Has Anyone Bought the Yahoo Writing Style Guide?
By jswindell10
@jswindell10 (417)
United States
July 23, 2010 2:53pm CST
In my assignments box, there was a submission opportunity to contribute to this book. For those of us that still care about writing for AC, it might be good to find out what Yahoo is expecting of its writers since the takeover.
This take comes from my recent experience with eHow/Demand Studios. Hopefully, if Yahoo decides to clean house it will be for better. Of course, Yahoo is much larger than DS so jumping through a couple of hoops shouldn't be so bad if they keep the pay/rights format the same.
What do you think? Is it worth the $13(on Amazon before shipping) or would you buy a book like this if you've been writing for a minute?
4 responses
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
23 Jul 10
No, not unless you were going to get that investment back through AC earnings. I won't put any real money into it. While it might be nice, there are other sites that pay that don't require you to buy a book. Even eHow/DS merger didn't require a book purchase.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Hey Sierra,
The book is not a requirement but this was a call for submissions (on AC Assignment Desk) that would be included in the next issue. Accepted submissions would get a free copy of the book. I just happened to look up the book on Amazon to see what the hype was about because I figured that everyone who was halfway successful on these sites got the basics already.
I mentioned eHow/DS because a lot of people who made teHow money in the past, either weren't accepted to or had to go through a lot of hoops to get on with Demand Studios. There has also been speculation on many forums that Yahoo is really going to clean house as far as writers are concerned.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Yeah, that's a big fear. I have recommended that everyone who has submitted articles under the choice of two or three to save their articles on their word processor or have them elsewhere. I know the book isn't a requirement but buying it seems a little pointless with the third quarter closing in.
@oscar6 (1938)
• United States
17 Jun 11
no, I dont think I will be buying this book. I do not ever invest money to make money or at least I havent yet. This way I make more money and I dont have to spend any of it. Im sure the book is very good but I am not going to waste my money on the book. If it was free I would download it but I def would not buy the book.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
17 Jun 11
Hey Oscar,
I've bought the book since I posted question. Found it for almost nothing on Amazon. There is quite a bit of content which I have yet to read but from what I've seen by just perusing, I would recommend this over that blogging book by Ariana Huffington. You can get that same info online for free or low-cost.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 Dec 10
No, I wouldn't buy it. I've been writing for a long time, but that's not to say I don't need to learn anything new. My thought is that if Yahoo wants us to write to their specifications, they will (or should) post those specifications so we can read them online for free.
@Catana (734)
• United States
11 Aug 10
There are very few books about writing that are worth spending money on, especially if you've been writing for some time and have worked hard at honing your skills. The best writing advice tends to come from other writers, often in online forums (even Mylot, once in a long while). The public library is the cheapest source for anyone who's serious about improving their writing. Why bother with one more style guide when there are hundreds of them out there already?
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
11 Aug 10
Cantana, I'm skeptical about this merger and though I didn't hear about it until the call for submissions to be a contributor (compensation is a free copy of book :o), LOL
My library has been good to me since I've been off the clock. Though one is actually quiet and transient-free, it doesn't have nearly as many books as the one with eight floors, a waiting line to use the computers and there's at least 5 transients on each floor. Everyone's got a unique situation but the latter is not always productive, especially when you're trying to meet deadlines.
