If you have not checked out About.com and their freelance contributing writer opportunities, you may want to consider doing so. This program is different than the “Guide” program About has offered for a long time now; Freelance Contributing Writers work alongside Guides covering specific subtopics that fall within the larger topics of the About GuideSites. While contributing writers are responsible for producing a certain amount of posts each month, they are not responsible for managing or maintaining a full GuideSite.
About.com offers contributing writers $500 monthly (guaranteed minimum) for their first two years; After two years, writers will be given a guaranteed $250 monthly minimum. Freelance contributing writers will also receive payment incentives for pageview growth. So writers can earn even more than the minimum monthly compensation.
If you apply for a position as a freelance contributing writer, you will go through a month long training program in which you will work with an editor. During the training period, you will write 4 articles under the supervision of your editor. Final hiring decisions will come at the end of your training program and after your writing has been evaluated. This training period is not paid.
There are numerous topics to cover as a Freelance Contributing Writer for About.com, and writers should choose a topic they have had at least 5 years of experience either professionally or as a dedicated hobby with the topic they choose.
To learn more about becoming a Freelance Contributing Writer, visit About.com.