[For those of you just tuning in, this is based on the 301 Lists that Darren Rowse’s List Group Writing Project brought together. You’ll find Chapter 1 here –> A List Becomes 301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 1 ]
Taking the Missives to Rue Dante
“I guess I’m coming,” Lizzie said. “Where?”
“10 Rue Dante,” Hal said, still walking. Read these on the way there. He handed her Starting a Blog? Here Are 8 Different Blogging Business Models, Breaking the News To Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Customers, and The Top 10 (heck, maybe more) Streaming Piles Even I Canââ¬â¢t Believe I Sat Through!
“I don’t like the looks of these. I don’t like the sound of that address.” Lizzie didn’t like the sound of Hal either. Suddenly Hal didn’t sound like a guy from Kerrville, Texas.
“Here, take these Ten Essential Tools for Beginning Web Developers, 14 Accomplishments of a Newbie Blogger, and Comments that have Fertilized the Inadvertent Garden. You’ll need them.”
“What’s this about?”
“You’ve heard of ProBlogger’s List Meme? We’re being tested.
As they walked through the back streets, they were stopped by black market vendors — the worst kind — list dealers. Lists go for a lot in the blogosphere. Traffic in lists is big business.
An old woman with a broken briefcase shouted, “Setting Up a Home Office – 5 Things You Need and 5 Things You Want” at them.
“Buying a Car the Right Way,” said a guy from a junker.
“Keep walking and look ahead,” Hal said, sounding more like Jack Bauer.
“You’re not from Texas, are you?” Lizzie said, while some guy tried to hand her Blogger Beta – 8 new features and 8 new issues.
“No, acutally I’m from Canada,” Hall answered. He started down a dark and bending back street filled with trash and lined with parked Smart cars. Lizzie kept bumping into rearview mirrors that drivers forgot to fold in.
Hal stopped to consider the direction. Then he continued on. Lizzie continued bumping into errant mirrrors.
“Buy my pamphlet please, madame!” said an orphan waif. “In no time you will be Quickly Greening Your New Home with that handsome man of yours. We’re having a special on this bestseller, “Move your bowelsââ¬â¢ and other sage travel (writing) tips. Buy BOTH and you’ll get three more: Top researchers list 11 reasons behind the blog pandemic, Top 3 Reasons YoUââ¬â¢L Love Ordered Lists, and Advice on Buying a Car the Right Way.”
“Canada?” said Lizzie. “Oh man, Canadians know everyone everywhere.”
Hal walked on. It’s as if he wasn’t listening, probably because he wasn’t.
A Romanian woman with a smiling, dancing child, both of whom were dressed in gypsy regalia, stepped out from a darkened doorway with a crystal ball saying, “What are your online creations and activities next to your weblog? Pay us and we will protect you from them.
“Don’t look. Don’t answer.”
“Your name isn’t Hal either is it?”
“That’s right. It’s not,” the man who wasn’t Hal said.
“Homeless kid from the local orphanage,” Ex-Hal said. “Probably poses nude in the art schools near here.”
“Here, Here, Get these! How to Ruin Your Corporate Blog: 100 Tips by 10 Bloggers,” “Post 9/11 Neologies,” “Making a Site Inaccessible – Things I used to Do,”
“Good French men gone bad.” Un-Hal shook his head. “Obviously, we’re geting closer.”
.
Then they seemed to meet the devil himself. “Beware. See the Signs of the Upcoming Blogamageddon and 20 Things Every Blogger Should Know to Prevent it”
Finally the two pseudo-spies were in the light again, standing in front of 10 Rue Dante. It was a tall brownstone sort of building, filled with a creepy sort of mystery.
“Stop right now.” Lizzie demanded. She raised her voice, even though she was the nice one. “I need to know before I go one step further who are you really and what do you do?”
“My name is . . . ”
“Wait. I know you. You’re the president of b5media — the guy who was denied entry into the U.S. because he told customs he’s a blogger.”
“Jeremy. Jeremy Wright.”
“You wrote THE book —Blog Marketing. You also wrote the list of List of IE7 CSS Bug Fixes. They talk about that everywhere — even in the women’s bathroom at Blogher.”
“Ahem, Lizzie, -er let’s go across the street to that cafe. What we’re about to do is serious. It involves the fate of the blogosphere. I think I need a mojito.” Jeremy. Jeremy Wright said.
The two travelers tied in techical treachery took a trip to El Tapatio.**
What Lizzie heard there was amazing, astonishing, and awe-inspiring.
The tale that Jeremy, Jeremy Wright related started with two names . . . and a List made by 301 Bloggers — an Innocent Group Writing Project suggested by Darren Rowse.
“It seems the list inspired an international Television Event,” Jeremy, Jeremy Wright said. “It starts tomorrow, and you’re the host.”
“I’m the what? No Way.” Lizzie stood almost knocking over a dry, delicate, caramel citrus cognac.
“We figured you’d say that.” Jeremy, Jeremy Wright explained standing as well. “That’s why the subterfuge. Tonight I’ll show you the studie at 10 Rue Dante. Tomorrow we’ll meet there, and the game show will begin.”
What were the two names Jeremy told?
That’s what you find out in ——————————-> Chapter 8
–ME “Liz” Strauss
**What was a Mexican restaurant doing in Paris on Rue Dante? . . . I didn’t know a French word that started with a T that might be a place that serves a mojito.
Related Articles
A List Becomes 301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 1
301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 2 Lizzie Meets Fred
301 Links in a Story ââ¬â Chapter 3 Lizzie Reaches the Paris Hilton
301 Links in a Story ââ¬â Chapter 4 Lizzie, Jean, and Etch-a-Sketch
301 Links in a Story ââ¬â Chapter 5 Lizzie, Americans, and French Bread
301 Links in a Story ââ¬â Chapter 6 Intrigue and Romance
katiebird says
August 27, 2006 at 1:24 AMMy favorite line:
ââ¬ÅStop right now.ââ¬Â Lizzie demanded. She raised her voice, even though she was the nice one. ââ¬ÅI need to know before I go one step further who are you really and what do you do?ââ¬Â
(particularly, “She raised her voice, even though she was the nice one.”)
I’ll remember this forever.
You’ve done some clever/tricky things with this series, but this is art.
ME Strauss says
August 27, 2006 at 4:30 AMHI Katiebird,
It’s so fun, that folks here are actually reading this little side trip of mine. Thank you for your praise. I’d never think that a line from this would be quotable. [blusing, blushing]
I’m playing with a puzzle, trying to entertain and hoping to meet that right of a writer that says “Writers have a right to watch other writers write.” without getting too far into the Writers have a write to write badly.” 🙂
Ram says
August 27, 2006 at 10:28 PMHey Liz,
Just back from weekend and read your posts!
Its a very nice concept and interesting reading (even if I am just ‘some guy’ 😉 )
One suggestion. You should start writing a book 😀
(let me know if you already have)
seriously I think you should put one single post in the end so that we can read it in one shot or download it (maybe a pdf version also), And if you decide to do so then I would like to have a autographed copy!
Ram
ME Strauss says
August 27, 2006 at 10:34 PMHey, Ram,
No one who comes to THIS blog is JUST a guy. You are someone.
Thank you, sir. I’ve got a book that’s 23 chapters long and edited twice. It makes this little story look like child’s play. It’s way more fun and full of “uniquely Liz value” — whatever that might be. I just need a few folks to sponsor my life so that I can get on with finishing it off.
Need to make money to life ya’ Know 🙂
I’d be happy to give you a copy of this if I make it into a book. I’m flattered that you think that I should. It’s kind of embarrassing.
Liz
maxpower says
September 16, 2006 at 1:46 PMThis sure looks like a trackback spamming website to me. But then I started reading around and found that there is a human that belongs to this blog. Then I found the SEO content link.
Now I’m thinking that the above entry is just a way to get links to your blog that in turn help you in the contest. What kind of community spirit does that make? SOB blogger? Right now I’m thinking sonnofabitch, that’s a tricky way to get links. Am I a cynic or is there more to the story? Are you with one hand painting a pretty picture of a blogging community while at the same time exploiting it to enhance link reputation?
I’m grumpy.
ME Strauss says
September 16, 2006 at 8:00 PMMaxpower,
I’m not at all sure I understand your problem with the story, I wrote it so that I could have some fun and at the same time pay links to alll tha contribued to the Writing Project. If that offends you I’m not sure I understand why. I certainly didn’t expect link badks to to it. The story is 10 Chapters long and it was for the entertainment of my readers.
No offense was intended.
If you’d like to know what the SOB program is about, there’s a page that explains it in the sidebar. It has been around for 47 weeks and it’s about relationships not gathering links. . . .
I’m sorry you’re feeling grumpy. I hope you feel better soon.
ME Strauss says
September 16, 2006 at 9:35 PMPS Saying you’re grumpy doesn’t make it okay to make accusations that you haven’t reseached. You really do owe me and the bloggers who hang out here an apology, Maxpower.
Rick Cockrum says
September 19, 2006 at 9:09 AMMaxpower,
If you really did look around enough to find there was a real person behind the post ( which was one of the most creative ways to give links I’ve seen), you would also have learned about the SOB program, the weekly business cafe, and Liz’s interviews featuring other bloggers. She creates more community, and shows recognition of other bloggers, than anyone else I know.
But then, people usually find what they are looking for.
ME Strauss says
September 19, 2006 at 9:12 AMHey, Rick!
I think that looking and listening aren’t a strong suit in this case. 🙂
Thanks for the supportive comment. We know what we’ve got going. We’re going to keep alive and going still 🙂
Rick Cockrum says
September 19, 2006 at 9:34 AMYou’re probably right about the looking and listening, Liz. I took a look at the About page on his blog.
Here, on the other hand, I’ve learned more about writing for the internet than anywhere else I’ve been, even if my writing doesn’t always show it, and met many good people.
HART’s comment on “7 Great Ways to Connect…” led me here. Swami Vivekananda used to say that if you didn’t feel like smiling, you shouldn’t show your face in public. Things like this comment help me see his point.
ME Strauss says
September 19, 2006 at 9:40 AMHi Rick,
Thanks for saying what you did about writing. I love to talk writing. It’s nice to have someone to talk with about it.
What great advice about smiling in public. I’d never heard that before. I should learn to follow it . . . that would be one way to have a positive impact on the world for sure. 🙂
maxpower says
September 20, 2006 at 1:01 AMLet me answer my own questions, based upon further research that should have been done at the time of posting my first comment.
Now Iââ¬â¢m thinking that the above entry is just a way to get links to your blog that in turn help you in the contest. What kind of community spirit does that make?
I got this one way wrong. I received a lot of trackback and comment spam based upon the ProBlogger group writing project. On preview, this post looked very similar to what I was receiving on a daily basis. In addition, SEO contest links raise a very big shady factor red flag for me. Essentially, I was asking what kind of blogging spirit was being employed when the blog in question looks like a spammer and had characteristics of being shady. Clearly, I was wrong about this line of thinking.
Am I a cynic or is there more to the story?
I am a cynic (how come nobody here said that?) and there is more to the story. I should have poked around more.
Are you with one hand painting a pretty picture of a blogging community while at the same time exploiting it to enhance link reputation?
No pretty pictures. And, even if you are, you are going about it the right way by using a positive utility based website that has content that people want to read. There is nothing wrong with that, and the word ‘exploit’ is not merited.
I wholeheartedly apologize for asking my questions in such a rude way, it was quite unlike me. I should have read around your site some more before posting my questions in the form I did.
As an aside, what is wrong with my about page? Can you guys really infer that I have trouble listening and learning from reading it? Everything is true in there except the monkeys (sadly).
ME Strauss says
September 20, 2006 at 5:54 AMHi Maxpower,
Thank you for coming back to write that comment. Thank you for taking responsibility for your words. Thank you for understanding that there are people on the other side of the screen.
I used to slay dragons. I quit. Too often what I found was a dead kitten at my feet. I know how it feels.
About the SEO link, you should know . . . it’s there because a friend asked — that’s the only reason. I steer clear of SEO folks as rule, because in this world they are the ultimate “closed system” — they’re not even nice to each other. I subscribe to Aaron’s book and read his website . . . that’s enough for this blogger.
No one called you a cynic, because we didn’t know that you are one. You only left one comment. We have one rule here — be nice. Calling you names when we don’t even know you would probably break that.
I don’t know about painting pretty pictures — I still have clue what that meant in the first place. I write about what I know and people read it and we talk about it.
Yeah, I’m afraid the tone of your About page is that you don’t to listen or learn because already know — it’s in one or two sentences, but they’re powerful enough. The last sentence of the first paragraph under About this Site is one — ask yourself, what purpose does that sentence serve?
Thank you, again, Maxpower, for returning and taking the time to write the comment above, to explain and apologize. It means a lot. It means that you did care about community when you mentioned it to start with. That’s common ground.
I appreciate what it took.
Sincerely,
Liz
Rick Cockrum says
September 20, 2006 at 5:58 AMMaxpower,
Speaking for myself, it takes a good person to do your research and come back and apologize this way. If it means anything, here’s my attaboy.
Since I was the one that made the remark regarding your about page – I shouldn’t have made it. It was irrelevant and had nothing to do with listening and learning. I kind of liked the monkeys. 🙂 It’s my turn to say I’m sorry.
ME Strauss says
September 20, 2006 at 6:02 AMRick,
How did you know to look here? You’re not only a wonderful person. You really are psychic too.
I think that you should do the summary . . . 😛 *she said laughing*
Rick Cockrum says
September 20, 2006 at 6:38 AMI originally got here from HART’s comment in the “7 Great Ways to Connect…” post. Anytime I comment on a post, if the site has subscribe to comment installed, I use it, so when I opened my email this morning I saw Maxpower had been back. We were both probably replying at the same time. I really do feel bad regarding the About Page comment.
“Oh No!”, he says in his best Mr. Bill voice. I see a trend developing here. 😉 Sure, I’ll do it. It may be early this afternoon before I can get it up. I have a pretty full morning.
ME Strauss says
September 20, 2006 at 6:40 AMNo need, Rick.
I was just teasing. 🙂
You’re too good to me already.
Rick Cockrum says
September 20, 2006 at 6:53 AMAre you sure? I really wouldn’t mind. I enjoyed doing it the last time. It saved you time, gave me practice and Starbucker and I decided to go ahead and try to work on something for his theme song.
ME Strauss says
September 20, 2006 at 6:56 AMWell, heck, if you’re going to persuade me . . . I’m not gonna say no. 🙂
Yes, I’d very much appreciate your talented help.
Are you really writing Starbucker’s theme song? That’s so cool.
Rick Cockrum says
September 20, 2006 at 7:06 AMTalented? I don’t know. But enjoy writing verse? Yes. Cool! I’ll have it to you by this afternoon.
I wouldn’t say I’m writing Starbucker’s theme. I’m working on the lyrics with him, he has somebody who does melody writing, and I’m assuming he’s singing. Starbucker, that is you singing, isn’t it? I’ve never tried anything like this, and never expected it when I decided to try blogging. It’s a new feeling.
ME Strauss says
September 20, 2006 at 7:08 AMBlogging leads to all kinds of collaborations. That is phenomenally cool. YEA!