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Helium contests, at first glance, can look like insurmountable challenges; grueling experiences as a writer pumps out article after article, hour by hour. But I found a way to stay motivated, a way to stay inspired and push on, and make money, in a recent Helium writing contest.

I wasn't ever going to enter a Helium contest because I thought it would take hours and hours of my time, writing 50 or 60 articles just to register in the 5-dollar earning category. It seemed too staggering a task. But I am a scientific sort and I couldn't resist at least trying to see how many articles I had to write, to at least make five bucks.

So, I sat down and began to write. It was an early Sunday morning. Twelve articles later, I checked the contest rankings, and surprisingly, there I was; still near the bottom of the queue, but my name was there. I scanned the list and that's when I saw a writer's name that made me smile and wonder at such a strange choice for a pen name.

Now because we are not allowed to reference another writer on Helium, I can't tell you the writer's real pen name, so I will refer to my silent mentor as "Mr. X-Factor."

I noticed that Mr. X-Factor was only about 10 spots above me. Well, I thought, if he can do it, why can't I? So, I sat down and wrote again. I posted my new articles and checked the rankings. Hmm, I had moved in the rankings, but Mr. X-Factor was still listing above me.

Okay, I thought, just a few more. So, I sat down and wrote again. Posted the articles and checked my rankings. Nuts, what was with this guy? He was still higher than me. How many articles did I have to write?

Over the next 48 hours, I tried again; same result. I had moved closer, but Mr. X-Factor still ranked higher than me. How had my arch rival beaten me again? (Yes, Mr. X had unwittingly become more than my inspiration; he had become the enemy.) I felt the wind go out of my sails; it was no use. By some Helium magic that I couldn't understand, no matter what I did, Mr. X-Factor repeatedly out-ranked me. I closed my laptop.

Wednesday morning came; the contest was going to end by noon (10 AM my time). I checked my contest ranking again. My name was still there at a respectable level in the $5 category, but so was Mr. X-Factor's name, still holding its coveted spot well above my name. I sighed. But wait, I thought, there's still time.

My blood surged like a racehorse seeing the finish line. I went back to the list, grabbed a couple of titles and began to write again. I gave it all

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