As a woodcarver for over 30 years, I'm out of the art and craft world, and I have no background in writing whatsoever.  In 2006, I stumbled onto an article directory (EzineArticles.com), where I began posting my articles. 

But, before I continue with the writing information, it's only guess work on my part, but I think most of the people who post their articles on an article directory, are business people, who write about their businesses and the expertise in their fields, etc.  And they do it, primarily, to drive traffic to their websites and for their busineses.

I'm not in business, so my primary intent, is for the same reason...that is...to drive traffic to my website...and more importantly for me...to get my articles published on the Internet someplace, and build a resume in writing, and this is the best way I have found to do it.

This is a free-content directory, meaning that a website owner, can take the articles and use them for free on their websites and newsletters, etc.  When I started writing seriously in 2006, I had no writing credits whatsoever!  One thing is certain and cannot be disputed...website owners are NOT going to put garbage on their websites.  Website owners are going to have the same high standards before they publish anything on their websites.

This is where the writer comes in.  Every writer will have to choose his or her poison...as to whether to enter the paying markets in writing or the free content...or a little bit of both, etc.  Because I'm a novice in writing, I chose to enter the free-content domain and to give my articles away, etc. 

Everytime a website owner publishes an article, it's a compliment to the writer.  And yes, I realize that a person cannot eat compliments or take them to the bank, but the writer has to start someplace!  I think placing articles on a directory is a great place for the beginning writer to start.

"The waste basket is the writer's best friend."  Isaac Singer

MY TWO-CENTS:  (Comments/opinions)

Paying markets:  In the short time I've been writing, I have never entered the paying markets in writing, so I cannot speak from experience.  All I can do is to offer my-two cents on the issue.  Once a writer enters the paying markets, that writer is working for somebody else. and because I'm retired, that's what I don't like right now.  You might call yourself a free-lance writer, but you will not be free to do what you want with your writing. 

The publisher/editor of the publication will tell you what to do with your writing pieces...what they want...and how they want it, etc.  The angle; the approach; whether it be in first person; third person; the word count...the whole ball of wax! 

Free-content/flexibility:  Whereas, in the paying markets are going to be more demanding of the writer...as to what they want and how they want it...the free-content is much more lenient.  In free-content, the writer can do pretty much what they want to do...as long it's within the rules, etc.  The writer can take chances with their work...they can experiment with their pieces and change them as need-be, etc.

I've experimented with many of my articles, as to the approach and how it is presented, and I've been surprised at how successful some of them have been!  The worse thing that can happen, is that nobody will read your article and it will die on the vine!

For those of you who may not be familiar with free content...over 80 of my articles have been published on more than 450 websites, and I'll give you a few examples.  I hope the reader doesn't mind if I "toot my horn" just a little! The reader will notice, that the website owners have followed the rules...and at the bottom of each of my articles, you will notice the credits given; the author name; the website; email address; contact information, etc. 

1) This piece entitled, Music: The Beginning of Rock and Roll For Me. (1955) has been published at this site for two years now, and I am so pleased about that. 

Website name: The Golden Age of Rock and Roll; Direct link below:
http://thegoldenageofrock.com/articles/nostalgia.html

 2)  This piece is entitled, How I Saved My Dog Daniel, has also been published for over two years at the same place, and I just love this website. 

Website name: Fur Fuzzies.com; Direct link;
http://www.furfuzzies.com/HowISavedMyDogDaniel.htm

3) This is a brand new website where this piece has been published, which entitled, Peer-Pressure...It's Everywhere!  I love what they did with this piece, and put the little window in the middle of my article.  See for yourself...I just love it!  This piece was put up in November, 2008, so I hope it has longivity like the others.

Website name: Kids Peer-PressureProgram.com;
http://kidspeerpressureprogram.com/

4) Article Directory; Get A Coder 
I'm only signed up with one directory (EzineArticles.com) but this is one of a dozen directories, that has published several of my articles...in this case 71 articles in 8 pages...and I didn't lift a finger to put them there. 
http://articles.getacoder.com/author/Jerry_Aragon_p0.htm

 WHAT ALL THIS MEANS IS MORE EXPOSURE FOR THE WRITER! 

Unique name:  It's one thing to post your article on a directory, and it's quite another to have your article published someplace on the Internet by a website owner.  And, if you DO get it published...how are you going to find it?  Wouldn't you like to make a copy of it?

I've never had any problems finding where my articles are published, because of the two unique names I have had since I came online in 2001.  My website name is "humordoctormd," and my email address is "humordoctor."  So, when I post an article on the directory, the information that goes in the resource/contact box is located, this information is always present. 

I suggest to the reader, that if you don't already have a unique name as part of you...your url...your website; email...that you get one, because you're going to need it.  I suggest that you make up a unique nick-name and use it, so you can find your articles easily.  I cannot emphasize the importance of doing this!  If you don't do this, you're going to find yourself out on the Internet, looking until you're blue in the face and you'll grow old looking for your articles!   

"Words...once they are printed have a life of their own."  Carol Burnett

Search engines: I have compared the Internet to the universe...there is no beginning and there is no end, etc.  You can waste a lot of time on the Internet because it is so vast!  I usually use four search engines, so conduct my search for my articles...Google; Yahoo; Alta Vista; MSN.  It takes me about two hours a month to conduct my search, so that isn't too bad.  I key in the word, "humordoctormd" (including quotation marks around the word to narrow the search), and I've never had any problem finding out where my articles are published.  There have been a few instances, where I have found one of my articles the following day after posting it. 

Publisher views:  At EzineArticles.com, they have something called a "publisher view," and it works like this.  When you get a publisher view, it means that a website owner has taken a second look at your article...and may or may not publish it.  They just want to take another look at your article.  This is important, because if you're into getting your articles published...the more publisher views you have...the more probable that your articles are going to be published!  The less publisher views you have...the less likely that your articles will be published, etc.

When I started in 2006, I felt that if I got 100 or so publisher views, I would be happy.  But, as of November, 2008...I have gotten over 860 publisher views...which is astonishing to me, and my articles have been published on more than 420 websites on the Internet!  This is much higher than my wildest expectations!  (High-fives for everyone!)  To view where all these articles have been published, the reader can go to my website, where I have links to the places they are published and follow the link:
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com/articlespublished.html

Live editor:  At the directory, the rules are strict and enforced, and when you submit an article, it will be looked at by a live editor!  If you break the rules, your article will not be accepted and will not be posted, until everything is corrected.  If the article is accepted...and later it is modified...the article has to be re-accepted by a live editor once more,etc.  I think this is good for the beginning writer, because the writer needs discipline to submit only good articles, with no short-cuts, etc.  

"Writers should be read...but neither seen nor heard."  Daphine du Mauriet

Other directories: My articles have been published on a dozen or so other directories.  One has 71 of my articles; another has 47 articles; and still another has 39 articles, and so on down the line, etc.  And...guess what?  I didn't lift a finger to put them there!  (over 200 articles)  What this means for the writer is more exposure...and hopefully the snowball will keep rolling and rolling down the hill. 

Contact information:  I can assure the reader, that after two years at the directory, everyone that has published one of my articles, have followed the rules, and have included my contact information at the bottom of the article, such as the website name with link; the email address and whatever you place in your resource box.  This success rate is a very high number...about 98%! 

Inspirational/motivational quotes:  At the end of 2008, I have begun placing inspirational quotes on all my articles (90) and it will take me until the spring of 2009 to complete the job.  You can see samples of how this is done (in this piece) or at the following colorful pages on my website;  (two pages)

 And finally...if the reader is interested in a writing career, it stands to reason, that if he or she cannot give their articles away...I don't think anyone is going to pay you for your articles, either!  The choice of taking either of these two avenues is yours...GOOD LUCK! 

THANKS TO EVERYONE! 
(Celebrating 3 years in writing)  Since the middle of 2008 and to the present, the traffic to my writing site has quadrupled...and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to visit and to read my artlcles.  The reader, therefore, is the most important person in all this publishing process! 

*                                    *                                  *

FREE STUFF!  (10 links to view);
Articles; humor; fillers; graphics; quotes; ideas;
Great for websites; newsletters; ezines;
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnews.asp?id=29439