Bringing Community Back FWJ is Giving Away $150 Bucks!
October 1, 2009 by Deb Ng
Filed under Announcements
Once upon a time there was a blog. This blog had several thousand visitors each day. They shared. They chatted. They commiserated. It was all good. Soon some mean people came by and began scaring away the happy chatters. The vibe changed from warm and fuzzy to not so much fun anymore. The owner did her best to build up community, but she was so busy with her projects and her job it wasn’t happening. She put a comment policy into place but the damage was already done. She had a reputation for having a community that liked to bicker.
She wants to change that.
If you remember the days when FWJ was a huge, lively community of writers helping writers, you may miss the golden days as well. Let’s try and get it all back. Several years ago, we built this community with a contest – a comments contest. We offered a $25 gift certficate to the person with the most comments. People came and never left. It was good.
We’re doing it again, except we’re upping the ante.
Beginning today, October 1st, we’re giving away $150 to the people who help to bring back this wonderful community. We’re giving away three $50 prizes.
- The person with the most comments between now and October 31st, on this, the main Freelance Writing Jobs blog, will receive $50.
- The person with the most comments across the whole FWJ network by the end of the month, that’s all of the blogs, will receive $50.
- The FWJ blogger who does the most to build community and join the conversation will win $50 at the end of the month.
Just a few notes:
- Comments that only say ” I agree” or add nothing to the conversation won’t count.
- Comments not adhering to our comment policy will be deleted and won’t count.
- Spammy comments or comment dropping links – unless they’re truly offering something to the conversation – won’t count.
I know you’re here. I see the numbers. Thousand of people visit each day and even more subscribe. Come join the conversation. Let’s bring community back!
I’ll tally in first. It is wonderful to get feedback from other writers as well as their experience with certain websites or magazines, etc. Some days when I need a lift or a perspective I check out the topics and comments here. Some are negative, others much more constructive and positive. Its the latter that makes me keep wanting to look for writing gigs and do the footwork and research and do the writing “tests”.
I have found that my pay per gig is increasing as is my visibility online but if there wasn’t a community like this to go to, which offers so much more then a job board, I might have quit a while ago or decided it wasn’t worth it to keep going. So I hope others will offer their opinion and experience as well. We all need to hear what others are thinking and experiencing.
Thanks, Edna. FWJ has always been a community of writers helping writers. They’re all very willing to share their experiences, I just need to bring it back into the open. Feel free to ask questions here an on the other blogs. We’re here to help!
What a fun idea! I remember your first comment contest. I’m not likely to win because I just don’t comment much. I’d rather learn from what others have to say. But I think it will be fun to see how the community grows.
Brilliant as always Deb.
Jump in anytime, Kathleen, don’t be shy! It may interest you to know I considered myself shy as well, but blogging and social media brought me out of my shell.
This is a great idea. I actually JUST subscribed to this blog a couple of days ago because I am dabbling in freelance writing. I will have to start commenting more often rather than just reading
Hi Amber,
Do share your progress and success stories with us. Have you freelanced before or is this your first foray?
I could use an extra $50 to finally give myself a guilt-free birthday gift. I’l be…um…celebrating the 5th anniversary of my 29th birthday on Nov 1st. So maybe I’ll get off my dupa and comment more!
I could use a guilt free birthday gift, anniversary gift, Christmas gift…but I can’t win.
What a great idea for bringing the freelance writing community together! If it weren’t for the interaction with writers around the world I am not sure I would be successful. It’s what it’s all about!
In addition to success, I think it’s important for those of us to work at home to have some “company” during the day. Social networking helps to pass the time!
I’m going to use this contest as an excuse to “come out of the woodwork.” I’ve been freelancing full time for a while now, but still haven’t gotten the social networking/community involvement aspect down yet. I start to comment on this site (and several others) every day, but my internal editor makes me second-guess myself and wonder whether I’m really contributing anything meaningful to the discussion.
Kudos on a great idea.
Thanks for surfacing, Rebecca, don’t be a stranger!
Good luck in your community-building efforts. Let’s Skype together soon. Best, Sandy
Hi, friend! I’m always here, Skype any time!
Deb, may a get philosophical for a bit?
If you take the word community apart you get unity and “com,” a prefix that means “with.” As a pastor, I’ve learned that community grows when people are together and united in a common purpose or endevor.
I’m new here, but from the name of your blog I’m expecting the purpose is to learn how to land more and better writing assignments that pay well. That’s a good and useful purpose.
To unite in the pursuit of that purpose will require that your readers view each other as part of the same team rather than as competitors. An “us” rather than a random collection of “mes.”
True communities build one another up, rather than tearing one another apart. They work at relationships and at settling conflict. Trolls, bullies, and thieves have to be dealt with effectively–by the leader(s) of the community.
The members of a strong community are united by a passion for their common purpose and by their concern for one another. They work together and share the wisdom and knowledge that makes the task easier.
I’ve shorthanded all this. I wish I had somewhere to point you and your readers for further reading, but I don’t. The contexts where I have learned these things would be alien to many of your readers.
Philosophy works, Chris. I love your definition of community and insight into how it works. I believe we already have that here, it’s just a matter of bringing it to the surface.
Deb you never cease to impress. This is a great idea to build community and have writers helping out other writers. Although it is nice to have prizes to go along with it, sometimes it seems a shame that folks cannot exchange ideas without bickering. This is great though.
I did enjoy the lead paragraph on this post. I needed a good smile today. Thanks again.
Hi Deb,
Wow! This is such a great idea… I may not win since am all the way over in India, but its not gonna stop me from commenting.. I love the FWJ network, have gotten great leads and greater info on how to create a place for myself in the big net-o-world.
I’ve had to face some tough times since being from India,clients have expected my to work for a dollar an article or even, free. However, each time, I’ve felt low or in the dumps, I’ve come here and found inspiration, guidance and positive energy.
Thank you and blessings always.
Thanks so much,Prena!
I’m a new and of course, struggling writer, trying to learn the ropes! This is the only site that I have found that wasn’t just a ‘job mill’ or spammy. I see good advice and feedbacks (and warnings about sites that may not be so good!) I’ve also become a writer for Demandstudios thanks to this site. Keep it coming!
Good luck. Michele!
I agree! I love this site. As a published but still quite new writer, I’ve found this site an invaluable resource for leads and advice!
Sounds like more writing for low pay! Just kidding. Good idea, I hope the comments bring some useful insight and do not become a schmooze fest for $50. I check the site often for job listing, but have started reading the posts more often. Over the last year I have gone from blogging for fun to semi-full-time freelance writing. I have picked up most of my work through this site and now write for Demand Studios which keeps me busy when other things are slow. Good luck with the contest!
Interesting idea. I see there’s already some good competiton for the bucks.
Question for others: Has anyone had a good experience trying to get work through Elance?
So many of the buyers seem to want something for almost nothing that it’s really discouraging.
Not at all-no good gigs. I find the bulk of my gigs here, Craigslist, and even through Twitter.
The social networking pages have opened up new avenues to get to know editors better. I’ve a few friends on FaceBook that are editors I worked with in the past. The first time I sent out friend requests I accidentally selected every contact in my email!
From that, I ended up with very nice people, some editors, that confirmed my request and we now even speak on IM. This leads to offers that are casual. Like, “Hey do you think you could…” and builds a nice reputation.
Thanks for the feedback, Julie.
I am definitely up for it. As someone who just began following my dream of being a professional writer recently I would love to have a place that encourages and offers advice! I have been fortunate to pick up several writing jobs, but want MORE, MORE, MORE!
Creating a positive forum for writers to discuss is appreciated!
Okay, I’ve been drug in. Btw, first time post…I’ve been coming here for almost eight months looking for writing jobs. I like this site the best because 1) the layout 2) the colors 3) I like the coffee cup (I love coffee) and 4) the postings for ads is neat and simple.
I began writing for DS because of this site and have written there since March of this year. Prior to that I wrote (still do) for Associated Content and Constant Content. I still have an account with CC, but rarely do I submit there anymore.
Suppose I need some 1-on-1 training because all other gigs I’ve applied for, I’ve not heard anything back from…oh, except one that wanted a freebie.
So maybe I will spend more time reading posts than looking for gigs and learn what it is that I’m doing wrong. Part of my problem is I work full-time. I would like to reach the point where I could write full-time. That’s my goal anyway…I’m 1/2 way there!
I was browsing through the blog’s archives and have just come across this post. I hope it’s not too late to take part in the contest, because now I really want to give it a try despite my super tight deadline–less than 48 hours left.
Oh, I must add comment contests are definitely a clever way to build a community–or to bring it back to life. Not that FWJ looks dead. In fact, judging from other posts I’ve seen, it looks alive and healthy.