Studio Blog

Each year the editorial team at Demand Media takes time to recognize our favorite article, writers and/or filmmakers. Each editor will reveal their pick(s) every day of December in the blog, and explain why it stood out to them.
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Numerous questions likely go through a writer’s head when drafting an article for Demand Media Studios. Does the article answer the question in the title? Does it meet the style guidelines? What about the format guidelines? Did I include an engaging lede and leave out all the serial commas?  It can be easy to get so caught up in fulfilling the title that you might forget to give the article a voice. A good article will give you the information you need, but a really great article will both enlighten and entertain. A great article has soul.
It’s not easy injecting soul into seemingly mundane topics like managing your retirement fund or installing a kitchen sink, but great articles do just that. I believe this is because the writers of these articles understand that to the reader, the topic is not mundane; they need that information for something, so it’s important to them. I may not want to learn about filing my taxes, but if I have to read an article about it, I hope to be engaged and entertained by the writing.
Deb Powers does a beautiful job of instilling her article, “Edible Common Garden Plants,” with a voice.  She not only provides a wealth of information on the topic, but also the draws the reader into the article with her personable voice and wonderful descriptions. The introduction is helpful and uplifting. I’m immediately thinking about all the possibilities of using edible garden plants in my cooking. She makes the process seem fun and accessible. The body of the article is really where Deb’s voice shines through though. Instead of simply giving the basic information on growing and eating the various plants in the article, Deb sets you up with really lovely images of colorful flowers making their way from the garden to your plate. It’s easy enough to say that certain flowers are popular and come in many colors, but her descriptions go beyond that by creating a scene in the reader’s head.
Functionally, the article provides a wealth of information on what parts of the plants are edible, how to prepare them, what they taste like and what dishes to make with each plant. This is the meat of the article and she backs up her research by citing reputable experts. This gives the reader confidence in the content. Readers who trusts the information in an article will not only be satisfied with their experience, but will come back to read more articles the next time they have a question.
Ultimately, Deb’s article is a great example of what each article written in Demand Media Studios can be. It’s helpful, fun and full of soul. It’s not the only one either. Picking a single article as my favorite for the year was not easy. Writers are producing articles just like this every day. They are helping and inspiring their readers, and that is really the ultimate goal with each and every article whether you’re writing about gardening, taxes or the kitchen sink.

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.




Hello, my name is ShawnTe Pierce, and I am a 32-year old freelance fashion designer and writer with a bachelor’s degree in apparel design. I heard about Demand Media Studios in the forum of another writing site and decided to apply. Demand Media Studios has been a godsend, allowing me to earn as little or as much as I need. With the health problems my mother is facing, I have the freedom to be her support because I make my own hours. With twice-a-week payments, I can fill in the gaps for her and treat myself every now then.

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 Jennifer Streit. I have been writing for one medium or another since I was in high school, culminating with an English degree and a professional writing certificate. When my oldest child was diagnosed with medical issues that prevented her from going to a traditional, brick and mortar public school, I was stuck. Then I found Demand Media Studios and am now able to stay home, teach my children and still pay all the bills. I can write when I want, which allows me to focus on my family and household. The flexibility of writing from anywhere with an Internet connection has allowed me to visit family halfway across the country much more frequently. Writing for Demand Media Studios has been the best of all worlds. While I still enjoy taking on more traditional freelance projects, I depend on the steady income of Demand Media Studios and enjoy the articles I write as much as any others.

Each year the editorial team at Demand Media takes time to recognize our favorite article, writers and/or filmmakers. Each editor will reveal their pick(s) every day of December in the blog, and explain why it stood out to them.

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As 2010 comes to a close, the editorial team here is tasked yet again to pick our favorite article of the last year. In the past 12 months, our writers have made great strides in improving quality, and each year, picking a favorite article becomes a little harder.

At Demand Media Studios, our goal with each article is pretty simple: to inform and entertain. Accomplishing this is not always easy, especially given the niche titles our writers tackle. Informing means you not only have to establish credibility with the audience, but you have to follow through by providing useful information that speaks to the title in its entirety. Credibility — while crucial — means nothing if you don’t follow it with valuable, practical information. And entertaining is just as important as informing. You must hook your reader from the get-go and continue to engage him throughout the entire article. The introduction is not enough. Compelling the reader from beginning to end is vital. A lot of people call this voice. It’s not easy to successfully accomplish, but you know it when you see it. 

Barbara Dunlap’s article, Ways to Care for a Parent With Memory Loss, is both informing and entertaining. Admittedly, I don’t have a parent with memory loss, so I can’t personally relate, but as a reader, I’m engaged in this article — not because I have to be, but because it’s well-written. She takes a very sensitive subject and provides useful information that delicately speaks to the title in an uplifting manner. It’s not dry. It’s not weak. It’s not boring. And it does its job. Barbara immediately establishes rapport with the audience. She speaks to the reader, recognizing the challenges — both for the parent and the child — that come with caring for a parent with memory loss. Dunlap doesn’t idyllically dance around the subject, nor does she provide a meager outlook either. The introduction is carefully crafted to provide context behind the topic and create a relationship with the audience, however niche it may be.

As she transitions into the meat of the article, Barbara provides real-world, useful advice. She establishes credibility early on with authoritative references, and she effectively balances these references with original reporting. Instead of merely listing a handful of ways to care for a parent with memory loss solely to complete the article — as some writers tend to do — she goes one step further, structuring the article into categories, each replete with concrete, applicable advice. Instead of simply advising “deal with difficult behaviors,” Dunlap offers numerous hands-on explanations of how to deal with it. 

And finally, Barbara rounds the article off with advice on how the child can take care of herself — something that, while essential in caring for a parent with memory loss, is easy to overlook. In caring for a parent with memory loss, it’s imperative the child also take care of his owns needs as well. And instead of neglecting this very important piece of information, like some articles on the topic do, Barbara offers the reader something to walk away with: suggestions on how to care for a parent, and in doing that, how to simultaneously care for oneself.

As I alluded to earlier, picking a favorite article this year was no easy task. There are many other articles just like Barbara’s. As writers, it is your job to inform and entertain with each and every article you write. And as editors, it’s your job to ensure each article accomplishes this. Think like a reader, and get into the reader’s mind. Hook him. And educate him. As long as you carry these two principles with you in each and every article you publish, you’ll continue to successfully build a lasting readership.

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 Graham Ulmer. I have experience as a researcher for the Army's Center for Enhanced Performance. I got my M.S. in exercise science from the University of Idaho and began working as a part-time researcher for the army. I received certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association not too long ago and quickly heard about the opportunity with Demand Media Studios. Demand Media Studios has been a great way to fill in my income and has even allowed me to purchase my first home. I am 28, and I love the freelance lifestyle Demand Media Studios provides. I have nothing but positive things to say about this company, its platform, management and contributors. I currently view Demand Media Studios as my main source of income, and since I live on a small island in the Puget Sound, it’s the most convenient job I could imagine. I hope it never goes away.

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 Lisa Rusczyk. I am a novelist and freelancer, both in writing and editing. I found Demand Media Studios over a year ago, and my favorite part of writing for the company is the flexibility. I can work when I want or need to and have plenty of time to edit and write fiction. The writer support is a wonderful conglomerate of peers, and there are endless opportunities to write content on what I already know or want to learn about. I am a shy person, and working from home gives me the freedom to feel comfortable while I work.

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 Hayley Harrison. Most of my experience as a writer revolved around fiction prior to Demand Media Studios. My “real job” as a branch manager of a bank was stressful and not what I wanted to do with my life. I started writing for Demand Media Studios to make extra money but enjoyed it so much that I now write full time. Demand Media Studios works for me because I have a 6-year-old autistic son, and this is the first time in his life I've been able to really be involved in his school and therapy. Plus, I'm making more money than what I made at the bank.