Welcome to the 10 simple steps that will guide you toward earning a neat hundred dollars simply by penning captivating list articles for our platform. Whether you’re a veteran wordsmith or a fresh‑faced enthusiast, this roadmap walks you through every phase, from the first spark of an idea to celebrating your first payout.
10 Simple Steps Overview
10 Get An Idea
Easy, right? Well, not exactly. Honestly, this part is often the toughest hurdle in the entire writing journey. You might assume that with the constant stream of bizarre, jaw‑dropping happenings across the globe, snagging a simple, skinny idea for a top‑ten list would be a breeze—especially when a crisp $100 is on the line. But the reality is that pinpointing that perfect ticket to the front page isn’t a walk in the park.
Instead of forcing the brain to conjure an idea, let your everyday routine become the incubator. Keep browsing the same sites, devouring the same books, binge‑watching the same shows, but let a tiny mental hitchhiker linger in the corner of your mind, whispering, “Hey, that could become a killer list.” If you’re still stuck, broaden your horizons a bit. Got a taste for science? Dive into LiveScience, National Geographic, or Phys.org. Fascinated by unsolved murders? Check out The New Yorker, Harper’s, and NPR for deep‑dive coverage. Craving oddball history? Explore the DC poison squad or the Smithsonian’s quirky timeline of the Ouija board. The treasure trove of ideas is out there, just waiting for you to seize them. In fact, many of those links above haven’t yet been transformed into a list on our site.
9 Stick A Theme On It
We adore lists that orbit a tight, unmistakable theme. Typically, that theme becomes your list’s title—or at least the essence of it. It doesn’t need to be world‑shattering, but it should make the ground tremble because that’s the first thing readers encounter. Every entry should tie back to that central idea, which is why nailing the theme early on is crucial before you start hunting for entries.
Want to guarantee acceptance from both editors and readers? Twist your original concept. Instead of a bland “10 Unsolved Murders,” try “Robin Warder’s 10 Mysterious Disappearances With Bizarre Clues.” Swap a straight‑forward “Abraham Lincoln” list for “10 Reasons Lincoln Was Secretly a Terrible President.” Surprise us by presenting a familiar subject from an unexpected angle. No need to perfect the title right now—just cement the overarching theme, and research will flow more smoothly. The tighter your theme, the stronger the list.
8 Research The Dickens Out Of It
You’ve secured a powerful seed idea and a twisted theme that will make readers’ jaws drop. What’s next? The internet is a massive ocean of knowledge, eager to pull you into its depths forever, and hunting down those specific entries can feel like tossing a rock into the air and hoping it lands on the moon.
This is why the theme acts as your anchor when you’re scouring for entries. One strategy to streamline future lists is to build your own database of go‑to sites. I gravitate toward science‑centric resources, so I keep Wired, LiveScience, Phys.org, MNN, and NASA bookmarked for quick access. Need to write about “insect zombies”? Those sites will yield crazy examples without drowning you in endless Google results. If urban legends are your jam, bookmark sites that specialize in that niche. For politics, think CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Google Books is a goldmine for historical lists. The internet is full of specialized corners—tap into them.
Remember, you must provide sources for every fact. We don’t accept Wikipedia or tabloid sites like The Daily Mail or The Metro as primary sources. If you start on Wikipedia (which is fine), you must locate the same information in a reputable source. Detailed source guidelines are in the author guide.
Research can make or break a list. It’s common to amass a mountain of potential entries only to realize the overall list won’t work. If that happens, keep your chin up—there’s still plenty to learn.
7 Get Your Outline Going
While researching, the simplest way to stay organized is to keep a Word document (or any note‑taking app) open, pasting quick entry titles alongside their source links. As you progress, a skeletal structure of your list will emerge on that page. My typical outline looks something like this—messy, incomplete, but it gives me a bare‑bones sense of each entry. If I end up with more than ten, I trim the list down to the strongest ten. Conversely, if entries start drifting toward a different focus, I can split them into two separate outlines and later choose the one that feels right.
How you set up your outline is entirely up to you, especially if you’re just dipping your toes into writing for us. It may require a bit more upfront effort, but that “white lady” won’t magically appear on its own—she needs a gentle nudge.
Also, whenever you stumble upon a potential entry, run a quick search on our platform to verify we haven’t already covered it. (The tiny magnifying glass in the top‑right corner is the search tool; you can also use Google’s site‑specific search.) We generally avoid duplicating topics unless you’re adding a substantial new angle. This quick check saves you from re‑writing an entry that’s already been published.
6 Write An Entry
Just one entry—don’t worry about the other nine for now. They’re off grabbing a snack; you’re left alone with a keyboard, roughly 150 words, and all the research you’ve gathered. Pick the entry that excites you most from your outline—perhaps the very first one that sparked the list—and flesh it out. Lead with the most compelling fact, the one that defines the entry.
Need an example? Suppose you’re crafting a list about “10 People Who Shouldn’t Be Alive,” and you come across a story of a woman who brewed a cup of tea after a .38‑caliber bullet pierced her skull. Your entry could open like this:
With her husband dead on the floor and blood streaming from two bullet holes in her head, Tammy Sexton needed something to take the edge off. So she brewed a hot cup of tea, then sat down to wait for the police.
This opening immediately hooks readers, and you can then expand on the details. Once you’ve nailed one entry, repeat the process—each iteration becomes easier as you get closer to completing the list. It’s easy to stare at a blank list and think, “I can’t write all that,” but breaking it into single entries tricks your brain into manageable chunks.
And hey, feel free to use the example above; it’s free for you to build a unique, intriguing list around it and submit it.
5 Some Basic Rules
Every day we receive around 100 submissions. While many are stellar, a few miss the mark. Here are the primary reasons a list might be rejected:
- English quality: The prose isn’t up to standard (or is downright absent). This is the top cause for rejections. We don’t expect a PhD in English, but we do expect you to write like a native speaker. Over 70 % of rejections stem from this.
- Duplicate content: The topic has already been covered by us or another site. Originality is key; we want fresh angles, not re‑hashed versions of existing lists.
- Off‑brand topics: Some submissions veer far from our niche—like “Why You Should Become a Vegan” (hint: you shouldn’t!), “How Yoga Improves Mental Health,” or “My Ten Favorite Shirts.” Those simply don’t align with our audience.
4 No Funny Business
You’ve got a witty side, we can see that. But remember, our platform craves facts, not jokes. There’s a fine line between originality and shoe‑horning a gag just for laughs. A sprinkle of humor can keep the prose from getting too dry, but the priority is clear, easy‑to‑understand information. Readers expect solid knowledge, and we work daily to deliver that.
If you absolutely must inject humor, do it by presenting the information itself in a light‑hearted way, not by tacking on extra punchlines. I’ve made my share of cringe‑worthy jokes, and trust me, what sounds hilarious in your head often makes you wince when it lands online. Look at our “condoms” list for an example of humor done right—subtle double entendres that earn a quiet chuckle. Ultimately, we want readers to remember the knowledge, not the jokes. A good rule of thumb: if you’re unsure about a joke, leave it out.
3 Proofread Everything
Your list doesn’t need to be flawless, and we don’t expect you to Vonnegut every paragraph. Very few lists are ready for publishing straight out of the acceptance gate. We have editors, and they’re pretty good, but a cleanly submitted list speeds up the process. A single read‑through after finishing can reveal typos, repeated words, or other small hiccups that a spell‑checker might miss.
If you catch most of the errors yourself, editors will have less to fix, and the whole workflow becomes smoother. Plus, wouldn’t you be proud to see your work polished and ready for the audience? Following these steps turns you into a bona‑fide professional writer. Head over to the submission page, fill in your PayPal or Bitcoin address, and you’ll see that hundred‑dollar check land in your account.
Take a deep breath… and keep writing forever, because that’s how you stay alive—as a writer, you dog, you.
2 Hit The Forum
You’ve done it. You’ve written, submitted, and published a list on the front page of our site. Your pocket’s burning with that hot Benjamin we Paypalled straight into your account, and the world feels like a shimmering oyster through which your newly awakened writerly eyes can see all the layers of possibility that make up reality. Sugar never tasted so good.
So, what’s next? If you’re eager, hop right back on that horse and write another list. There’s no cap on how many lists you can produce, nor on how much you can earn. If you felt that unmistakable tingle of exhilaration when your first list went live, you’re definitely in the right place. The tingle never dies.
After your first publication, you’ll receive an email granting you access to our exclusive forum. This is where writers and editors mingle, toss around ideas, and get to know each other. It’s a magical space, filled with helpful writers who understand the trials and pitfalls of list‑writing. No one will down‑talk you or call your ideas stupid; we’re all in the same boat, floating down the same river.
Even better, there’s a section we call “World of Ideas.” If an editor or writer spots a super‑cool tidbit but lacks time to develop it, they drop it there for anyone to claim. Think of it as an idea factory. You can also pitch ideas directly to Micah, our Head Honcho of Words, who offers personalized feedback and either a green light or constructive critique.
Stay connected via our Facebook page and Twitter account to see your list broadcast to 150,000 people—a sight as awe‑inspiring as a whale breaching an avalanche.
1 Forget All My Advice
In the end, you’re the writer. While we provide a handful of basic rules, we also crave your unique voice and angle. That’s what makes our platform so diverse: the many talented writers we collaborate with. Without fresh, creative ideas from creative people, we couldn’t publish new, interesting lists every day.
The process I’ve outlined is a solid launching pad, but now I want you to take those pieces, let them tumble around in your head, and then stack them into something new and beautiful. I’m just one little guy who writes here; use my method as a guide, but don’t treat it as canon. Every element I’ve mentioned can be tweaked to suit your style.
Can’t get into the habit of outlining? That’s fine—just focus on one entry at a time and let your list evolve organically. Write as you research each point if you prefer. The goal is to discover a workflow that works for you, and only you can figure out what that is.
For more tips from another seasoned author, check out Morris M.’s list on “10 Tips for Getting Paid to Write for Us.”