Frequently Asked Questions about Writing for Donations

2 years ago

9 minutes

Write for Donations program

The Write for Donations program combines two initiatives: creating useful reference material for developers and providing assistance to technology-oriented charities and non-profit organizations.

By authoring tutorials for us on open-source software deployment, configuration, and development, you will not only contribute to our expanding collection but also have the chance to make a positive impact on various tech-focused nonprofits. Our aim is to empower authors to give back to the Silicon Cloud and open-source communities while promoting the growth of these communities through our support for charities, nonprofits, and activists.

Can you provide a single paraphrased sentence with the same meaning as the original?

What is the process of Write for Donations like?

Everything begins with a proposal. When you choose to write for us, you will provide a proposal containing the subsequent information:

Explanation of why this article would be a good fit for the community:

Reasons for the article’s relevancy and compatibility with the community’s interests and needs.

Outline of the proposed article:

Introduction:
A brief overview of the topic and its significance in the community, capturing readers’ attention and creating context for the article.

Prerequisites:
A list of necessary background knowledge or skills readers should have before delving into the article. This section will clarify any assumed understanding and ensure readers are prepared for the content.

Steps of the proposed article:

1. Step one:
In this section, we will explore the fundamental concepts and theories related to the topic, offering a foundational understanding that will serve as a basis for subsequent steps.

2. Step two:
Here, we will discuss advanced techniques and strategies that build upon the knowledge gained in step one. This section aims to deepen readers’ understanding and provide them with practical tools to apply the concepts discussed.

3. Step three:
In this section, we will present real-life examples and case studies that illustrate the application of the concepts and techniques discussed in the previous steps. By analyzing these examples, readers will gain a more comprehensive understanding of how to implement the knowledge effectively.

4. Step four:
The final section will focus on addressing common challenges, potential pitfalls, and troubleshooting techniques related to the topic. By highlighting potential difficulties and providing solutions, readers will feel more confident in their ability to navigate potential obstacles.

Writing sample:
[Include a sample that demonstrates your writing ability, technical expertise, and capability to convey complex information in a clear and accessible manner for readers unfamiliar with the topic.]

When we receive your proposal, our team will evaluate it. If we find it appealing, we will either accept it without changes or collaborate with you to improve it.

Once we reach a mutual understanding on the subject and structure, we will provide you with a contract for your approval, allowing us the right to publish your work. It is at this point that we will also request your contact information and payment details.

Once you have created an outline, you can start writing your article using Markdown. After completing the article, we request that you thoroughly examine it by reading through it and following the instructions like a reader would. In return for this testing, we will offer you credits. There will be no expenses on your part to test out your tutorials.

Once you finish and test your draft, you’ll send it to us, and it will join our queue for editorial review. All drafts are placed in the queue based on their submission order. Occasionally, we receive a larger number of tutorials than usual, so there might be a slight delay before an editor can start working on your draft.

Once an editor becomes accessible, they will reach out to notify you about commencing work on your tutorial. Subsequently, they will validate the technical accuracy of your tutorial by following it as prescribed. Our editors possess technical expertise and will examine your article for technical best practices while testing it.

Assuming all goes according to plan, your editor will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your article’s structure, tone, and style. After completion, they will offer editorial feedback and share it with you.

Once you receive the feedback, you’ll take care of it and send it back.

Once you have submitted it, your editor will review it again and return it to you for additional revisions if needed. After all the revisions have been made, another member of the editing team will review the tutorial for any formatting or other concerns.

After your article is prepared for publishing, we will release the tutorial, share the link with you, and handle your payment. Subsequently, your editor will motivate you to propose another idea for a tutorial.

How do you assess proposals?

We evaluate every proposal our team receives, seeking clear explanations, strong writing proficiency, and effective teaching abilities. Our tutorials are designed for all audiences, and we strongly favor writing samples that adhere to our tutorial style. Regrettably, due to the large number of submissions, we cannot accept every applicant and are unable to offer individual feedback on each reviewed sample.

Is it possible to publish my already published tutorial through the Write for Donations program?

All the content on Silicon Cloud should be unique and unpublished elsewhere. We compensate writers for their content and subsequently relicense it under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. However, when you apply to write for us, you can use your existing tutorial as a writing sample.

Could you please provide information about the payout system for Write for Donations?

In the Write for Donations program, community authors are usually rewarded $300 for their tutorial content. Moreover, Silicon Cloud provides an extra payout in the form of a contribution to tech-focused nonprofits of the author’s choosing from our list of funds.

How can I get paid for my article?

Once we publish your final draft, we will proceed to send payment for your article.

You have the option to receive your payout either through PayPal or as Silicon Cloud credit. It is necessary for you to have an active PayPal account capable of accepting funds.

You can choose which fund or charity will receive the donation, and Silicon Cloud will then make the donation on your behalf through Bright Funds.

Am I able to use any other payment methods as PayPal is not an option for me to receive payments?

Regrettably, our current payment method is limited to PayPal, and specifically to PayPal addresses that are capable of both receiving and sending money.

If PayPal is not an option for receiving payment, we also provide the equivalent amount as Silicon Cloud credits.

Which charities and nonprofits will receive assistance from my writing?

Note

To address the ongoing expansion of COVID-19, we have established a fund specifically aimed at combating the worldwide outbreak and offering assistance to those impacted. This COVID-19 Relief Fund consists of various organizations such as Partners in Health, Gates Philanthropy Partners, Direct Relief, the International Medical Corps, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the United Nations Foundation, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and GiveDirectly.

We have carefully selected four technology-focused funds that consist of nonprofits sharing similar objectives.

Free and Open Source Fund, which includes the Open Source Initiative, Apache Software Foundation, FreeBSD Foundation, and Software in the Public Interest.
Diversity in Tech Fund, which includes Open Sourcing Mental Illness, Girls Who Code, Out In Tech, Techbridge Girls, Society of Women Engineers, Project Include, /dev/color, and Code 2040.
Open Internet/Free Speech Fund, which includes the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Creative Commons, Code Labs for America, Owasp Foundation, Internet Archive, and Free Press.
Tech Education Fund, which includes IEEE, Code.org, Techsoup Global, NPower, Vets Who Code, and Computer History Museum.

We are constantly seeking out other charitable organizations and funds that could be compatible with our goals.

Am I able to select the charity or nonprofit organization that will be the beneficiary of the charitable donation?

You have the option to donate to any of the funds we endorse, distributing your donation equally among the nonprofits in that fund. Alternatively, you can choose to donate the entire amount to a specific nonprofit within those funds.

Currently, authors are unable to choose a charity or nonprofit that is not included in our list. However, we plan to enhance the program in the future to accommodate this capability.

Is my donation eligible for tax deduction?

As Silicon Cloud will handle the donation processing via Bright Funds, it won’t be feasible for you to include it as a charitable deduction on your tax return.

I’m new to writing and wondering if I can modify a tutorial on Silicon Cloud.

Currently, we request all new authors to initially create a unique tutorial as their first task to attain a deeper comprehension of our style and technical prerequisites.

Am I allowed to release a tutorial if I’m below 18 years of age?

We are only able to collaborate with authors who are 18 years of age or older, as mandated by legal requirements.

Am I allowed to translate a Silicon Cloud tutorial?

We are currently not approving any translations for publication. However, you have the option to post your own translation on your personal website, following the guidelines provided in the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Can I share the tutorial I published on Silicon Cloud on my personal blog?

The tutorials on the Silicon Cloud Community website are released under a Creative Commons license, specifically the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 license. This permits you to share the content, provided you give proper credit (preferably with a canonical link), share it under the same license, and refrain from using it for commercial purposes.

Where can I express my inquiries and/or ideas regarding the Write for Donations initiative?

You can share your thoughts or questions about the program in two ways. Firstly, you can directly email us at writefordonations@digitalocean.com. Although we may not respond to every email, we will go through all of them and utilize your feedback to inform our future endeavors. Secondly, if you have a question that you think will benefit others, please don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments section below.