Market | Cathy C. Hall Writes

After months of waffling back and forth, I finally hooked up with Demand Studios, a web content provider that pays a little cash for a little knowledge and speedy writing. And I’m constantly amazed at the articles I find on their assignment board. This week, I got paid to write “How to Write a Check for Cash.”

Now, besides being easy money, the whole check-cashing article was HI-larious to the beneficent Mr. Hall. See, I refuse to do banking business. It’s not that I can’t do banking business. Just that I don’t like to do the banking business. But I wrote that little “how to” and took that little check payable to Cathy C. Hall straight to the bank. (It was Paypal, actually, but that doesn’t work as well with that particular bon mot, does it?)

So, if you have knowledge about specific topics, like knives, or wood lathes, or um, banking, and you can write simple “How to” articles fast and furiously, then it pays to check out Demand Studios.

Now if that’s not an intriguing title for a post, I don’t know what is. In fact, it would make a good first line if The First Line Magazine didn’t already have a spiffy one for this upcoming issue.

So, if you’re good at writing stories from a first line, you might want to try your hand at this one: While not the intended effect, the outcome was surprisingly satisfying (written by Matt McHugh). Your story can’t be shorter than 300 words or longer than 3,000 words if you want it to be considered for this market. Oh, and you have to use that first line exactly as it is written. I’m not sure I’ll come up with something; so far, I’m uninspired. The last issue’s line had to do with a drive-thru funeral business, which I found totally inspiring, but never got around to er, actually writing. Maybe you’re more disciplined. If so, check out TFL magazine here and get the details. You have till November 1, 2008 to think up something, write it, and send it in. You might find a surprsingly satisfying outcome if you’re published!

Now, on to The Mother’s Hen, a contest sponsored by The Muse Marquee. You’ll need to dash over to the ezine now if you want to get something in for this contest. Entries won’t be accepted after October 10th. And you’ll need to read everything carefully before you start writing. ‘Cause honestly, I don’t remember the details. But c’mon. Who can pass up something called Mother Hen’s Contest?

In the words of Tim Gunn, “I’m intrigued.” So, start writing and make it work.