community members. Plus, should your article gain popularity, eHow may even pay you for your submission.
Click here to learn more about writing for eHow. Also, follow @ehow on Twitter.

4. Examiner: www.examiner.com
Examiner covers a wide-range of topics, from entertainment to business news and everything in between. “Join others across the country as they provide a wealth of local information, insider perspectives, helpful resources, and a view into a variety of events and activities within their cities.”
Click to learn more about writing for Examiner. Also, follow @examinercom on Twitter.

5. Demand Studios: www.demandstudios.com
Demand Studios is looking for guest writers, copy editors and filmmakers to share their work. Visit them today to find out how to make the most of your creations and make some money working from home.
Click here to fill out an application to write for Demand Studios. Also, follow @demandstudios on Twitter.

6. Care2 Make a Difference: www.care2.com
Is there a special cause or important local news you would like to share with the world? Care2 is “the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.” Share your important message with an online community of over 9 million members today.
You must become a member of Care2 in order to submit a new story. Also, follow @care2 on Twitter.

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Write On – 6 Sites Accepting Submissions

This is not a definitive list; I tried mixing some well-known blogs with some not-so-well-known ones. If you have a site to add, please feel free to make your suggestion in the comments section!

Culture

Absolute Arts This is actually a niche-blogging community, where you can start your own art-related blog. You can place your portfolio on this site as well, under one of three different portfolio offerings. There is a free portfolio level, as well as an “Artist” level for $44 per year, and a “Premiere” level for $100 per year. Premiere level portfolios are judged by a jury for acceptance, for which there is a $25 fee.

Book Reporter – This site, and its sister sites, reviews books. You can sign up to be a reviewer for a variety of genres including fiction, memoirs, mysteries, nonfiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, youth, and graphic novels.

CPAL – Officially known as the “Cultural Property & Archaeology Law” blog, this legal blog accepts submissions for “scholar[s] looking for a forum to discuss [their] area of special interest.”

Design/Web

Pro Blog Design – Every accepted post is $50 in your pocket, but you get a $30 bonus if the article is a “social media success.”

SitePoint – Both articles and full-length books are accepted at this site. SitePoint is well-known for publishing definitive how-to guides for web designers and developers.

Smashing Magazine – Seriously one of the largest design blogs out there. A post here gets you exposed to over 138,000 subscribers. They’re looking for both single article submissions and long-term contributors. Payment varies depending on article length and quality.

Tutsplus – The TUTS+ network (psdtuts.com, nettuts.com, etc.) accepts tutorials and other articles for submission on any of their eight niche sites.

Webitect – For $150 per accepted submission, Webitect is “a resource blog for webmasters” looking for interesting tutorials or articles.  Their topics range from blogging to development to website traffic.

Yanko Design - If you have a review or article you’d like to post about any design related topic, you can share your 250 word post to this blog. They like things short and sweet and related to modern industrial design.

General

Associated Content – You can write about any topic, or choose from the assignment desk. Submissions can be in any medium — text, video, audio, or images. Money is paid upfront and over time as people read your posts.

Freelance Writing – This website lets you search through thousands of jobs that you can either apply for or bid on. Other site features include writing advice, discussion forums and a reading room.

Fuel Brand Network – A network of blogging sites “dedicated to creative development.” Each of the 12 niche blogs focus on a separate topic, and are always looking for contributors.

Funds for Writers – Recipient of Writers Digest’s accolade as one of the “101 Best Websites for Writers,” this site lists paying opportunities for writers as well as offers payment for articles submitted to its site. They’ll even pay for articles you’ve already written elsewhere.

Health

Disabled World- This online community for “persons with disabilities” accepts articles of at least 400 words that are related to health or disabilities. Subject areas include seniors, assisted living, disability sports, and more.

The Health Care Blog – This health blog posts original material only. It’s been mentioned in a number of media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist, to name a few.

Marketing/Media

Marketing Profs – Over 350 contributors help develop the content over at Marketing Profs already. Exposure is a guaranteed with this site, which publishes the blog as well as daily newsletters.

Mashable – The Mecca of all things social media related. Quality content on new media, technology, and social media fill this site. With over 280,000 subscribers, and over 1.15 million twitter followers, guest writers have to apply to the popular program.

Sports

Sports Blog Net – This is another blogging community, where your blog is connected with others that will help you to promote and build your own site. Content on your blog is fed through the main site to help drive traffic. There are many, many other sports blogs looking for content, but most are targeted to specific areas.

Technology

Digital Inspiration – Over 37,000 subscribers comprise the readership of this technological blog.  This “online tech magazine” publish reviews, guides, tutorials, news, and tips.

GeekEstate Blog – Specifically for the real estate industry, this blog is founded by Zillow.com. Contributions should related to technology uses or applications for the industry, including MLS, APIs, SEO, and office gadgets.

Read Write Web – This blog focuses on web technology news and reviews, often reporting on trends and popular tech use. Guest posts are accepted upon approval of topic and content.

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22 Places to Get Published Now