Studio Blog
Welcome to the Demand Studios Blog – a resource for writers, contributors and freelancers alike! Come here for answers to your questions, Studio news, writing tips and more.
Studio Blog
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
I'm Andrea Lott, a career freelance actor, writer and educator from Indianapolis. Working from home for Demand Media Studios allows me to parent my daughter while earning money and getting my creative “fix” during the day. By night, I can still rehearse, teach and spend time with my family on my own schedule. I make good money researching and writing topics that interest me, and I retain the flexibility to grow my artistic career.
I'm Andrea Lott, a career freelance actor, writer and educator from Indianapolis. Working from home for Demand Media Studios allows me to parent my daughter while earning money and getting my creative “fix” during the day. By night, I can still rehearse, teach and spend time with my family on my own schedule. I make good money researching and writing topics that interest me, and I retain the flexibility to grow my artistic career.
Editor's Note: This is the final installment of a four-part series from Greg West, our Studio intern who is currently majoring in print/digital journalism at USC. West recently completed his internship with Demand Medis Studios and is on his way back to USC for the fall. Please enjoy.
Read part one here.
Read part two here.
Read part three here.
As I reflected upon my first experience as a junior reporter, I knew that I was beginning to love the job that I had originally hated; my first impression of the newsroom had turned out to be completely wrong.
Writing mundane stories used to drive me to shenangains around the office, but I now caught myself taking everything a little more seriously. I would visit the paper's website just to quietly stare in disbelief at my article.
Sure, I’d had articles published in newspapers and written a couple petite blogs, but this time was different. This article represented a piece of me; it represented what I considered to be the first real bit of reporting that I had ever done. It was important to me, and there were so many interesting experiences tied up in this article. I got to connect with fascinating people like Travis’ family in the Winnebago and go to the Phish concert in Mansfield, both of which brought new perspectives to my writing. However, the most important thing this article taught me was that I would be able to handle myself as an effective journalist.
Through this process I realized that reporting and searching out stories is what made journalism fun for me. Of course, this dually meant that I would have to sit around in the newsroom all day and actually work (and I mean WORK) on the stories I had covered, which I hated. And when I say "hated," I mean I would rather try to cage an angry badger than hang around the newsroom for 10 hours, but I guess even superman has a day job. In the midst of all of these new self-discoveries, I had also become interested in a new aspect of journalism: the online aspect. This was lucky, because things seem to be quickly changing.
All around the country newspapers are dying; local syndication is going up in flames. In Massachusetts, I got to see it firsthand at the local newspaper where I was working. Near the end of my job, right before I would head off to college, my editor approached me and asked politely if I would refrain from throwing anything “smelly” away after today. When I asked her why, she told me that the paper had just cut three-fourths of its cleaning staff due to budgeting issues.
The world of print journalism is digitizing fast, and as I stared at my words flickering on the monitor, I couldn’t wait to get out there and change it.
Read part one here.
Read part two here.
Read part three here.
As I reflected upon my first experience as a junior reporter, I knew that I was beginning to love the job that I had originally hated; my first impression of the newsroom had turned out to be completely wrong.
Writing mundane stories used to drive me to shenangains around the office, but I now caught myself taking everything a little more seriously. I would visit the paper's website just to quietly stare in disbelief at my article.
Sure, I’d had articles published in newspapers and written a couple petite blogs, but this time was different. This article represented a piece of me; it represented what I considered to be the first real bit of reporting that I had ever done. It was important to me, and there were so many interesting experiences tied up in this article. I got to connect with fascinating people like Travis’ family in the Winnebago and go to the Phish concert in Mansfield, both of which brought new perspectives to my writing. However, the most important thing this article taught me was that I would be able to handle myself as an effective journalist.
Through this process I realized that reporting and searching out stories is what made journalism fun for me. Of course, this dually meant that I would have to sit around in the newsroom all day and actually work (and I mean WORK) on the stories I had covered, which I hated. And when I say "hated," I mean I would rather try to cage an angry badger than hang around the newsroom for 10 hours, but I guess even superman has a day job. In the midst of all of these new self-discoveries, I had also become interested in a new aspect of journalism: the online aspect. This was lucky, because things seem to be quickly changing.
All around the country newspapers are dying; local syndication is going up in flames. In Massachusetts, I got to see it firsthand at the local newspaper where I was working. Near the end of my job, right before I would head off to college, my editor approached me and asked politely if I would refrain from throwing anything “smelly” away after today. When I asked her why, she told me that the paper had just cut three-fourths of its cleaning staff due to budgeting issues.
The world of print journalism is digitizing fast, and as I stared at my words flickering on the monitor, I couldn’t wait to get out there and change it.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
My name is Pam Gaulin, and I am a journalist-turned-professional writer. Demand Media Studios has ruined me. Never again will I be able to tolerate a cubicle for eight hours, wear panty hose daily, eat lunch on a schedule or sit through unproductive meetings. Thanks to Demand Media Studios, I am doing more than merely surviving in this jungle of a world. Demand Media Studios provides plenty of meaty topics for me to sink my teeth into and devour. Whether I work a few hours or a full day, Demand Media Studios is always there for me, with more writing opportunities.
My name is Pam Gaulin, and I am a journalist-turned-professional writer. Demand Media Studios has ruined me. Never again will I be able to tolerate a cubicle for eight hours, wear panty hose daily, eat lunch on a schedule or sit through unproductive meetings. Thanks to Demand Media Studios, I am doing more than merely surviving in this jungle of a world. Demand Media Studios provides plenty of meaty topics for me to sink my teeth into and devour. Whether I work a few hours or a full day, Demand Media Studios is always there for me, with more writing opportunities.
Anyone going back to school or getting some little ones ready for the fall? We decided to ask the team over here in Santa Monica what they remember about going back to school. Here's what they said:
In one word (maybe two), what do you remember about going back to school?
In one word (maybe two), what do you remember about going back to school?
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
My name is Veronica Muo. I have previously written for many online sites, but of those, I believe Demand Media Studios is the best, hands down. There is always plenty of work available, most of the editors are friendly, the pay is quick, and I learn a lot while researching the articles. It truly is the best thing out there, and I love how I can set my own hours and work as little or as much as I want. My only regret is not discovering it earlier. I can't wait to write more articles.
My name is Veronica Muo. I have previously written for many online sites, but of those, I believe Demand Media Studios is the best, hands down. There is always plenty of work available, most of the editors are friendly, the pay is quick, and I learn a lot while researching the articles. It truly is the best thing out there, and I love how I can set my own hours and work as little or as much as I want. My only regret is not discovering it earlier. I can't wait to write more articles.
Editor's Note: We were recently put in touch with one of our copy editors during his road trip West. During the trip, he continued to copyedit, but he also documented his trip with pictures and an ongoing journal. This is part of what he saw and experienced during his adventure of editing from the road.
The desert lends itself to “Mad Max”-style fantasias. I spent much of my recent three-week motorcycle trip out West trying to stay ahead of the post-apocalyptic desert wasteland mutants, who revealed themselves through weird driving—Ma and Pa Kettle-types whose interests included setting the cruise control in the passing lane.
It was 112 degrees at my first stop in Nevada. I baked in my black leather shell. By the time I got to my friend’s place in Las Vegas, I wasn’t thinking straight. I rehydrated and changed into civilian clothes.
Before we hit the Strip, I sat down to approve some rewrites. My buddy was curious about what I did for a living. I showed him the DMS system on my netbook and explained it in a nutshell, this mysterious online gig that my friends and loved ones don’t quite get.
“So someone somewhere writes an article—‘How to Shave a Pekinese in Peoria,’ for instance—and I click on it because it piques my interest, and I fix the commas.”
I left before daybreak so I could get across the desert before the ungodly heat began. I think I saw Hunter Thompson’s bats outside Barstow. In San Francisco, I caught a glimpse of the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, which are visible only to those who are pure of heart, so I’ve got that going for me. Heading into Los Angeles during the morning rush, I got behind an outlaw Harley whose Luciferian pipes cleared a path for my polite British bike as we split lanes into downtown. The trip felt like a pilgrimage when I went to the Dennis Hopper retrospective at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art. I also met up with two CE colleagues there, Rose Auerbach and Kelly Hartog, which made this strange job seem almost normal for the first time.
On my way back home through Arizona, the sky suddenly turned black. A nice long trip wouldn’t be the same without having to take shelter under an overpass, throw on your rain gear, crank Sabbath up on your earbuds and head out into the maelstrom. Riding through Utah once, I was hit with the quadruple threat of rain, sleet, hail and snow as thunder and lightning hammered the earth. The Arizona downpour wasn’t as terrifying, but it was a tense 80 miles to Flagstaff, trying to avoid all the standing water, which erases the friendly connection between tires and road. The slightest change in weight distribution or direction can win your noodle an invite to the pavement party.
After a long tour, it takes a couple of days to adjust to civilian life. As you putter about the house, you occasionally have absent thoughts of the next place you’re going to get gas, sleep, eat, stretch. But you’re home, and all that stuff is there in one neat package. The office isn’t in a noisy Starbucks or at a lonely motel desk. It’s in your dining room, where it’s been waiting patiently for you to return—along with your cat, who looks a little, yes, pissed off.
The desert lends itself to “Mad Max”-style fantasias. I spent much of my recent three-week motorcycle trip out West trying to stay ahead of the post-apocalyptic desert wasteland mutants, who revealed themselves through weird driving—Ma and Pa Kettle-types whose interests included setting the cruise control in the passing lane.
It was 112 degrees at my first stop in Nevada. I baked in my black leather shell. By the time I got to my friend’s place in Las Vegas, I wasn’t thinking straight. I rehydrated and changed into civilian clothes.
Before we hit the Strip, I sat down to approve some rewrites. My buddy was curious about what I did for a living. I showed him the DMS system on my netbook and explained it in a nutshell, this mysterious online gig that my friends and loved ones don’t quite get.
“So someone somewhere writes an article—‘How to Shave a Pekinese in Peoria,’ for instance—and I click on it because it piques my interest, and I fix the commas.”
I left before daybreak so I could get across the desert before the ungodly heat began. I think I saw Hunter Thompson’s bats outside Barstow. In San Francisco, I caught a glimpse of the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, which are visible only to those who are pure of heart, so I’ve got that going for me. Heading into Los Angeles during the morning rush, I got behind an outlaw Harley whose Luciferian pipes cleared a path for my polite British bike as we split lanes into downtown. The trip felt like a pilgrimage when I went to the Dennis Hopper retrospective at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art. I also met up with two CE colleagues there, Rose Auerbach and Kelly Hartog, which made this strange job seem almost normal for the first time.
On my way back home through Arizona, the sky suddenly turned black. A nice long trip wouldn’t be the same without having to take shelter under an overpass, throw on your rain gear, crank Sabbath up on your earbuds and head out into the maelstrom. Riding through Utah once, I was hit with the quadruple threat of rain, sleet, hail and snow as thunder and lightning hammered the earth. The Arizona downpour wasn’t as terrifying, but it was a tense 80 miles to Flagstaff, trying to avoid all the standing water, which erases the friendly connection between tires and road. The slightest change in weight distribution or direction can win your noodle an invite to the pavement party.
After a long tour, it takes a couple of days to adjust to civilian life. As you putter about the house, you occasionally have absent thoughts of the next place you’re going to get gas, sleep, eat, stretch. But you’re home, and all that stuff is there in one neat package. The office isn’t in a noisy Starbucks or at a lonely motel desk. It’s in your dining room, where it’s been waiting patiently for you to return—along with your cat, who looks a little, yes, pissed off.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
My name is Darla Himeles. I am a poet who decided it was time to quit my full-time job, move to the middle of the woods and focus on my passion: writing. Poetry is not a lucrative business in general, but I have found a meaningful and stimulating balance between freelance editing and writing and my poetry. Thanks to Demand Media Studios, I always have a backup when other freelance clients fall away or struggle to pay. More and more, Demand Media Studios is becoming my primary client. The work is fascinating, I'm learning a ton, and I no longer stutter when I answer, “I'm a poet — and a professional writer.” Thanks, Demand Media Studios.
My name is Darla Himeles. I am a poet who decided it was time to quit my full-time job, move to the middle of the woods and focus on my passion: writing. Poetry is not a lucrative business in general, but I have found a meaningful and stimulating balance between freelance editing and writing and my poetry. Thanks to Demand Media Studios, I always have a backup when other freelance clients fall away or struggle to pay. More and more, Demand Media Studios is becoming my primary client. The work is fascinating, I'm learning a ton, and I no longer stutter when I answer, “I'm a poet — and a professional writer.” Thanks, Demand Media Studios.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
My name is Kevin Whipps, and I'm a writer and photographer from Tempe, Ariz. I've been working in the industry for 10 years now, first as a freelancer, then on staff at a publication in town. I now own my own business, writing full time and working as much as possible. I started writing for Demand Media Studios as a side gig, something to earn some extra money for bills or toys. When my wife was laid off, Demand Media Studios helped fill a few gaps. I started my company last October, using Demand Media Studios to help with the transition from full-time pay, so that I could get paid while waiting for those magazine checks to start rolling in. When my wife was laid off for the third time in November, Demand Media Studios became a way to fill in even more gaps. On top of it all, our first child was born in February, and without Demand Media Studios on our side, we would be in a world of hurt. Thanks Demand Media Studios.
My name is Kevin Whipps, and I'm a writer and photographer from Tempe, Ariz. I've been working in the industry for 10 years now, first as a freelancer, then on staff at a publication in town. I now own my own business, writing full time and working as much as possible. I started writing for Demand Media Studios as a side gig, something to earn some extra money for bills or toys. When my wife was laid off, Demand Media Studios helped fill a few gaps. I started my company last October, using Demand Media Studios to help with the transition from full-time pay, so that I could get paid while waiting for those magazine checks to start rolling in. When my wife was laid off for the third time in November, Demand Media Studios became a way to fill in even more gaps. On top of it all, our first child was born in February, and without Demand Media Studios on our side, we would be in a world of hurt. Thanks Demand Media Studios.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
I'm Rebecca Reinstein, and I have been writing professionally for more than three years. I thoroughly enjoy working for Demand Media Studios in every way. The experiences with the editors have, for the most part, been beneficial to my writing, and I truly enjoy the process. Demand Media Studios gives me the freedom to make money when I need to and also provides a great outlet for developing my skills. I especially enjoy how many topics there are to choose from and the fact that there are always a multitude of options specifically for me and my interests. No matter where I go, people are amazed when I tell them about my “job” and are instantly interested in learning more about what I do.
I'm Rebecca Reinstein, and I have been writing professionally for more than three years. I thoroughly enjoy working for Demand Media Studios in every way. The experiences with the editors have, for the most part, been beneficial to my writing, and I truly enjoy the process. Demand Media Studios gives me the freedom to make money when I need to and also provides a great outlet for developing my skills. I especially enjoy how many topics there are to choose from and the fact that there are always a multitude of options specifically for me and my interests. No matter where I go, people are amazed when I tell them about my “job” and are instantly interested in learning more about what I do.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for Demand Media Studios? We checked in with our community of freelance creators — writers, copy editors, filmmakers and titlers — and asked them to share their experiences. Hundreds of people chimed in about why Demand Media works for them. Tune in daily to read their firsthand accounts.
Hi, I'm Caryn Anderson, and I was born writing. I've been telling stories ever since I was a little girl and was lucky enough to get my degree from NYU. I worked for a short time in publishing and in the corporate world as a professional negotiator. In the back of my mind, I always yearned to resume my real career. In 2007, my local office was closed, and my choice was clear. Setting my own hours and exercising my creativity are just a few of the things that I love about Demand Media Studios. I love the innumerable topics giving me a variety of subjects to write about, the reliable (and twice-weekly) payments and the flexibility to work anywhere. I had given up hope of ever making a living doing what I love to do, and now I'm on my way to living my dreams. Demand Media Studios, thank you for reinvigorating my life.
Hi, I'm Caryn Anderson, and I was born writing. I've been telling stories ever since I was a little girl and was lucky enough to get my degree from NYU. I worked for a short time in publishing and in the corporate world as a professional negotiator. In the back of my mind, I always yearned to resume my real career. In 2007, my local office was closed, and my choice was clear. Setting my own hours and exercising my creativity are just a few of the things that I love about Demand Media Studios. I love the innumerable topics giving me a variety of subjects to write about, the reliable (and twice-weekly) payments and the flexibility to work anywhere. I had given up hope of ever making a living doing what I love to do, and now I'm on my way to living my dreams. Demand Media Studios, thank you for reinvigorating my life.
