About.com Topic Writer FAQ

How are Topic Writers selected?

Anyone can apply to be a Topic Writer. Qualified applicants with proven expertise in a topic are accepted into our online evaluation program. In this evaluation program, applicants will write specific pieces of content and then create the first pages of the Topic Site from that content. For more information, please see our detailed explanation of the Topic Writer evaluation program.

How much experience do I need to be a Topic Writer?

When selecting potential Topic Writers, our editors are looking for applicants we can trust as experts. In general, this means that a prospective Topic Writer should have several years experience in their chosen topic area, either through professional involvement, as a dedicated hobbyist, or as a book author or journalist (online or print). You can read about necessary qualifications for each topic on the Topic Writer application page; each Topic Site description has qualification details.

How does payment work? How much will I be paid? How frequently?

We pay Topic Writers on a monthly basis. Pay can vary from month-to-month. For more information, please see this detailed explanation of Topic Writer compensation.

Will I have an editor?

All Topic Writers have an editor who evaluates their work on a regular basis. Editors are also available to help make suggestions or critique work. About.com also offers other forms of interaction to help Topic Writers generate ideas and learn from their editors and each other, including email listservs, forums, and webinars.

How long is the evaluation program?

Our evaluation program asks Guides to submit work over a three-week period, and the hiring decision will come after work is complete and editors have had a chance to review. For more information, please see this detailed explanation of the Topic Writer evaluation program.

Do I get paid for the work done in the evaluation program?

If you are hired as a Topic Writer you will be paid the minimum per article fee for each long-form article created in prep and published on About.com that meets our specifications. Any applicants who do not become Topic Writers may use any content created during the process as desired afterwards. No work created by an applicant will ever be used without his or her express permission.