Crowdsource Top Tier Writing Hits

Discussion in 'Requesters' started by jbird7, Nov 2, 2012.

  1. deeriley

    deeriley User

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    winner, don't feel bad. The same exact thing happened to me. In fact, I was about to post a new thread ranting about how much CS sucks (that's why I'm at the boards today, lol) when I came across your comments.

    I'm an excellent writer as well (I sold content on Constant-Content 2-3 ago) and submitted my best work for the "assessment". Then on Monday, I was also given the "you don't have the skillset but we have your information on file" email. Then I started reading some threads here from people talking about all the "difficult" computer and techie themed articles they had to write, and here I am, a techie who builds my own computers and owns gadgets and cameras up the wazoo.

    I know how upsetting it is to have been rejected, but look at this rejection as a chance to do freelancing elsewhere, aside from mturk. Who knows? CS may have just done us a favor by not allowing us to take the test.
     
  2. pieper

    pieper User

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    Well, I took the "survey" and received an invitation today. Not to say I'll get it, of course,or keep it. I got the TT Qual once and they snapped it away - but I'm a great editor (according to them) - so I'm thinking, what???? I'm good enough to rewrite someone else's mess, but I can't write??? So, I put that behind me, then took the survey.

    I haven't even looked at the assessment yet - am going to wait until tomorrow when the house is quiet and I am rested. I don't expect to get the qual. Oh, and BTW, they chose an area of "expertise" for me out of the choices I checked. Not the one I wanted :)

    winner and deeriley specifically - don't be discouraged by their assessments of your abilities. Your fellow Turkers are editing the work, which is then edited by an editor working for CS - as far as I can tell anyway. If they aren't familiar with the subject (like I am not a techie, so how would I know if the content was "good" or not and wouldn't edit that particular subject--well, for spelling and style, but certainly not for content) - then you end up being judged by someone who maybe doesn't have a clue.

    There are so many things that could be right with CS - and many things that are right - but there's some basic continuity that is missing - in their desire to please their client, I think they are missing an opportunity to get good writers and then groom them into what their client is looking for and keep them. I do think CS's titles are outrageous and like who would really wanna know that stuff (like what color lipstick to wear to prom--lol--being facetious, but I think you know what I mean).

    Okay, I'm babbling - but just wanted to put in my support and agreement with your points...
     
  3. amberkshire

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    :)

    We were told on "the other forum" that there is something in the works to allow TT writers to advance to Beta, those who are the only ones allowed to write the articles now. I wonder if, at the same time, they'll open the test back up for everyone else.
     
  4. pieper

    pieper User

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    I wish I had enough time to spend on the "other" forum so I could become "accepted" - LOL...
     
  5. McUser

    McUser User

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    Yes - only a small amount of users (Beta-approved) can write articles. I'm really bummed out, because I had been writing for CrowdSource for two years, yet I'm apparently not one of the chosen few, nor does it look like I will ever be again. No invitations here.
     
  6. amberkshire

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    "other forum" news...

    Apparently, the survey is to see if your interests match up with upcoming articles. For instance, they were looking for writers with interests in "food" and "health" for this next batch. So, if you didn't choose one or both of those for your interests, you weren't selected at this point. I assume as they get more subjects, they will accept more writers based on the interest surveys.
     
  7. McUser

    McUser User

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    Thanks for posting this. I actually did answer "food!" Oh well :)
     
  8. pieper

    pieper User

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    I got my qualification for "health" yesterday - just a few days until they match up with my Turk account and verify that, then I can start writing ... I think they learned their lesson the last time and need to pace themselves in accepting authors. Perhaps they will contact you about the "food" interest as soon as they screen through some of the applicants they first extended assessment tests to.
     
  9. McUser

    McUser User

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    We'll see... anyway, enjoy your health articles! :)
     
  10. winner

    winner Member

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    I completely understood that, but my thing is, since when does ANYONE'S interests frequently match to what they write? Do they think they'll get better work out of it? Any writer can research and turn out a couple hundred words. Also, from what I've heard it doesn't seem as though it takes that long for anyone, if they assume "experts" would work more quickly.

    If only I didn't think (at that time) I'd have qualms about writing about "sickness" I would have chosen "medical issues" but I stopped myself. I actually went and analyzed subjects I knew people were writing on (had a chart and everything) to see which ones I should choose... all in vain. One of the first ones I picked was "food/recipes" because it is a genuine interest of mine and a SERIOUS one at that.

    Either way, I love how you try to keep our hopes up. I've noticed your positivity on other posts. I don't know how right you are, but it feels just a little better with your attempts LOL.

    I wondered about that too, considering they had too many writers in ratio to editors/reviewers. If they couldn't handle that, they should have never had the sign up for the upcoming test, they could have just closed it indefinitely, but apparently they planned on adding more even back then.
     
    #370 winner, Jun 7, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2013
  11. amberkshire

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    Thanks! I try to think positively about others, even if it doesn't turn out positively. Another thing is I feel badly for those not given the opportunity to write (or continue writing for TT writers that didn't get invited to Beta). I don't know what I would do without this opportunity right now. I sure wouldn't be as positive, I believe. While this is not my main source of income, it has provided us with the money needed to get our checkbook out of the red, and it's getting me through my maternity leave.
     
  12. pieper

    pieper User

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    Don't ever give up on those TT writing qualifications. They yanked mine several months ago and I've won it back. I learned a whole lot about what they want and need in their articles by editing in the meantime.

    I have found that you don't need to be a GREAT writer to write good info - you need to understand what it is they are looking for (and sometimes that is obscure--but you get used to them and it's a lot easier), do good research and follow the AP style guide.

    The company even encourages you to reapply every 30 days...so don't give up! :)
     
  13. McUser

    McUser User

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    Thanks, pieper. It was pretty disheartening to lose my qual after 2 years of writing, but I will just wait to be invited to the test, I guess.
     
  14. pieper

    pieper User

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    Did you sign up at writer dot com for the qualification test notification? I got on the waiting list there and was contacted to take the assessment test.
     
  15. McUser

    McUser User

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    Pieper, I just did this the other day - I had been unaware that this was what was required of us.

    I have written for Englishmajor.com/Juggle/etc since they were known as MidwestRequest. Now that I look back, I started in 2009. I had to stop working because of offline freelance opportunities, but as those are now coming to a close, I am starting to get frantic about finding more online work. Anyway, thanks for your advice.
     
  16. pieper

    pieper User

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    Apparently this is where CS is now screening their writers, rather than posting on Amazon...at least that's how it seems. I think they have more control over how many they invite at one time, which allows them more evaluation time. At least that's my impression.

    With all your writing experience, you should do fine when they send you the assessment. There will also be several multiple choice grammar and punctuation questions, plus the writing sample.
     
  17. pieper

    pieper User

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    The skills and interest test is listed under Crowdsource on Amazon. Did you fill that one out?
     
  18. winner

    winner Member

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    It's off-limits to those who don't already have the qualification, I don't understand why it's listed or why they show the number available.

    The only reason I got an email was because I signed up on the website back in February. All my waiting was in vain, apparently. I heard by someone else they'd already closed the test (survey) again. I don't know what that meant, really, but apparently this is what he'd seen.
     
  19. pieper

    pieper User

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    That's just crazy...why would we be able to see it and not the ones who need to take it? Sometimes, CS makes me crazy! :)
     
  20. winner

    winner Member

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    So only those who know where to go [the website] would have access. Like you said, they want to have more control over how many people they add at once.
     

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