Jan and Joanna Inspired Me!
It’s such fun to be inspired!
Jan of Circular Communication wrote a wonderful guest post for Lorelle called Why A Link Post Should Be Like Mingling at a Party. Joanna of Confident Writing used it as a springboard into a post of her own, How to write a links post.
Joanna’s Definition of a Great Link Post
Joanna said that as a writer she prefers to write link posts that have these characteristics. This is one fabulous definition. [I’ve edited her words slightly.]
A great links post
- has a theme, something that connects the links together
- has been percolating for a while
- links five different pieces of writing
- is of value to readers
- has a structure, a hook or a theme that connects the strands together and turns them into something bigger, different, new. . .
Can you write a thematic link post that meets Joanna’s definition? It’s like telling a story. . . . Vern does it every Sunday linking three or four blogs. It’s not as hard as it seems and it’s quite satisfying.
Are you up for the challenge? If you come through, I’ll build a story link post linking all of your thematic link posts together.
Go on, make my life miserable . . . the more who participate, the more work I’ll have to do. Rally a crowd. I’m up for it now. Nothing can be as hard as the 10 Chapter saga of A List Becomes 301 Links in Story.
Here’s What to Do
- Write a link post that follows Joanna’s definition above.
- Tag the post Joanna Young.
- Link to Joanna’s post at http://coachingwizardry.typepad.com/confident_writing/2007/08/link-posting-sh.html
- Link to this post at https://www.successful-blog.com/1/writing-challenge-joannas-thematic-link-post/
That way I can include you my link post response. - Today is August 13th, let’s put the end at midnight CDT (GMT-6) August 23rd.
C’mon try it. Pick five links that go together. Then write a post to connect them. Or pick 10 or 20!!
You just might find that you had a great time! Think of the link love we’ll spread. Yeah, it’s time to get jazzed about linking and writing.
Are you going to give it a shot?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Related
A List Becomes 301 Links in Story — Chapter 1.
Link Anchor Text: SEO and Relationships
How to Code Links for Sidebars and Posts
How to Code Accessible Links–Part 1
How to Code Accessible Links–Part 2
How to Code Accessible Links–Part 3
Jan says
August 13, 2007 at 12:49 PMLiz,
I am loving this 🙂
This is exactly what Circular Communication is about!
If I wasn’t in the middle of wrapping up a major change of my blog design would I help spread the word immediately – now it has to wait a few hours if all goes well.
I am hoping this spreads even more because it is a message well worth getting out.
Talk about pressure building up for my next guest post at Lorelles blog 🙂
PS: I would never be able to write guest posts like Joanna, Vern or Dawud to name a few that write them this way so sadly I cannot participate. I will be rooting from the stands though 😉
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 1:51 PMOh Jan!
What are you saying? Your guest post at Lorelle’s was simply wonderful. STOP devaluing my opinion. 🙂
I’m hoping folks pickup this one too. It could be such fun to read them Joanna has make the definition of a link post into an artform. 🙂
Jan says
August 13, 2007 at 2:18 PMOops, I did actually mean “would never be able to write LINK posts like”…
Talk about a Freudian slip of the fingers…
You know I wouldn’t question your opinion Liz. Especially not in this case 😀
Actually this was not about devaluing anything, but merely to say that not everyone can write that kind of posts. I am perfectly happy with my way of doing it so it is just a matter of different people doing it differently, which just adds to the experience and enjoyment.
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 2:34 PMHeck, Jan,
I think the way that you connect links would totally qualify. 🙂
Lorelle says
August 13, 2007 at 4:04 PMI ADORE the way Jan creates posts that are really link posts but are full content, so this is going to be exciting to watch.
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 4:11 PMHi Lorelle!
That’s exactly what I was telling Jan. He’s sooo good at this he’s a pro. 🙂
Jan says
August 13, 2007 at 4:12 PMLadies please 🙂
Just got done with the redesign upload and is getting around to tweaking the last details. Since it is nearing midnight am I not sure I will be able to post anything tonight, but perhaps tomorrow if I am not too exhausted from all this designing.
Actually is it not my design, but a mash up of two themes I equally liked. With all the tweaking could I perhaps equally well have designed one from ground up. Oh, well…
Hmmm, just realized that this was supposed to about something else entirely… Sorry…
I will see if I can find the time to get something done for this, but I cannot promise anything…
I do volunteer to read the entries though 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 4:14 PMJan, the design is looking lovely . . . can’t wait until it goes to the home page so that I can see it complete!! 🙂
Michael from Pro Blog Design says
August 13, 2007 at 6:56 PMAs much as I’m sure I’ll regret attempting this, I think I’ll give it a shot. (How’s that for “Confident” writing Joanna??? 😆 )
It would be well worthwhile if I could find a good way of linking out to the great articles I’ve read online. 🙂
(And of course, Sunday is 6 days away. Plenty of time. 😀 )
Dawn Cardon says
August 13, 2007 at 7:15 PMAt BlogHer this year, Penelope Trunk said that a blog is a conversation, and you shouldn’t have one if you don’t want to correspond with your readers. I thought this was a great point. As a new blogger, I’ve really struggled with finding interesting content to write about. But, as Liz points out, the blogosphere isn’t a big mass of people’s introspections but a complex creation with lots of mutually dependent blogs. Blogging is about reading, digesting, responding, and coming up with new stuff that builds on what’s out there. It reminds me of college (which I’ve unfortunately just recently left) and is fabulous. Thanks for the tips, Liz!
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 7:34 PMHi Michael!
Welcome!
Didn’t I say the 23rd? That gives you TEN whole days . . . go for it!! YEA!!
PS I have faith in you!
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 7:37 PMHi Dawn!
How wonderful to see you!
The conversation can go on in so many ways. It’s all up to you. Just blog your experience and trust people to find the places where they see themselves in what you do. We’re all enough alike that it happens naturally. 🙂
Take a look at how Vernon links four unrelated blogs every Sunday. 🙂
You never were a stranger here. 🙂
GP says
August 13, 2007 at 9:22 PMOkay, i’ll bite … sorry innkeeper parlance 🙂
can it be on any topic – spirit, business even equines if it brings something to the proverbial table?
gp in montana
ME Strauss says
August 13, 2007 at 9:45 PMOf course it can,
I like the idea of having a harder mix to deal with in the end!
Go for it!
Shane says
August 14, 2007 at 1:17 AMHey Liz,
Link posts with a theme are always the best.
I wrote one quite a while ago that was just a free-association rambling that connected all the links and their topics together.
It’s good SEO. It’s good user experience. And it’s good creative writing practice!
Mihaela Lica says
August 14, 2007 at 2:58 AM🙂 I think I’m in to. It sounds like fun. I am sure I’ve been writing link posts without really calling them link posts… but hey, one more cannot hurt.
Alina Popescu says
August 14, 2007 at 5:19 AMSounds like an interesting challenge. I’ll give it a try 🙂
Joanna Young says
August 14, 2007 at 5:27 AMHi Liz
There’s always so much to be learned from your comment box! I’ve got some new ideas about what confident writing means…
“I am perfectly happy with my way of doing it so it is just a matter of different people doing it differently, which just adds to the experience and enjoyment” (Jan) and “I think I’ll give it a shot” (Michael). Dead right both of you!
And some great thoughts on what this process of reading and writing and blogging means from Dawn:
“the blogosphere isn’t a big mass of people’s introspections but a complex creation with lots of mutually dependent blogs. Blogging is about reading, digesting, responding, and coming up with new stuff that builds on what’s out there”.
That last point captures what I try and do with my link posts – reading, digesting, responding and coming up with new stuff that builds on what’s there.
I’m glad my tuppenceworth inspired you Liz and you’re right, it is fun to be inspired 🙂
But I’m not claiming this is how it “should” be done (I don’t like shoulds, they get in the way of being confident in your own style) and certainly not that my way is an artform! (I’ll take the compliment though, thanks :-))
The other point I was making in the post is that there are many different ways of writing link posts – and I had a bit of fun experimenting with some of them. The one Liz has highlighted here is one that seems to work for me and that I enjoy writing – because it’s more of a stand-alone piece, has more of a theme, tells more of a story.
I’m looking forward to the story that emerges out of this project Liz, I’m sure it will be creative and intriguing and full of new possibilities…
Joanna
ME Strauss says
August 14, 2007 at 6:55 AMHi Shane,
I agree thematic link posts have all of the values that you name AND they’re fun. I always feel sort of clever when I finish writing one. 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 14, 2007 at 7:00 AMHi Alina!
It sounds so fun. I think I’m going to sneak one in this morning just because I want to. 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 14, 2007 at 7:03 AMHi Joanna!
I don’t like “shoulds” either. I’m sorry I implied that . . . I do so like your definition, though, because it adds such value to the connections and the content. You bring links together and give them context. That’s what makes this exercise in writing worth trying out. 🙂
I hope everyone finds their own way of doing it in a way that serves the writer and the readers. Done well it’s got such possibilities for raising the bar on what a link post could be. 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 14, 2007 at 7:28 AMHi Mihaela!
I didn’t mean to jump over you! I’m delighted you’re going to try it. I agree these are more than link posts — maybe we should call them “Think and Link” posts. 🙂
GP says
August 14, 2007 at 1:22 PMHere’s my first one… an equine one is being trotted out as we speak 🙂 What fun.
See u later this eve chardonnay in hand 🙂
http://fishcreekhouse.blogspot.com/2007/08/fan-flames.html
gp in montana
ME Strauss says
August 14, 2007 at 1:33 PMHey thanks!
I had to go down to the bank, so you beat me to it! Thanks for playing along.
Can’t wait for the party with Becky tonight!
Alina Popescu says
August 17, 2007 at 7:16 AMHi Liz,
My task is completed 🙂 You can see it here:
http://www.wordsofabrokenmirror.com/error-retrieving-retry/
Hope you like it, I certainly enjoyed writing it 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 17, 2007 at 9:03 AMAlina,
That is so brilliant! Wow!
Michael from Pro Blog Design says
August 19, 2007 at 9:01 AMI think I’ve managed it. 😀 (Though I didn’t tag the post. I don’t use tags.)
http://www.problogdesign.com/weekly-wrap-up/weekly-wrap-up-war-on-clutter/
It was a lot of fun to write, and much more fulfilling than a simple list!
ME Strauss says
August 19, 2007 at 9:07 AMHi Michael,
Just got back from reading it. Wow! It shows that you had fun writing it . . . it’s a great read too. 🙂
Yvonne Russell says
August 20, 2007 at 7:40 AMThanks to Joanna for reminding us about the “tell a story” link post approach. I’m still perfecting it, but it was fun! http://www.growyourwritingbusiness.com/?p=294
Thanks for drawing our attention to Joanna’s post, Liz, and for co-ordinating this. I’m looking forward to reading your super sized roundup.
ME Strauss says
August 20, 2007 at 8:16 AMHi, Yvonne!!
Welcome. Isn’t it wonderful and fun?!!
I’m sure hoping to find all of the links when I put the super-sized post together. Thanks for helping out by leaving your link here. 🙂
Jan says
August 23, 2007 at 12:48 AMHi Liz,
Since my contribution didn’t seem to be alerting you automatically here it is:
How to Best Pitch Bloggers – a Virtual Group Interview
Thanks again for the challenge and for adding to the circularity of it all 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 23, 2007 at 5:09 AMHi Jan!
I stopped by to read it last night. ( I couldn’t get my comment to take.) It’s brilliant. You’ve recreated the genre you invented. Bravo!!
Andrea Yager says
August 23, 2007 at 10:56 PMLiz
I am not so good with the world clock but I think I made your deadline 😉
http://getstartedtodayonline.com/why-go-out-and-play-when-you-can-be-inside-blogging/
PS – HERE it is almost 7 AM, (hence my post may read the 24th) but there, wherever CDT is, it is not quite 11 PM (I think)..
Thanks!
ME Strauss says
August 24, 2007 at 6:15 AMHi Andrea,
you made it here with an hour to spare — and your piece is so well done, that after I went to read it, I forgot come back leave a comment about it here. 🙂