What is it Like to Write for wiseGEEK?

"I am firmly convinced writing for wiseGEEK is one of the best content writing jobs on the Internet. I have been able to generate a substantial part-time income and learn many interesting things along the way. The payment is always fast, and there's a great cast of people willing to help you become a better writer."

"I have been a regular contributor to wiseGEEK since 2004, and I believe it is one of the best online content websites active today. I have worked for other content providers in the past, and many of them seemed to treat their writers like disposable commodities. Most of their "improvements" only benefited the company, not the contributors. This is not the case with wiseGEEK. They continue to address issues which impact their contributors directly, making the working environment much more conducive for quality writing.

wiseGEEK's editors and publishers have always met their stated turnaround and payment schedules. Editors actually read the articles and provide constructive criticism and feedback, not simply rubberstamp the work in order to get it online faster. wiseGEEK wants these articles to survive the test of time, unlike some other online content sites which seem to focus more on advertising revenue than the quality of the articles.

I enjoy the flexibility of the work schedule at wiseGEEK. If I have other personal or professional obligations, I can always come back and finish the next batch of WiseGEEK articles at a later date. I can also work from virtually any location with an Internet connection. This has proven to be a nice perk during out-of-town trips with some downtime. Instead of watching television in a hotel room, a wiseGEEK writer can literally write himself or herself some lunch or gas money. Getting paid through PayPal is also very convenient for those who spend time on the road.

As a WiseGEEK contributor who has written over 1500 articles over the years, I can honestly say that working for Denis, Catherine and the rest of the wiseGEEK team has been a very positive experience for me. They know what they're doing."

"Writing for wiseGEEK is the only opportunity that I have found, inside or outside of the home, that really gives me the flexibility I need for a part-time job. Additionally, I cannot recall a time where I waited longer than 72 hours for payment."

"I love the flexibility of working here. I can work anywhere and at anytime. Plus, I find myself learning new and interesting facts every time I research an article."

"Writing for wiseGEEK can literally be a lifesaver for writers because it provides a reliable source of income from the writer's location. The administrative and editorial teams are excellent at what they do and article payment is prompt."

"I've written for several companies online, but wiseGEEK is my absolute favorite. The staff is professional, responsive, and pleasant to work with, plus payments are lightning fast. Article selection is also fabulous - there are always myriad options from which to choose, with topics ranging from super simplistic to highly complex, so it's easy to mix it up and keep the noggin fresh. Plus, I'm confident my wiseGEEK writings will eventually propel me to "trivia queen" status at the local pub. Who could ask for anything more?"

"Writing for wiseGEEK has been an honor and pleasure. It has afforded me the opportunity to make fast cash writing about familiar subjects, as well as expand my general knowledge base by researching topics of interest that I might never have heard about were it not for this little gig. Simply browsing the many article topics has also frequently tipped me off to issues, matters or new technology, even when I don't choose to write about them. Virtually unheard of in the freelance community, wiseGEEK also provides fast payment for work rendered, and the staff is nothing if not accommodating, efficient and friendly. Its been a great way to make some extra cash and improve my writing skills. I'd highly recommend it."

"Writing for wiseGEEK is, in a word, fun. I love researching and learning about new things every day, and at least once a week I write a note to my editor along the lines of "isn't this fascinating?!" Setting your own work schedule and location is hard to beat, but what makes me love being on the wiseGEEK team is the ability to get paid for expanding my horizons, and to hear about (and from) readers who have found my articles useful.

The administrative team is very friendly and helpful. I rarely have issues, but when I do, they are resolved very quickly. I've loved all of the editors I've worked with at wiseGEEK, and it's great to work with people who are enthusiastic about knowledge. Long term working relationships with my editors have also dramatically improved my writing, which is a rather nice side benefit. The consistent commitment to quality and integrity from all the staff at wiseGEEK is also very important to me. There are a lot of sites which offer content similar to wiseGEEK's, but ours is original, and of consistently high quality.

In practical terms, working for wiseGEEK is delightful. The writer interface is very easy to navigate, and as long as you keep up a consistent stream of articles, editing and payment turnaround usually happen within a week. While it can be a bit intimidating to research and pull together articles at first, when you start with familiar topics, you can get your footing, and eventually transition to entirely new subject areas.

Finally, being a wiseGEEK writer has made me a huge hit at parties, because I've become that person who somehow manages to know at least a little bit of something about a lot of things, which means that I am constantly called upon to adjudicate disputes, answer questions, or repeat some strange fact I've recently acquired across in the course of my work. (Did you know that the White House Situation Room didn't have a sink until it was renovated by the 43rd President? That South Korea is, by far, the world's largest producer of ships? That among the many objects accidentally dropped by astronauts in space is...a toothbrush?)"

"I've been contributing to wiseGEEK for a couple of years now. One of the best aspects about writing for wiseGEEK is the flexibility it offers. As a freelance writer it can be difficult to juggle multiple clients, especially the high-maintenance types. wiseGEEK provides a flexible, work-when-you-want or when-you-can option that helps fill in slow times, supplement other clients, and just provides an outlet for a different type of writing without adding pressure during busy times. The staff are professional, the editors provide quality feedback, and the writer's panel has done nothing but improve itself over the years. It's a top-notch organization all the way around."

"You'll enjoy constructive and consistent editing on all your submitted work. Editors and other staff are friendly and always ready to help with any of your questions or concerns. There are plenty of titles to claim at any time, and payment for accepted work is extremely fast. If you want to be appreciated as well as compensated for your efforts, then wiseGEEK is the way to go."

"I love writing for wiseGEEK. It is extremely enjoyable. I am able to work when I want, they have fantastic editors that have helped me improve my writing tremendously, and the payment is so easy. I couldn't ask for a better way to make extra money from home!"

"I have been a freelance writer for about ten years and I really enjoy working with wiseGEEK. There are always plenty of interesting titles to choose from. The editors give good feedback, which not only lets you know what your doing right, but helps you improve your writing. Review times and payment is always fast, which is also a plus."

"Writing for wiseGEEK is a rewarding experience that allows you to grow as a writer and profit from your learning. A wide range of topics allows you to use the knowledge you already possess, in addition to building upon that knowledge through research, to create quality articles people can use for everyday needs. These articles include the byline that you prefer, which also makes wiseGEEK a great reference for other positions.

During the testing process, you'll work with an editor and learn about the position while still being paid for any work you complete. This makes it easier to transition into the position as compared to many other companies. Payment is fair and delivered in an exceptionally timely fashion through PayPal.

The writing tool the company offers is fantastic; it keeps your word count and keyword count for you as you write and allows you to save your work as often as you wish. Plus, you can write as many articles as you like each week, making it a great full-time position if you're a stay-at-home parent and/or work from home like I do. Though I've worked with many companies as a writer and blogger, none have offered me unlimited work like wiseGEEK does, a blessing in today's economy."

"Being part of the wiseGEEK writing team has been both exciting and challenging! I am always able to find a topic I feel comfortable writing about, and the editor's comments have helped me to develop a solid and diverse writing style. Working for wiseGeek has allowed a journalist like me to keep doing what I love!"

"I have worked as a freelance writer for several years, and I must say that wiseGEEK is by far the best company I have ever worked with. The editors are sharp, the management responsive, and the payment turn around is prompt. There is a wide range of topics and titles available to keep the creative juices flowing and new ones appear every day. As an added bonus, the system is available 24/7, giving me the flexibility to write on my own schedule."

"For me, writing for wiseGEEK has been an experience unlike any other. It has helped me hone my ability to research and write at the drop of a hat, which has impacted my writing in every other area of my life. While once I found it difficult to sit down and write even three thousand words in a day, I can now easily sit down and write five to ten thousand words of focused writing on a subject I am learning about for the first time. This has applied itself to all of my writing — to text books, to guide books, to travel articles, and even to some of my fiction work.

Like any job, who you work with at wiseGEEK will greatly impact the experience you have while there. Cultivate a relationship with your editor, and learn what they like and dislike. While there is a style guide available, ultimately you'll discover that your editor has personal likes and dislikes which they look for, and learning to write for their eye will help reduce the amount of edits you get, and increase your average scores. And while the scores are, of course, not terribly important, you will find yourself writing more often and find words flowing more readily when you're working with an editor who rates you 8s and 9s consistently than when you're working with an editor who rates you 6s and 7s regularly and peppers each article with comments.

A warning for those who plan on writing large amounts of articles for wiseGEEK: eventually you will find yourself frequently entering conversations by correcting someone, and following it with the phrase, "I just wrote an article on that..." If you're lucky, your friends will find this endearing, and will begin to look to you for clarification in obscure areas of knowledge. If you're less lucky, you will be seen as the know-it-all who always feels a need to chime in. Either way, once you pass the 500 article mark, it is inevitable this will happen.

On the other hand, the day will come when you find yourself searching for something on Google, or sitting next to someone searching for something, and the first result they click on will be an article written by you. In fact, if you've written enough articles, you may have even forgotten you wrote it. This validation that what you write is impacting how people search for information is powerful, and it’s okay to be proud. The day may even come when you’re reading a Wikipedia article and reach the citations at the bottom, only to notice your name and a wiseGEEK article. Take a little bow. You’ve earned it.

In a similar vein: join in the discussions that will eventually build around your articles. Clarify questions others have, and thank those who add information you may have overlooked or been unaware of. Sure, you don’t get paid for this part, but these are your articles, and you want them to be as complete as possible. I literally came close to tears discovering the micro-community that had formed around my sweaty palms article, and while I had nothing to add, it made me happy to see all those who were able to knowledgeably help the many people in need."

"Writing for wiseGEEK has been a great experience for me. I've been able to research and write about topics that are interesting to me and I've learned a lot about many different subjects in the process.

The folks at wiseGEEK are always helpful and understanding. They are absolutely faithful and reliable about payment. I've never feared that I wouldn't get paid. That means a lot these days. The team is also great about keeping the writers informed about what's going on with the company, with writing requirements and with the website. They are accessible and you can always contact someone and get a timely response.

This has been a positive experience all the way around. Freelancers can write for wiseGEEK with confidence."

"It’s amazing to reflect that I’ve been a wiseGEEK writer since 2006, and it has been by far one of the most rewarding jobs of my adult life. There are some clear advantages to the work: no dress code, flexible schedule, instant antidote to one's curiosity on a number of a subjects, and time off as needed to pursue life’s other requirements. While these are fantastic aspects of the job, I think much ought to be said about the group of professionals who work with the writers. I’ve had good fortune to work with fantastic editors, who have all contributed to my success at wiseGEEK, and an amazing staff of managers and technical support.

Even though there’s inherent flexibility and freedom in how people pursue wiseGEEK writing, this never translates to a lack of professionalism. I get to work with talented, ultra-professional folks who do all they can to support the writing staff. This is the kind of expectation new writers can have coming into the wiseGEEK family and I find it something greatly worthy of mention. In fact, I’ve enjoyed this job so much, I actively recruited my sister to become a wiseGEEK writer too, and her experiences have been on par with mine."

"I've been writing for wiseGEEK since 2006, and it is among my favorite clients. There are always plenty of topics, the editors are fair, and the pay is prompt. As an added bonus, I have the opportunity to cover such a wide range of topics that I never get bored."