What to do when you are totally blind?

[infofreek]

Sometimes I am forced to write on something that I am totally unaware of. I am asking suggestions from all the mate here, what will be the best action in this situation? You must have landed sometime in your life in this problem.
Please advise.

[iWrite]

I'm writing on skin care right now, and would never have known anything about it if not for these articles. Basically, I type the topic into a couple search engines, pick out good reliable sources, not Wikipedia. I always use .edu or .gov sources if I can find them, if not then I read whatever looks the most professional. After I read about 5 or so articles on the topic, I write my own article. I'm a very fast reader and writer, so this is an easy method for me.

[bon300187]

The joy of research :P Don't just try to rewrite an existing article as this may be detected and will affect your reputation here.

Like the above post try to read through existing articles about the topic and then come up with your own unique version.

[infofreek]

I'm writing on skin care right now, and would never have known anything about it if not for these articles. Basically, I type the topic into a couple search engines, pick out good reliable sources, not Wikipedia. .edu or .gov sources if I can find them, if not then I read whatever looks the most professional. After I read about 5 or so articles on the topic, I write my own article. I'm a very fast reader and writer, so this is an easy method for me.
Thanks iwrite for your tip. I shall keep it in mind. but could you please tell me why you don't like 'wiki' or the other site that you have mentioned?

[iWrite]

Wikipedia has been known to have unreliable content. The other sources I mentioned are good, and reputable sources, which you should use if you can. I will edit that post to clarify better.

[AvarianParakeet]

I wouldn't count Wikipedia out to fast. They get treated unfairly. Of course you have to take everything on there site with a grain of salt. The point is that they have a lot of good basic information with links to better information.

As to the topic, I generally just do enough research. If it was a popular topic I'll see what angle the people at ezinearticles have taken. That gives me some better ideas to search other sources.

[Perfectionist]

Please advise.
I think the best thing to do is to admit your incompetence. Your customer will have the right to choose then whether he|she still wants you to learn more about the topic and write the article, or ask another writer to do this. At least your have clear conscience, and your customer will know that you are an honest person.

[infofreek]

I think the best thing to do is to admit your incompetence. Your customer will have the right to choose then whether he|she still wants you to learn more about the topic and write the article, or ask another writer to do this. At least your have clear conscience, and your customer will know that you are an honest person.
You mean to say, not to go for any subject that I am not conversant with? Then we will not be able to write except for a couple of subjects???
We may do research as other members have mentioned.

[Seymour Cash]

I think the best thing to do is to admit your incompetence.

a budding comedian?:D

[iWrite]

No, an honest person.

[Seasidewriter]

There are jobs in the BST section that I would NEVER inquire about, because I feel there is no way I could do the subject justice. Let's see...laser eye surgery, football (soccer), online gambling.

That is very good advice from iWrite about the .gov and .edu sites. I use wiki to back up information I might already have or to get a date or something, but I have found errors in some wiki articles.

Just my 2 cents.

[lightless]

There are jobs in the BST section that I would NEVER inquire about, because I feel there is no way I could do the subject justice. Let's see...laser eye surgery, football (soccer), online gambling.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree. There are many writing topics, i stay away from. Money isn't the only thing. If you can't write it properly and it is too hard and it isn't enjoyable for you, it's better not to write articles on those topics.

Also practice writing articles based on those things/fields you barely know once in a while. Just to expand your comfort zone and maybe develop skill and interest in other subjects.

[GameD]

Follow these easy steps:

Find - Read - Understand - Think - Come up with your own ideas - Write.

[Seasidewriter]

I agree. There are many writing topics, i stay away from. Money isn't the only thing. If you can't write it properly and it is too hard and it isn't enjoyable for you, it's better not to write articles on those topics.

Absolutely! I always take into account the "enjoyability factor" when considering a job.

[iamays]

It's a lotd harder to ytype when your are blidn. YOu can;' tsee the keyhboard

[webgal]

There are jobs in the BST section that I would NEVER inquire about, Let's see...laser eye surgery,



I'll have to keep an eye out. <snicker> I know about laser eye surgery.

[Trusted Writer]

I'm not blind or suffered from blindness but I developed once an eye infection while being at school, condition preventing me to do almost anything but typing.

Since I learned how to type properly (fingers position and so on) it was easy for me cope with the problem writing without seing the screen or keyboars while the condition improved.

A good typist can write fast with no errors even with closed eyes and might be an aid for you while you find a solution to your health problem.

[iWrite]

I'm not blind or suffered from blindness but I developed once an eye infection while being at school, condition preventing me to do almost anything but typing.

Since I learned how to type properly (fingers position and so on) it was easy for me cope with the problem writing without seing the screen or keyboars while the condition improved.

A good typist can write fast with no errors even with closed eyes and might be an aid for you while you find a solution to your health problem.

I hope you weren't being serious. We're talking about figurative blindness (not knowing about the subject).

[infofreek]

I hope you weren't being serious. We're talking about figurative blindness (not knowing about the subject).
iWrite, You are right. I started this thread keeping in mind this situation.
So, the general idea I got from this little discussion that we should not write anything that is not 'enjoyable'. Even if we have time and energy for research, eh?
Perhaps in DP, they should start a section on 'opinion poll'.
What's your idea, moderators?

[iWrite]

infofreek, if you feel that after some looking at other articles you are not comfortable on writing about the subject, then tell your clients. I just had to do that, and my client greatly appreciated my honesty. Of course, I prefer writing on topic that are enjoyable to me, but a lot of the time, that just isn't an option. That's when yo9u'll have to suck it up and do some research if you want the money.

[ScrivenerGrl]

Weigh the time involved in research against the pay. If the client isn't willing to pay enough to compensate you for the time, take a pass. This varies from subject to subject. Skin care is going to take much less time to research than, say, optimizing a 401k plan. If, after some research, you're still not comfortable writing it then let the client know. You will be better off passing up some work to keep a good reputation.