The ArticleBunny Speedy

In an earlier blog post on ArticleBunny, I shared that my definition of a quality written product is one that: (a) is not generic, (b) is not half-baked, and (c) has no stolen content.

In this blog post, I tackle the second characteristic and explain how I avoid producing a half-baked article.

Murphy’s Law and its Effects on ArticleBunny Speedies

If you’ve ever worked on an ArticleBunny Speedy before, one or more of these situations will sound familiar:

• An emergency came up after I accepted a Speedy, and now I don’t have enough time to write it properly.
• I know what the client wants the Speedy to say, but I can’t find research to back it up.
• I thought I understood this topic, but the research I’ve found contradicts what I know.
• The topic is far more complex than I originally thought. There’s too much to read and not enough time to take it all in.
• I realize as I’m writing the article that I need more input from the client.
• I have just enough time to write the article but not enough time to edit it properly.

I’ve done enough writing projects by now to know that Murphy’s Law can be counted on to rear its ugly head when I’m chasing a deadline. When the unexpected happens, it’s far too easy to produce a half-baked article due to lack of time.

Good Writing Takes Time and Some Steps Can’t be Rushed

To date, the only way I’ve found to avoid submitting a half-baked piece is to write the article before I accept a Speedy.

Yes, I know this approach sounds insane and counter-intuitive, especially when another writer can accept the Speedy before I finish writing my piece. I insist on working this way, however, because good writing takes time, and some steps simply can’t be rushed.

To explain what I mean, allow me describe how I write:

1. Read the project brief
2. Flag the project and ask questions if anything is not clear
3. Do my research and read everything I find that’s relevant
4. Take a break from the computer and think about what I’ve read
5. Decide what angle or emphasis my article will have based on the research
6. Head back to the computer and write until I finish the article
7. Revise the article, if needed, based on the client’s answers to my flagged questions
8. Take a break from the computer to clear my head
9. Come back to the computer with fresh eyes and aggressively edit my article
10. Run the article through Grammarly and read it out loud. Fix any errors found

It should be fairly obvious which parts in this process are tricky:

• The time needed to complete Step 4 (take a break and think about what I’ve read) and Step 5 (decide on the article’s emphasis) can vary greatly. In some cases, I know within minutes what my article’s focus will be. More commonly, however, it takes me a couple of hours to synthesize everything I’ve read. In one extreme case, I actually had to sleep on it before inspiration struck.
• The time to complete Step 7 (revise based on client’s answers to flagged questions) is likewise unpredictable. If you’re lucky, both ArticleBunny’s staff and the client will be online when you flag a project and send your questions. In those cases, you can get the answers you need within a couple of hours. If you flag the project and ask your questions over a weekend, however, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get the client’s reply before the Speedy’s deadline arrives.
• Similarly, Step 8 (clear my head before editing) takes time and can’t be rushed. When I return to an article with fresh eyes, I always spot a glaring typo or an embarrassing gaffe that needs to be fixed. I’m only human; when my mind is tired, I miss things that are instantly obvious after I’ve taken a break.

So when is it safe to officially accept the project on ArticleBunny? I only accept a Speedy project when I’ve completed Step 9 (editing).

Can you even get a Speedy if you work this way?!

By now, I bet you’re wondering, “Has this writer even done a Speedy?” The answer is yes!

Despite my risky and seemingly idiotic approach, I do have several Speedies under my belt. And if a Speedy that I’m working on is claimed by another writer before I’m done writing, I just use the handy “Notify Me” link on the project page.

There are three ways a Speedy becomes available after it’s been claimed:

• The writer who accepted the Speedy decides to cancel it before the deadline, or their deadline expires. The Speedy is released, and ArticleBunny sends emails to let other writers know they can claim the project.
• The article submitted by the first writer failed to pass ArticleBunny’s internal QA. In this scenario, the first writer is prohibited from re-submitting, and other writers on the site have a chance to work on the project.
• In much rarer instances, an article that has passed ArticleBunny’s internal QA is rejected by the client. When this happens, ArticleBunny’s reputation takes a hit, and that’s bad for all the writers on the site because the client will tell others about their disappointing experience. They may also give up using the service altogether.

Regardless of the cause, the Speedies that are claimed by other writers do occasionally become available again. When that ‘Project is Available’ email lands in my inbox, my own article is ready, and submitting my written product takes less than half an hour.

Best of all, the client can really see the difference.

Have you found a better way to avoid submitting a half-baked article? I hope you’ll share your tips in the comments.

About the Writer

@mdy is a freelance consultant and writer who is passionate about business and technology. You can reach her on Twitter and read her latest thoughts on Medium. You can also hire her on ArticleBunny.

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