Comments on: What is Helium.com?

By: Round Mirror ·

Round Mirror · — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:53:59 +0000

i’m quite good in witing but i have not yet signed up on a writing contest ..

By: alex reynolds

alex reynolds — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 05:17:35 +0000

I have never submitted a piece of writing to Helium and just happened to stumble on the site the other day when doing a little research, for private reasons, on a Shakespeare sonnet. I’m glad to find a relatively frank assessment of the place here on your site, but I have to say that I would have been inclined to write even more negatively about it. It seems to me that the very existence of Helium and such sites is evidence of the general “dumbing down” of our society. The piece on the Shakespeare sonnet that I read was really atrociously bad, and clearly written by someone who had only the most shallow and superficial understanding of poetry. The irony and poignancy of the poem were mangled beyond recognition by an embarassingly naive and literal account of “what Shakespeare is saying” in this sonnet. This was all the more disturbing as the person who wrote the “analysis” claimed to be a university English lecturer (!)
I honestly can’t see any constructive purpose that is being served by disseminating this sort of rubbish - penned mostly by vain and dishonest, self-deluding mediocrities - under the guise of “creative” or “serious critical” writing. And I can certainly imagine many positively destructive effects (high-school students copying this obtuse, uninspired nonsense into their essays under the impression that it’s “accepted wisdom” etc.)
I really would advise Ms. Whitlock, who posts above, to see to it that her website is provided, as soon as possible, with some sort of (mental) “health warning”.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 22 May 2010 12:00:38 +0000

I decided not to use Helium because attractive as it seemed you have to submit a title first for approval without an article. I did this and 48 hours later was informed it was rejected. This is damn silly… to judge a book by it’s cover. Their policy of judging titles without seeing articles smacks of dumbing down. I have a life and when I am inspired to write I will and let the title develop in my mind. The time to write, let along the inspiration, may not for days on end thus meaning that even if a title is accepted, I might not be in a position to produce the article until a point where it ceases to be topical or I am beyond motivation.

I have corresponded with them over this nonsense but it really is a waste of time. They will not let me submit a titled article subject to the title being approved or altered by them.

This makes Helium slower than the process of submitting an article to a publication by post.

If anyone knows of any oher such sites please let me know.

By: Marisa Wright

Marisa Wright — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:17:21 +0000

Well said, you have encapsulated the downsides of Helium very well in your article. I only wish I was as perceptive, before posting nearly 200 articles on Helium!

By: Barbara Whitlock

Barbara Whitlock — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:41:27 +0000

Thanks for your very thorough and informative piece on Helium.com. I’d like to add a few more important aspects of Helium:

1. Writers in credentialed professions and print journalists earn special recognition and earning opportunities through Helium’s Credentialed Professional Program.

2. Helium.com has an expansive (and growing) network of newspaper partners (including Hearst and NY Time syndicates), which helps connect local writers to more opportunities.

3. Helium is based on a coop principle, and scores of members volunteer in editorial and content oversight roles.

4. Helium has the largest — and many say most supportive — writing community in the world.

If you have any questions or would like more information, my inbox is always open: bwhitlock@helium.com.

Barbara Whitlock
New Member Outreach Manager
Helium.com

By: Barbara Whitlock

Barbara Whitlock — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:13:39 +0000

Great article, and thanks for sharing such thorough information. I’d add three more pieces:

1. Helium has a Credentialed professional program where certified professionals get recognition and special earning opportunities.

2. Helium is a writing coop where scores of members enjoy volunteering in editorial and channel-oversight roles.

3. Helium has the largest - and many consider most supportive - writing community in the world.

If anyone wants to ask questions or learn more about Helium my inbox is always open: bwhitlock@helium.com.

Barbara Whitlock
New Member Inreach Manager
Helium.com