By Jen Krausz

This article is for any writer who is looking for good part time work. If you want paid writing jobs, keep reading to find out if Media Shower is right for you.

Last spring, I discovered the Freedom With Writing newsletter. As an on-and-off, very part-time freelancer, I was inspired by the in-depth reviews of different web sites that hired freelance writers. One review covered Media Shower, and after checking out some of the other options, I applied with them to be a writer. A few weeks went by with no response to my application, which included answers to some questions about my typical writing habits, along with attached samples of my work and a resume.

By the time co-owner Jade Hargrave contacted me a month or two later, I had forgotten I even applied to Media Shower. But she was enthusiastic about my application and my experience as a writer. I completed the assigned (and paid for) sample article as requested, and a few days later I was approved as a Media Shower writer.

Within a week, I had completed an introductory phone call with the second co-owner John Hargrave and a few other new writers, set up direct deposit and some other paperwork, and started receiving assignments.

Media Shower provides various kinds of website copy to business owners. The majority of what I’ve written for them has been blog posts for business websites looking to sell goods and services such as business phone systems, health and beauty products, and marketing services. I also worked on a project writing descriptions of colleges with online programs.

Some business owners don’t have the English writing skills to blog or provide web copy successfully, and some don’t have the time. Media Shower offers reasonably priced writing to fill these gaps. There is an emphasis on quality writing that shows a good grasp of grammar skills, transitions, and style. I didn’t have any trouble getting accepted to Media Shower, but I have an English degree, 15 years experience teaching grammar and writing at the middle and high school levels, and previous freelance writing experience. If you’ve never put an article together or worked with an editor, there may be a learning curve.

The pay rate is currently $25 for 400-500 word articles. All the articles I’ve worked on the last 6 months have been based on $25 per 500 words, but it seems that they are now advertising some 400 word assignments at the same rate. It’s important to be able to research and write fairly quickly if you want to make a decent hourly rate.

My articles typically take 1 to 1 ½ hours each from research to submission. I’m paid by direct deposit once a month for the articles completed the previous month. I only freelance part time, so this works for me. The web site states that they hire full and part time writers.

Deadlines may be anywhere from a few days to a week, and writers can request the amount of articles they are assigned per day or per week. Many of my articles are assigned midweek with a Sunday due date. Editors are typically available via email, and they do respond to questions and concerns positively, at least in my experience. Feedback is intermittent but generally constructive and supportive.

Writing that isn’t to the editor’s (or the client’s) specifications may be sent back to the writer for revisions. This doesn’t happen too often, and I’ve had no problems communicating with editors or occasionally handling rewrites.

One complaint I have heard from writers about Media Shower is that writers can’t pick their own assignments; pieces are assigned by editors based on the perceived fit for the writer. I see this as a positive aspect of Media Shower, however. Time spent searching for jobs and bidding on them was an overwhelming part of the freelance process for me, and I also looked at it as unpaid time spent working. With Media Shower, I merely receive my assignments and complete them, getting paid for all time spent writing.

Assignments are received and submitted through the “Studio” platform on the Media Shower website, which allows writing to be entered and formatted with basic HTML like italics, bold, and links. Writers don’t need to know any HTML, they just click buttons and the formatting is entered for them. Images can also be inserted and are expected with most articles. I write my articles using word processing software, then cut and paste into the submission for, since losing your internet connection could mean losing information composed right on Studio.

Training materials, including how to use Studio, are available to view on the website, and editors patiently answer specific article-related and technical questions. Media Shower is supportive of writers furthering their skills; monthly author calls offer expert presenters and other resources for continuing education.

Overall, Media Shower has been a positive experience for me as a freelance writer. The owners and editors are professional and pleasant to work with, the work is fairly steady and convenient, and the pay rate is higher than most content mills sites like Elance. Media Shower has definitely been worth my time and effort. If you want to learn even more about Media Shower, be sure to read our full review.