Showing posts with label freelance writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freelance writing. Show all posts

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Featured Helium Zones

This week's featured zone is one of my own. Thomas the Tank Engine is one of my particular favorites. I hope no one minds if I blow my own horn!

This zone was created for my 4 year old grandson, Jayvon, who is positively crazy about Thomas and his friends. On this zone you'll find links to Thomas merchandise and information about Thomas and Friends events around the country.

Make sure to check out the link to the Rev. W. Awdry, creator of this wonderful childrens series.

I hope you also enjoy the slide show of our recent trip to see Thomas at the Strasberg Railroad in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Stay tuned for next week's featured Helium Zone!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Featured Helium Zones

The featured zone for this week is a 'Make your own' zone by Beth Anderle. Another relatively new Heliumite, Beth has created an awesome zone with the potential to save your family some money and get the kids involved in helping in the kitchen during summer vacation. (The latter doesn't apply for making your own beer, or course!)

Visit the Make Your Own Pizza, Beer, Bread and More! zone for some tantalizing tips for a creative kitchen.

Please feel free to contact me @ tinahartley08@yahoo.com to nominate a stand out zone for a featured spot, and as always, make sure to leave Beth a comment if you enjoyed her zone!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

I feature a great Helium zone each week primarily because I love zones. They allow for such creativity and flexibility. The ability to create an attractive page and feature images and content that I have personally picked out (or have personally written, or photographed) generate such a good feeling of accomplishment, pride, and contentment. Unfortunately, zones are not also generating money, at least at the moment. My articles on Helium proper don't generate more than a trickle either.

That's got me thinking about what needs to happen in my fledgling writing career. For personal reasons I won't delve into, I need to make an income, however meager, from my time spent online. The sheer enjoyment of zoning does not pay my bills, nor put food on the table. Is Helium sucking the creative life out of me without paying for the privilege?

I pondered this question for some time and I am ready to share the answer with all of you. The answer is no. I'll follow that rather bald statement with 5 reasons why Helium is an awesome platform for all writers, with the exception of the already most prolific of us.

Helium has had its share of bash fests. There are complaints all over the Internet with writers screaming they were ripped off and have been treated disrespectfully, or unfairly, by Helium. As the old saying goes; believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. Helium bashing aside, there isn't a better place to begin an online writing career than Helium.com.

1. The community
The Helium community is full of real people. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of people in this word are not self-serving, greedy, and ready to stab you in the back the first second it benefits them. The Helium community is ripe with helpful, kind, and giving people. Those who have advanced beyond the beginner stage are ready and willing to offer advice and commiserate with frustrated newcomers to the world of online freelance writing. In any large group of people there are, of course, the minority, who are sarcastic, impatient, and miserable. You know what they say about misery loving company!

2. The open platform
Anyone can write on Helium. The wanna-be writer can publish an article immediately after registering and agreeing to the Helium User Agreement. While we're on the subject of the User Agreement, hence lies the source of many a disgruntled ex-Heliumite. Do not ever agree to something unless you understand what you agreeing to. Now just because you can instantly get your feet wet in this open publishing platform, it doesn't mean that anything goes. Helium does not tolerate plagiarism, hate-mongering, religious intolerance, profanity, or horribly bad writing. Due to the open publishing platform, some of these do get published... temporarily. Helium constantly strives for better content and the huge team of volunteers have improved Helium considerably since its early days of 50 word posts. Combing the site for mistakes and unacceptable content is an ongoing process as we speak.

3. Resources
Helium has a proven track record for generating income in a variety of ways. For those writers who are confident in their skills and have no wish to utilize the social opportunities of Helium, the Helium Marketplace provides regular opportunities for a writer to provide publisher requested material. The contests are available for those who like the competition, and for those who just want to write, the more articles you have on Helium, the more earning potential there is. For others who need to fine tune their writing skills, or have never written for an online format before, mentors and workshops are available.

4. Freedom
A writer is free to make whatever choices that suit their lifestyle and availability. A minimum amount of participation is required in order to make a continual stream of income from Helium, but few things in life are any different. The modern day version of snake oil salesmen are everywhere promising to show you how to make money by doing little, or nothing. The truth is; we reap what we sow and an online income is no different than any other. If you don't apply yourself and work hard and consistently, you won't make any money.

5. Innovation
Helium started out as a different online writing site and it remains so today. CEO Mark Ranalli is dedicated to the constant improvement of Helium. At times, the constant changes can be nerve wracking for even the most dedicated Heliumite, but the bottom line is; Mr Ranalli is the driving force behind Helium. His vision of what can be achieved never falters and the changes at Helium are only a means to an end. Don't miss the end!

The future of Helium knows no bounds. Give it a chance to develop and mature and in the mean time... keep writing!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Featured Zones

This week's feature is managed by Veronica Shine. It's a hot topic for summer and all those trying to look their best in swimwear!

Stop by the How to get a flat stomach fast zone for some great toning tips.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Featured Zones

Let's go global this week. Traveling is on many minds at this time of the year. If you're considering a European vacation check out Traveling in France and the French West Indies by Audrey-Anastasia Alleyne.

Don't miss the tips for travelers and don't forget to leave a comment for Audrey-Anastasia if you like what you see.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Featured Zones

The steadily growing Helium zones truly provide something for everyone! This week's featured zone is one of several by Carlie Lawson, aka Guitar Grrl. GuitarGrrl's Guitar Zone is a must-see first stop for Carlie's awesome guitar zones.

Music lovers and guitar players, from beginner to advanced, will find some interesting stuff on GuitarGrrl's Helium zones! Look for links to her other zones from this zone and leave a comment for her while you're there!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Featured Helium Zone

This week's featured zone covers a health topic; fibromyalgia. Laurie Boris presents some great educational information and advice for fibromyalgia sufferers on this zone. If you have fibromyalgia, or are close to someone that suffers from this painful condition, this zone is a must see!

The Fibromyalgia Zone on Helium

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this zone.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Featured Helium Zone

This week's featured zone is a How-to by Helium's own beloved Jim Bessey. Jim's patient and encouraging words reverberate through both the halls of Betaville and on the main site.

Stop by The DIY Ceramic Tile Zone and leave Jim a comment.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

This week's featured Helium zone

This week's featured zone is by Ethel Smith. The Blues Zone is a must for a fan of the blues. It's loaded with information about blues artists from the past and the present. You will also find links to other sites all about the blues and CD reviews. Stop by and vote on the poll and leave Ethel a comment on this cool page!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Real estate knowledge in demand!

Writers from all over the United States are being called on to write about the current state of the real estate market in their area. Check out the big payouts on this Marketplace listing

* Contributors to Helium's Marketplace must be registered. Registration is free and no spam, ever!

Come and grow with us at the best writing community on the web!

Helium.com

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Helium Zones

Helium's zones are still in Beta but growing in functionality and popularity daily. As with any project, it takes some time to get everything flowing and all the curb appeal accomplished. Helium takes a lot of flack for making changes that lead to the very improvements that are making us all more money. Buckle up ladies and gentleman because Helium continues to rise!

My latest zone is my personal page Tina Hartley

Stay tuned to the unofficial Helium blog on blogger for upcoming zones. Thomas the Tank Engine is up next, dedicated to my grandson, Jayvon.

Next week I will start featuring other zones written by Helium's finest!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Helium.com - the best website for writers on the web! If you're a writer and you haven't checked out Helium, do it today. You really don't know what your missing.

Upfront payments for eligible articles
Daily ad revenue sharing for eligible writers
Helium's Marketplace where publishers look for the content the need now!
Marketplace Premier titles for eligible writers

Check out Helium's new zone pages

Auto Insurance

Teen Views

Surviving the Terrible Twos