by Virginia Gaces

Created on: February 25, 2009   Last Updated: April 07, 2009

There are various writing sites available online; so many - you would be confused which among them would serve you the best. Helium stands out from all the rest because of the following reasons:

1. Your queries are promptly attended to. There is always someone who can reply to your questions; whether these are on the policies, mechanics of the site or on articles you have posted. The replies are also not "programmed replies". Each message is replied to individually.

2. A ranking system is in place in which members rank each other based on the merit of the article. This is a distinctly Heliumite feature. It is only in Helium that writers - like you - rank articles. You're ensured of a fair ranking after several members have read your article.

This ranking system motivates you to write better and lends more excitement as you watch your well written article climb the ranking ladder to rank 1.

3. Majority of Helium members are very supportive and are willing to lend a helping hand. There are channel stewards whom you can approach for help in any of your writing concerns. The support is very personal and not mechanical as some sites offer. You are connected with real writers, who are experts in their particular field. You would often receive an encouraging email from stewards or other Helium writers. You could easily comment on other written articles too.

4. There is a mentoring system in which you can have a mentor (for free) to help develop your writing skills. They are easily contacted through the provided feature that Helium has added to its site, and amazingly, this feature is on a one-on-one basis.

5. There are several options from which you can earn good money.

5.1. Marketplace

Writers are given a topic by "would be advertisers." The advertiser gets to select an article and the writer is paid ranging from $ 20 to $200 depending upon the specifications of the article.

5.2. Journalism awards

Writers compose articles for the site's citizen journalism partners and are given the exposure and chance to become an international freelance journalist.

5.3. Writing contests

Writers compete on several titles and could win in each category: $ 60- first prize, $ 40 second prize and $ 30 third prize.

5.4. Star bonuses, rewardathon, empty title bonus, writer's stimulus incentives, rating star bonuses

These are some of the bonuses that writers get on top of all the upfront and active article earnings. Sometimes writers earn as much as $ 50 and even more on these bonuses alone.

5.5. Upfront

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