Question

Topic: Social Media

Regarding Writing, But Not Publishing, My Own Blog

Posted by telemoxie on 7/13/2017 at 9:17 AM ET 2500 Points
In the old days, there used to be publishers. Someone would type something on a typewriter, and send it to somebody else, and that other person or organization would be the publisher.

I want to be a writer. I don't want to be a publisher.

I don't want to learn Wordpress. I do not want to select colors or styles or fonts. I do not want to edit or spellcheck. I do not want to submit anything to search engines. I do not want to deal with content spammers. I do not want to sign up for Wordpress add-ins. I do not want to create or manage a domain.

I only want to write. That is all.

However, I do not want the end result to look amateurish. I would like some sort of platform which could grow to include e-commerce or other capabilities down the road. I would like to work with a professional and competent person or organization who will be active and proactive and involved and helpful.

Are there affordable services out there for someone like me? Thanks so much.
To continue reading this question and the solution, sign up ... it's free!
SUBSCRIBE
Or, SIGN IN

RESPONSES

  • Posted by stu.kushner on 7/13/2017 at 9:57 AM Accepted
    I need writers and I have editors, and a publisher that will post the content to sites. The content will get optimized (SEO) and then distributed in a newsletter. But you would be writing on behalf of clients. The content would not be for your own use.
  • Posted by telemoxie on 7/13/2017 at 10:06 AM Author
    Thanks, Stu, but I'm asking about something a bit different.

    I'm looking for an inexpensive publishing service. I'm interested in writing under my own name, on my choice of topics, and hopefully retaining rights to everything I write.
  • Posted by mgoodman on 7/13/2017 at 10:58 AM Accepted
    It sounds like you want an editorial assistant who is really good with WordPress. The software platform is just fine for blogs, easy to use (once you figure it out), capable of expanding to almost anything. The problem is that it takes an investment of time up-front to learn how to use it. That's what you don't want.

    I will ask a couple folks who have mastered WordPress if they are interested/available. Could be a good match of skills and interests for you and a great editorial assistant.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 7/13/2017 at 4:07 PM Accepted
    A second vote for Wordpress. If you don't want amateurish, buy your own domain. It's straightforward to install, configure, and choose a look for your site (I've done this for many clients). There are Wordpress add-ons that'll allow you to publish/post your articles via email, so once set up, there would be little tech maintenance. However, to get things from being a hodge-podge of articles, you'll probably want to figure out a high-level organization for your site. A Wordpress Virtual Assistant might be your most efficient avenue.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 7/14/2017 at 1:17 PM Accepted
    Without some form of publishing, you'll be writing for an audience of one: you.

    If you'd rather not go down the WordPress road, other ways to write and 'share' your material WITHOUT learning all the tedious backend stuff include sharing your stuff on LinkedIn and on Medium.

    https://medium.com/

    Then there are any number of sites similar to Medium. Here's a list of contenders:

    https://www.topsiteslike.com/medium.com/

    I feel your pain on the issue of the backend of things. I loathe WordPress. And yet, it's a necessary evil.
    One I'm currently wrestling with.

    To build up some form of e-commerce visibility though, and whether you like the fact or not, at some point you'll need to be involved as a publisher. Here's why:

    That old chestnut attributed to Bill Gates in which he claimed "Content is king!"?

    It was Sumner Redstone who coined the phrase. But Sumner also believed distribution would become less important than content. I believe that thinking is in error. Yes, that's right: I'm challenging the opinion of one of the world's leading media CEOs because WITHOUT distribution, the content is useless.

    If no one can see it, read it, watch it, share it, listen to it, comment on it, like it, or find it, the content, WHATEVER IT IS, is pretty much useless. It may as well be locked in the bottom drawer of an old filing cabinet at the bottom of a mine shaft on the dark side of a distant planet in a parallel universe.

    I get that you only want to write, I really do. But part and parcel of writing is self-editing, checking one's grammar and spelling (mental note to self: better start doing, that, Bloomer! Chop, chop!"), and making sure one makes sense. There are times when i read back certain things I've bashed out and it sounds like Yoda on speed! "Sense makes no, text makes this!"

    Why do I hope you DO decide to put a toe into the waters of publishing?

    BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR FRIGGING GENIUS, MAN!

    Do you have even the faintest idea how much many people, myself included, are in TOTAL AWE of your contributions to this forum?

    Dude!

    You rock!

    You REALLY, REALLY DO.

    Fame awaits.

    The world NEEDS your input.

    Hope this helps.
  • Posted by telemoxie on 7/17/2017 at 9:18 AM Author
    Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I guess it's about time for me to start studying social media.
BACK TO TOP

Post a Comment

Related Discussions

Community Info

Top 25 Experts
(Social Media)