Earlier this month, BlogHer had a lively debate about whether bigger bloggers are obligated to help newbies. I’m not going to comment on what constitutes a “bigger blogger,” but I think it’s an issue worth considering, especially since I often get so many emails from aspiring writers and bloggers asking for advice.
Personally, I try to help up-and-coming writers and bloggers whenever I can. I answer questions via email. I teach blogging at two local adult education centers (and yes, I get paid for that, but the hourly rate is much lower than what I earn from other gigs). I pass along contacts as I deem appropriate. It’s good for karma and it builds goodwill so that these writers and bloggers will (hopefully) follow my blog.
But I have to draw the line somewhere or I wouldn’t have any time for my paying projects. When I get super open-ended questions like “How do I start a blog?” or “Where can I find freelance clients?”, I’ll refer the asker to appropriate resources, like my blogging class or one of these books on writing. There are tons of resources available for those just starting out, so I think it’s best to avail yourself of those resources before asking busy freelancers questions that can easily be answered elsewhere.
When someone has clearly done a little homework first and asks a specific question that can be answered in a few sentences, I’m much more inclined to help them out. Asking a quick question is fine. But expecting someone to put their work aside and hold your hand? Not so much.
What’s your take on this topic?
I feel exactly the same way, Susan. I always give advice where I can (because I've also asked for advice-still do in fact!) but if it's sometime totally wideopen like "how does one blog" I just give references, even if it's a close friend.
Delia Lloyd
http://www.realdelia.com
I totally agree. There's a lot of info out there, if people look, but I would certainly share what I have learned. I was a total novice when I started blogging four years ago, so I let my son set me up with blogger. Now I would know to advise people with plans for a long-running blog to use wordpress, for instance, instead. That's an easy suggestion.
I think that it's ok to expect people to do their homework for larger questions. THere are a lot of resources available out there.
I think being friendly and helpful — as you are — is important. But some people really want you to do it for them. Sorry, but no way.
For me, it depends on who is asking and how they ask. I try to be helpful in most cases, but I got burned big time recently, so I'm in another cautious phase.
Hilarious. I was just writing up a post on the same topic when I saw this pop up in my Twitter feed. And last week, Deb Ng tackled the same questions. There are some interesting suggestions in the comments section of her post:
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/more-on-freelancing-blogging-and-giving-out-free-information/
The comment you make about newbies not doing their homework struck a chord with me. I feel as if there a lot of starting freelancers out there who take advantage of those willing to give unlimited advice for free. Sometimes, I get the same question from someone multiple times…even after I've directed them to a book or comprehensive blog post. It rubs me the wrong way when it's obvious someone hasn't put in the effort.
If you're not willing to work your booty off, you're never going to succeed.
I remember when I was a newbie and reached out to some writers for advice. I usually got very nice responses with some specific info and sometimes helpful links. As a busy writer now, I find it really difficult to help new writers out with all they need. I agree that being courteous and pointing them in the right direction is a good thing, but detailed, time-consuming information is nearly impossible.
Working as I do in music, I tend to get sort of a double shot of people who want to blog and people who want to get into music or get their music heard. Always a challenge to give just a bit of information and refer people to other sources gracefully. I've certainly been burned when doing so.
Developing classes sounds like it might be something for me to consider as well.
Kudos for opening up conversation on this topic, Susan! Like you, I try to respond and help out where I can. Since others have done it for me, I want to pay it forward.
However, one experience really opened my eyes. I was coaching a newbie on how to deal with a client, only to discover the same thing had happened to her repeatedly. It was a good reminder that people will jump in without doing the important (and hard) work upfront. I sent her some recommended resources and suggested she start there.
I don't mind helping people figure out what's quality info vs. info just trying to get you to spend money on classes, but that's as far as I go with those big, open-ended questions.
I look forward to hearing what other bloggers have to say!
I don't know that I have much to add, but I totally agree with you! When I started out I had no idea what I was doing. Really, I was the one who made all the wrong choices.
Now that I've made some headway and know what I'm doing, I enjoy helping others. However, I also had to learn certain things for myself and so while I always try to answer questions, I tell people to just get out there and research and explore and pitch and see what works and what doesn't.
I find it is the people who haven't done their homework and ask hugely open-ended questions are the ones who won't have the skills to successfully write or blog anyway. It takes tenacity and a willingness to dig for the right answer for both of those. I refer those sorts of people to "my friend Google".
I had similar issues with two mentees who I actually did practice interviews as part of an alum program I volunteer with. Most of these folks want to be some the writing field in some way, but neither took the opportunity to follow up on leads I provided or to thank me for my time. And, it's affected how much time I want to commit to the program. Previously, I had stock answers to the typical dozen questions students ask, but now I outline my expectations for both of us because it's not worth being irked. This is slightly different from a random blogger wanting info, but I feel similarly in that mentees want all this info provided instantly and they see mentoring as simply providing information–not relationship building.
interesting blog and great discussion. like you, susan, i believe sharing wisdom and contacts builds karma. but i also think that people actually pay more attention when i charge them for advice. so, though i'm happy to help some, i also draw the line pretty quickly and offer my services for $ if they are asking for a lot of help or information
Helping newbies is a generous act. But spoon-feeding is an exemption.
I think what you do Susan is the right thing – to point them in the direction of online resources.
Ultimately, advice on how to start a blog is such a small step, if they aren't motivated and resourceful enough to learn themselves, then maintaining an ongoing blog is probably above them. Like all things online, effort and enthusiasm is 90% of what you need to succeed. Asking open ended questions sometimes feels like someone saying: "I can't be bothered searching through Google, can't someone just tell me what I should do."
Emerging writers are a different story, as I think that creativity needs constant support – particularly from those who have made it.
Great post and topic. My husband was actually advising me to create a generic email response to blog readers that contact me, but it's just not my style, although I have come close to doing that.
People have been so generous to me in this my first year writing a personal blog (I wrote a bog-for-hire for a year before that) that I do think it's good karma to share what you know.
Though it does crack me up when newbies come to me for techno advice. Me. The Luddite queen.
But I agree you have to be careful not to get sucked into someone's blogging fantasy vortex. And we do need to value our skills — writing and editing — and not give it all away for free. Know what I'm saying?
I've done barter with some friends. I've helped others with easy-to-answer questions and drawn boundaries with folks who wanted more hand holding than I could give.
And I point everyone, including those "I want to start a blog where do I begin?" folks to Jane Boursaw's fabulous course, Blogging for Profit & Passion, which is wonderful and affordable for most newcomers.
Just to add a little bit to the discussion, I think your spot-on with bloggers needing to do their homework first. My big mistake with my earliest blog was not having it defined well enough. After some research and responding to plenty of other blogs, I completely tweaked my focus, renamed my blog and moved forward. Interesting topic.
I like to help if I can, but like you, I prefer to see that someone has put a little effort into learning about writing before they ask for help. A broad "how do I write for magazines?" is too hard to answer and I find that most of the people who ask never follow up with it. That's wasting my time. If someone clearly understands the process but needs a bit of help or inspiration, then I'm usually happy to help!
Totally agree, Susan. If the question is a reasonable, thought-out question, I'm going to help. If it's "How do I start?" I'm going to say "Do a Google search on 'starting a blog.'"
Worse is when you offer help to get them going and they come back like boomerangs time and again. Help me! What do I do now? That's just laziness. If you can't be bothered to at least try it on your own, don't bother at all.
The same goes for the beginning freelance writer. I'll go out of my way to help you, but you have to show some initiative and at least try to learn how to start. It's the most frequent question I get – How do I start? – and it's the most annoying. You start by doing your homework THEN asking questions.