Re: Gardening Blogs In Newspapers

**"Kathy Purdy" k*@gmail.com**

As one of the "digital hordes," let me first apologize for ruining the
livelihood of so many writers. When I started my gardening blog in August
2002, changing the world of horticultural publishing was the furthest thing
from my mind. As a matter of fact, it was my inability to find a market for
the kind of garden writing I am best at (personal essay, last page of the
mag type stuff) that made blogging so attractive. When I started my blog, no
one had blogged at a political convention, no one had a business blog, and
Blogger was the only software available to help you self-publish on the web.
Most people still didn't know what a blog was, for crying out loud, and that
especially includes most gardeners.

There were so few garden blogs back then and they were so difficult to find,
that I started to maintain a list for the convenience of whoever happened to
find me. Consequently I have been following garden blogging almost from the
beginning. The number of blogs related to some aspect of horticulture or
gardening has grown exponentially in the last 12 to 18 months. Almost all
garden bloggers regard blogging as a way to enhance a hobby they're already
passionate about. They don't want to make money with their blogs; they want
to make friends. They not only write their own blog, they visit other
gardeners blogs and leave comments. They are not looking first and foremost
for factual information, but anecdotal, chatting-over-the-fence exchanges.

Just as television did not completely eliminate radio, I don't think blogs
and other Web2 developments will eliminate print media. Gardeners will come
to expect different types of information and services from different
platforms. Ironically, as a result of my blog, I have gotten several pieces
accepted for publication at a major gardening magazine. Who knows if that
willl continue, or if it is a flash in the pan? It does tell me that it need
not be all or nothing.

As for the two women garden-blogging for the Houston paper, they both had
garden blogs previous to blogging for the newspaper and certainly didn't get
paid then. They both seem to regard it as a continuation of what they had
been doing, just the url has changed. Heather, while not a garden writer,
does write for a living. She writes "user manuals for a major discount
brokerage"--her own words in this
post<http://gardenobsession.blogspot.com/2006/02/kazoo-happy-bloggiversary-kazoo_21.html>.

As for other garden blogs connected with newspapers, have you seen
Greengirl<http://www.startribune.com/blogs/greengirl/>?
She is an employee of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune--but she's their
website manager, not a gardener. As a matter of fact, last year was her
first year gardening. She often asked for advice, and the readers of that
newspaper gave her plenty of it in the comments. Sometimes they even started
arguing with each other. I don't know how the newspaper first alerted its
print readers to this blog, but it was clearly popular with them. A
gardening columnist is perceived by readers as an expert. A garden blogger
is perceived as "one of us," someone who is bumbling along just like we are.
That's the appeal, and that's why it is actually better that Heather and
Elaine (the Houston garden bloggers) aren't garden writers in their
professional lives.

A good blog is hard work. I often do some research (even if it's only
checking the spelling of botanical names), modify and upload photos, and
link to further information. In addition, of course, to writing, re-writing,
and proofreading. I can't manage 5 entries a week. I try for two substantial
entries a week, and hope to stick a quick post in when I can. I started out
doing it for love. (If that's what you call a strong compulsion to write.)
I'd love to do it for money, if I can figure out how, though at present it
could only be a part-time occupation for me. But I'd agree with both Jeff
and Doug that things are changing, and no one knows how the dust will
settle.

Kathy Purdy

On 4/24/06, DGreen <dgreen@kingston.net> wrote:
>
> Jeff Ball wrote, "If it is one of the deals where "you do it free, but you
> can promote your books"; thank you very much I don't think so.
> Still it is an interesting development."
>
> As many of you know, I do a fair amount of Internet writing and
> publishing.
> So here's my warning to you all.  I give it freely with a huge grin.  And
> while this post could be misinterpreted (I just reread it) I offer it only
> with the best of intentions.  But it really is my own .02 and I hope you
> ignore it. (insert another grin)
>
> It is estimated there is currently one new blog being started every second
> of every day somewhere in the world. The number of blogs is almost as high
> as the number of websites and it is a race to the finish.  This means that
> unless you are a "name" ending in "Stewart" or cover a subject that nobody
> else does - your blog is one of billions (yes, that's a "B")  Being one of
> billions means that this writing has virtually no value.  With billions of
> "free" to choose from, why would any business person pay real money?
>
> And while you can decide not to do the work for free - somebody else will
> do
> it gladly for the exposure.
>
> There is a sea change in publishing going on right now. Publisher's Weekly
> has written about it and even said the gardening genre has "gone to seed".
> Jeff knows this and many of you on this list know it.  The trick here is
> to
> do what you do (photographers and writers) but get paid for it in the face
> of massively increasing competition from the digital hordes.  Give a
> person
> a blog and a digital camera and they become as powerful as anybody else on
> the face of the planet in communicating their interests/agenda no matter
> what the subject matter.
>
> The trick now is that somebody (read big publisher) is NOT going to pay
> you
> for your interests/agenda. It is now up to you to get paid for that
> effort.
> Call it the democratization of the Net - call it what you will but
> information is now everywhere and at a very low cost (I don't care whether
> you are talking digital images or digital words) or free.
>
> So those two gardeners in Houston have done an interesting thing on their
> new blog and time will tell if they continue, whether they can figure out
> how to monetize that information or whether they're happy doing it for a
> hobby.
>
> This is one of the those interesting business decisions and my .02 on it
> is
> that you had better get a blog and you had better get it up on all your
> local media to protect your own turf.  If you're the writer in your area -
> offer your newspaper your free blog - otherwise somebody else will.  And
> then that somebody else is sharing your reader's attention. At that point,
> it's anybody's game.
>
> So why do I hope you ignore this post?  Because my friends (and many of
> you
> are my friends) I'm the guy who's coming to a newspaper near you. My new
> blog (see below) and lens and any other web2 development will be used as
> part of my internet business. You either carve out that space or I will
> (or
> another person like me will) and I'll figure out how to use it to make
> money.
>
> That's all our problems now.  As writers, we need to figure out how to
> change course in this sea of changing winds. And we need to figure out how
> to make money doing it in the face of massive "free" competition.
>
> It isn't easy but welcome to the world of web2.  Web2 is second generation
> web information sharing systems including things like flickr.com, blogs,
> podcasts, etc while the old website info is web1.
>
> If you're still worried about creating web1 developments, (like personal
> websites) you're already behind.
>
> As I said however, this is just my .02 and you're free to ignore it. :-)
>
> Doug
>
> Doug Green SGF Communications: e-publishing content
> Home: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com
> Blog: http://doug-greens-gardening.blogspot.com/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Ball
> Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2006 9:58 AM
> To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
> Subject: [GWL] Gardening Blogs In Newspapers
>
> There are two garden bloggers living in the Houston area that have
> been signed up by the Houston Chronicle to do a garden blog for
> them.  They have done six posts so far at http://blogs.chron.com/
> greenspace/ .  It is an impressive blog.  I'm trying to find out from
> them what their deal is.  I'm assuming they don't get paid for
> writing the blog, but do they get any percentage from the ads on
> their blog?  In one of their blogs they list the plants in one of
> their gardens.  Each plant name is linked to an Internet source to
> buy that plant. Who pays for that link?
>
> Does anyone on the list know of any other garden blogs attached to
> newspapers?  Our Detroit News is adding blogs every week and we have
> inquired about the deal and asked if they were interested.  If it is
> one of the deals where "you do it free, but you can promote your
> books"; thank you very much I don't think so.
> Still it is an interesting development.
>
> Jeff Ball
> jeffball@usol.com
> 810-724-8581
> Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
> Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com
>
>
>
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--
Kathy Purdy
Cold Climate Gardening: providing the information you need
to succeed in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 and colder.
http://www.coldclimategardening.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coldclimategardening/
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Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters