Climb all the way to the top, then look for a higher peak. Photo credit: Cheryl Lynn Gardner, The Midnight Writer

On some of our blogs we introduced the concept of guest blogging which received a fair response. A few people came forward to volunteer as guest bloggers on a few of our blogs. We launched this campaign with much enthusiasm hoping for a much better follow through than what we saw in the end result. This post is intended to revisit both the concept and to hopefully inspire the art of guest blogging as a means of expanding the act of social networking.

In my itinerary, I hold a guest pass key to blog as a guest on several wonderful blogs.  Each one of these blogs is a privilege to hold the invitation as a guest writer. From the President's blog to Trapped in the Office to the Renaissance Model, I am grateful to hold such an exclusive opportunity to share my thoughts on their unique pages.

In the light of such exclusive opportunity, even I have been derelict in my convictions to follow through. It's that syndrome a lot of us experience as freelance writers. We get busy. Content needs to be written. Our own blogs need updated. Money is necessary at times so we write to fulfill our budget obligations. Then, as happened with me, time got away from my intended focus on this opportunity because I let it get away. My excuse was that I'm too busy to write in all these other sites if I can't keep up with my own work.

That, my friends, is a fallacy. Now I'll tell you why.

The sole end result that every freelance writer, blogger, author, and news writer desires is to be read. The goal in writing is many fold, but there a couple main factors that writers hope to achieve. The first is to get recognition. Sound a little egotistical? Maybe. But it is really the reason that writers of all types - write.

You want to have your material read. Am I right? I mean, reasoning says what is the point of writing if no one reads it? It's a little satisfactory to write a beautiful poem, or a concise news article or a great blog post. That only lasts for a little while though. As soon as that "good work" satisfaction feeling is realized, a writer's desire moves on to the next level. Who else will like my work? Will any one read it? Will anyone write to me or comment on my post to let me know if they loved it, hated it, thought it was useful, or will they offer suggestions on how I could present the material in a better way? These are all questions that you, as writers, may have thrown out to the universe in hopes that an answer would come.

Ultimately, it comes down to feedback.

So how do you get that much sought "feedback"? Through socialization.

Guest blogging and the blog u back concept takes socialization to the next level. It opens the door to sharing content, space, wisdom, experience and yes, even blogging love. Did you know there was such thing? Well, I can tell you there is. Blogging is a part of freelance writing that takes passion because it is often done without recognition, without money, without feedback or comments or the act of any one saying "Good job. Love your work!" Under these circumstances, bloggers are driven by the sheer love of this writing art form.

To share someone's blog space is an act of ultimate respect for both parties involved. Think about it. You are invited to put your words, your ideals, your talent, your links on someone else's sacred blog space where they pour out their heart and soul. What a privilege! This cements a relationship that you cannot buy. It builds respect for community while you help one another share your blog links with the world.

What is the bonus perk here? You both get read and you both get your link a little further out into the blogosphere in search of that ultimate "feedback". When it comes it's better than pure chocolate silk that is poured lavishly from a vat of freshly melted chocolate mixed in fresh cream! The satisfaction from this effort is exquisite!

Have you considered guest blogging for someone today? Make them an offer they won't be able to refuse. While you're at it, invite someone to write on your blog today. I guarantee you will feel that flutter of pure blog love just in the act of opening this social door to the big wide world known as the blogosphere. (okay, so I love a little drama. I'm a creative writer and it's hard to tone it down sometimes.)

I recently received an invitation from Katy and Ryan to blog on Trapped in the Office - much to my delight. Watch for a post over there from "yours truly" very soon. Thank you for a wonderful opportunity to share on one of my favorite blogs! For those of you who are not familiar with this freelance writing couple, visit their blog where you can read about all sorts of writing programs, techniques, companies and tips to help writers. It is a source on freelancing that is building a reputation to be reckoned with. Watch it grow to the top of many lists of resource blogs.

Katy is a guest writer on several of our blogs including this domain blog at Mountain Spirit Productions. Katy writes an occasional piece on The Midnight Writer. She is an invited guest to blog on The Midnight Writer's Cafe and on one of our network blogs Ren Faire Reese. We at The Midnight Writer's Network are anxious to read her posts on all these sites and we hope you will join us in sharing some link and comment luv. Maybe you can review Katy or Ryan today or their blog. Tell them that I put you up to it. I'll take the responsibility and you will be a better blogger who earns great insight and some good karma while you're at it.

Join us back here real soon for more news on our programs, our blogs, our network, our sponsors and most of all, on our fellow bloggers and freelance writers as we explore the invisible world of life and business on the internet. Remember to love what you're doing or find something to do that you love.

The Midnight Writer

Follow me on twitter.

Raven and I met Papabear at the 1997 Ochoco National Forest Oregon Annual rainbow gathering. The Medicine Wheel Gatherings formed because of this gathering and because of this Land of the Sacred Red Willow in particular. Our history together began there. In honor, I share this first of Papabear's stories as he wrote them. They can be found all over the internet at a.g.r. which means "alternate gathering rainbow".

In Utah, Papabear saw me on the trail near Welcome Home, and began calling "Nurse! Nurse! Is there a nurse anywhere?" I heard the voice say these words a couple times before it registered in my mind that Papabear was calling me from just down the road. Just to clarify a little bit, we worked Mash C.A.L.M. together at the Oregon 97 gathering, and again on occasion. It was an appellation of love and respect. I sure was happy to see him that year.

Out of love and respect for Papabear Rainbow, I am attempting to honor his wish that his folk stories be preserved and passed on.

I noticed a faint, pungent odor as I awoke from a few hours of
slumber. "Yes," I thought, "the odor of the plant genus sativa."
Music reached my ears as I shook off the sleep, the music of
heartbeat drumming echoed off the trees that surrounded my
camp.The year was 1997, the meadow was located in the Ochoco
National Forest, in the West-Central area of Oregon. This was
the 26th Annual Gathering of the Tribes, and I had come home
after a decade of life changing events, coming from A camp to
the focalizer of the herbal MASH Unit located in Bus Village,
giving back to instead of taking from the Gathering and the
people.
My story begins in Iowa, in 1968, in a small farm town close to
the Mississippi River, in cornfield country. A friend of mine
turned me on to a drug called DMT, and although I did not know
it at the time, I was on a path to becoming part of a
counterculture. I soon discovered the music scene, and at the
age of 14, I ran away from home and entered the realms of later
day Haight-Ashbury, a scene that had died down, and soon I went
on a tour of the west coast, eventually stealing a car, and
ending up in the Army, under 18, and lost in a war I did not
understand. By 1973, I was a heroin addict, and on the day that
Saigon fell, April 28th, 1975, I was discharged from the Army,
with a purple heart, pins in my ankles and knees, and, I would
find out years later, a dose of Agent Orange. While processing
out of the Army in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, I met a hippie by the
name of Alabama, and he took me to Arkansas, to my first Rainbow
Gathering, and I partied so hard, I do not remember a lot of it,
but I had a good time, and the seed was planted.
I travelled from Arkansas to Washington, where I attended a
small gathering in a place called Dinosaur Valley (gronk!!!),
and it was here that I knew that I was to become one of the
wandering nomads and one of the peoples that travelled each year
to the Gathering of the Tribes.
My exposure to Rainbow Life began at this place called Dinosaur
Valley, and began to blossom as I rode the rails up and down
the West Coast, at the fruit orchards, jungles, hot springs,
winter camps in the desert, ant at the national gatherings that
I attended. I began to long for the nomadic life, but had no
idea on how to accomplish it. Then I met an Indian lady named
Little Bit, and she taught me how to survive on the road,and for
the next 6 years, we travelled all around, eventually ending up
living on an island by Raccoon Key, outside of Key West, where I
took up working on shrimp boats to keep us high and living well.
Part II coming next.
papabear