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A while back, someone from Goodreads asked me to write an article for their blog. Apparently, it got more hits than anything else ever featured. He contacted me to ask what I had done to promote it; it seemed as though he just couldn't believe the stats! I just told him that I had left links on various social media platforms.
Since then, he's contacted me intermittently, still in awe (!), and yesterday asked if I would write a weekly article for his blog, or else bi-monthly. I've just replied with a no, the reasons being: I am in the middle of writing a book, with another in the pipeline, I want to find time to enter comps again, I am overhauling my website... and article-writing is my least favourite type of writing, plus, I'd never be able to come up with enough topics.
Have I missed an opportunity, or is it more that I'd be used as bait for readers of his blog?
Comments
How about giving him something once every six months? It could work out to be only a summary of everything you've achieved work wise in that time, an advert in a way, for yourself.
Yes, dora. That's an idea. I did say that if ever I wrote anything of interest on my (mostly neglected) blog, I would send him a link.
It's his blog, so he needs to improve his content, not rely on you to do it for him.
*wonders how to lure TN to write content for own blog and therefore increase its profile*
WHICH social media sites?
*link ready*
A similar thing happened to me recently when I was asked to run a slot on a high profile short form poetry site in the US because I contribute critiques regularly. The site organiser said it would give me an international profile and get my work recognised. I agree with this. The only hitch is - it's WEEKLY! Not a chance that would be achievable for me, as once something is compulsory it becomes a chore. Plus, without a chapbook or anything to promote it would be with no reward at all. So I made my excuses and headed for the virtual door - I did leave it slightly ajar for the future, mind you, just in case!
One thing you will have learned from your experience TN, is that this type of writing you think is your least favourite could end up the most lucrative
marion
You know, Liz: FB, Goodreads, Twitter, my blog, LinkedIn... blah, blah, blah...