It’s Paula Hendrickson’s fault.
No really, it is.
Paula is the reason we have a month-long Writers Worth event. Paula is the reason I have enlisted guest posters for content. She’s the reason we now have Twitter chats. She’s the reason Writers Worth has become such a large part of my life, and hopefully of the lives of others.
It’s also Paula who puts in extra effort for it. She’s not one to just say “Hey, you should do this….” and then watch it happen. She makes it happen. Twitter topics, guest posts, promotion — through it all, Paula is right there doing some of the heavy lifting. Hell, when I was in a hospital bed one May, she took over this blog and kept the conversation going.
So when I said “I may need some more blog posts” her hand went up first.
Paula has been a friend for quite some time, so she’s seen the evolution from a day to a week to a month (and yes, it’s her fault because she was so enthusiastic about expanding this that I gave in readily). In so many ways, Paula is the evolution of Writers Worth.
And true to her nature, Paula is about to help you evolve right along with this little movement. Good luck resisting her.
Carrying It Forward, Together
By Paula Hendrickson
When Lori said she had space for a couple more guest posts, I told her I’d be happy to write a second one—but it wouldn’t be about fear. Not directly, anyway.
She still said yes. So, here goes:
Lori topped herself in making the 10th annual Writers Worth Month bigger and better than ever. Seriously guys, we had a theme. And we added a couple of fun Twitter chats, too.
Lori makes it look easy, but it’s not. I know it’s a cliché, but you really could have knocked me over with a feather when she told me she was thinking it might be time to end Writers Worth Month.
End Writers Worth Month? Why would she even entertain such an idea?
Because it’s exhausting. May also happens to be one of Lori’s busiest times of year. And really, after ten years shouldn’t the message have started to sink in? (Apparently not for the company expecting to find “experienced writers” by boasting they offer “above market compensation” of 11-cents per word. Worse yet? They had the audacity to run that job listing during Writers Worth Month. 2018.)
Lori’s revelation got me thinking that maybe it’s time that we ALL do our individual parts in spreading and amplifying the Writers Worth message—possibly even on a year-round basis.
There are a number of ways we could do that. Obviously, we should refuse jobs from any clients that don’t recognize the value we bring to their projects. We also need to keep reminding writers that they don’t have to settle for exposure, the promise of “extra” pay based on page views, or lower rates than they deserve.
Beyond that, perhaps we can take turns writing monthly Writers Worth posts—here or on our own blogs—and share links to those posts on social media. With barely any effort at all, we can boost visibility of the #WritersWorth hashtag simply by remembering to include it on any posts that fit the topic. Lori and I have already thrown around the idea of making the Twitter chat a quarterly event.
Would it even be remotely feasible for a different writer to host Writers Worth Month each year? I don’t know. I don’t have the answers, but I’m betting some of you will have some great suggestions.
Lori has more than earned a break, so here’s the challenge: How can we work together to carry the Writers Worth message forward?
Suggestions? Ideas?
Paula Hendrickson is a regular contributor to several trade and consumer publications and provides copywriting, ghostwriting, and consulting services to a small group of select clients, yet somehow still finds time for knitting, baking, cooking, entering creative writing competitions, and doing an inordinate amount of dog sitting. Visit her website: http://www.HendricksonWrites.com, check out her extracurricular blog, https://createfromscratch.wordpress.com, or follow her on Twitter @P_Hendrickson.
12 responses to “Writers Worth: Forward Together, Fearlessly”
Maybe have one guest “editor” on your blog for each week of WW month? So that guest editor is responsible for wrangling that week’s guest posts, chats, comment replies, etc.?
Ooh! I like the way you think, Yo!
I. Love. This. What a fantastic idea!
I’m trying to do some of that with Ink-Dipped Advice (https://fearlessink.com/ink-dipped-advice/) — picking topics and dissecting them. But I think Writers Worth Month has value because of the different voices under one umbrella. The first thing I thought of was what Yo Prinzel mentioned — a guest editor every week of that month. And, when appropriate, we allow each other to link back to each other’s blogs on topics during the year where we talk about similar things, but have different approaches? That way, we’re doing our individual things, but we’re also working towards the goal of valuing our work, each other’s work, and teaching others to value it, too.
Oh, I especially love the idea of the different approaches. What a great way to reinforce that all ideas are valid!
I think what I love most is that each “guest editor” would bring in new voices.
Yes, to the quarterly Twitter chat. And year-round promo when something fits the hashtag is also a great idea. As for keeping it going, I was once part of a blog carnival that published once a month on a business topic. Why not do something similar for Writer’s Worth – maybe publish quarterly to coincide with the chats? All we’d have to do is pick four themes and set a deadline.
Another great idea!
Fun!
I’m late to this party but I love all of these ideas. And think of all the possibilities for attaching the hashtag! Snarky tweets and hashtags go so well together. 😉
I knew there was a reason I liked you, Cathy. We think alike! Snarky hashtags.
😀