Kristen King, Mayra Ruiz-McPherson and Beth J. Bates at the American Independent Writers Conference 2009
Kristen King (@kristenking) moderated our panel on blogging and had a host of excellent questions up her sleeve to keep the panel moving along while getting the most from each panelist’s expertise. One of the big questions was: “Can you really make money online with blogging?”
Thursday Bram pointed out that she’d been making a full-time living with blogging for about four years. She said she’d talked to people in journalism and found she was making more than her colleagues still employed full-time for one company.
Deborah Ager and Kristen King prepare for the panel
Hot Blogging and Freelancing Tips
Thursday Bram (@thursdaybram) discussed blogging for b5media and copyright issues. If your online writing is stolen, tell Google. If you file a valid complaint, Google will often shut down the thief’s website. Bram shared a resource called Help a Reporter Out, which will help you get in touch with contacts when you’re writing a blog post.
Mayra Ruiz-McPherson (@marketingmisfit) discussed how an online writer has only seconds to capture a reader’s interest and suggested using photos to attract and retain readership.
Beth J. Bates discussed how much she’d learned about blogging by starting to do it herself. I think she’s put herself through an admirable crash course, which is what entrepreneurs often do!
The Other Big Question
The other big question was “does blogging count as real writing?” Kristen King mentioned that she overheard someone say that blogging did not count as “real” writing, and she stepped in to say that it did. Everyone on the panel agreed that blogging counts.
I pointed out that online publication is not 100% accepted as “real” publication, because there are still people who prefer to appear in print and the National Endowment for the Arts requests fellowship applicants to use no more than a certain number of online publications in their application. Bloggers and the writing on blogs doesn’t yet have complete acceptance; I think it will over time.
Thursday Bram, Deborah Ager, Beth J Bates and Mayra Ruiz-McPherson at AIW Conference
Mayra Ruiz-McPherson graciously said we could use her photos from the event. All credit goes to her.
