Well, I’m trying it, anyway.  I’ve signed up for a content mill, which shall remain nameless.  It feels vaguely sordid, as the pay for these mills is pretty low, and the whole thing is writing to a specific content generated by google search terms. On the other hand, it’s a bit like working on a daily paper, trying to keep ahead of the demand for news, coming up with good info as needed, sorting out the wheat from the chaff.

It’s a bit of a process. I had to apply, stating my qualifications.  This was carefully screened.  Then I had to write up my bi0, which was dictated in format and very clearly laid out. I’ve already been asked to revise once. Finally, I have to work my way through three articles before I am truly part of the clan. The unfortunate thing is that most of the titles they want someone to write on seem to be about “how to alter the knocking noise on the Wankel Rotary Engine”, something about which I could not write even if my life depended on it. I mean, first, I’d have to decide what the thing WAS they wanted me to write about, and then really try to squeeze my tiny bit of knowledge and references into a small space.  As everyone knows, it is easier to write short about things you know well.

In any case, as someone who works best to deadline, the one week to write it specification sounds perfect.  Most articles are less than 400 words long – more are in the 200-300 category.  When you look at it that way, the pay doesn’t seem so bad.

So why do I feel so dirty?