(no subject)
Sep. 23rd, 2012 10:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
babydracoSo yeah. So I have moved The cosmic dance over here.
It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a Patheos account. But apparently, they only give those to celebrities, distinguished academics, preachers with interesting backstories and people who are internet famous. What I had hoped was just a well respected religious blogging collective is actually the spiritual equivalent of the Huffington Post.
I'm trying not to make that sound like an insult but they don't want just anyone, apparently. Unless you're a *celebrity* who wants a blog, then I guess you just automatically get one. Like Bristol Palin did.
So I figured I have to rebuild an audience in order to prove that I can draw one, and then maybe they'll let me join.
It's possible they just don't want my writing. I worked hard on my sample post, although maybe my stuff still isn't up to snuff for the different standards they judge non famous people by.
But how can I tell when they never bothered to respond, period?
Their guidelines consist of (paraphrased) "send us a writing sample and have writing experience". They don't say how much writing experience, or in what format the sample needs to be in (attachment, pasted into the email, what font, what margins, etc) or to whom it should be addressed. You send it to "information@patheos.com". That's it. No name of an editor or anything. When I wrote them asking for clarification, they never responded.
I can't tell if I've been rejected or not, because they never mentioned their average response time.
So, I'm thinking there's one of two reasons behind this.
1) They honestly think they don't care. They are the sort of people who don't want to trample on anyone else's creativity by giving specific instructions. Which means that applicants must flail around trying to figure out what they want. And the person who guesses the closest is the one who gets the job. Because they do have a specific ideal applicant in mind, they just don't want to say so out loud. Because they're sort of hoping that ideal writer will spontaneously appear having magically read their minds.
2) They deliberately left out the details, because the kind of accomplished, professional, writer they secretly know they want, does not need to be told how to apply. It's like when I went to Temple Square. There's no dress code posted at the gate, but there is a clear divide between Mormon staff/visitors and non Mormon tourists and that line is mostly about what they're wearing. If you are LDS, you'll be given those clothing guidelines before leaving for your trip, if you're not, you won't be. Men must be in suits. Women must wear skirts that hit below the knee (but do not have to be ankle length), nylons/tights, flattish shoes that are comfortable yet attractive and a sweater (or blazer) over a blouse that doesn't show cleavage. Hair should be simple but attractive and in a natural color. Jewel tones and earth tones are the only acceptable colors. Everyone on staff or there for some important event, gets a name tag. So picking out the non LDS visitors becomes really, really easy.
So maybe Patheos is working from the same principle. If you're supposed to be there, no one will need to tell you what to bring. It's certainly one way to weed out the people who won't fit in.
You know, the non celebrity people.
It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a Patheos account. But apparently, they only give those to celebrities, distinguished academics, preachers with interesting backstories and people who are internet famous. What I had hoped was just a well respected religious blogging collective is actually the spiritual equivalent of the Huffington Post.
I'm trying not to make that sound like an insult but they don't want just anyone, apparently. Unless you're a *celebrity* who wants a blog, then I guess you just automatically get one. Like Bristol Palin did.
So I figured I have to rebuild an audience in order to prove that I can draw one, and then maybe they'll let me join.
It's possible they just don't want my writing. I worked hard on my sample post, although maybe my stuff still isn't up to snuff for the different standards they judge non famous people by.
But how can I tell when they never bothered to respond, period?
Their guidelines consist of (paraphrased) "send us a writing sample and have writing experience". They don't say how much writing experience, or in what format the sample needs to be in (attachment, pasted into the email, what font, what margins, etc) or to whom it should be addressed. You send it to "information@patheos.com". That's it. No name of an editor or anything. When I wrote them asking for clarification, they never responded.
I can't tell if I've been rejected or not, because they never mentioned their average response time.
So, I'm thinking there's one of two reasons behind this.
1) They honestly think they don't care. They are the sort of people who don't want to trample on anyone else's creativity by giving specific instructions. Which means that applicants must flail around trying to figure out what they want. And the person who guesses the closest is the one who gets the job. Because they do have a specific ideal applicant in mind, they just don't want to say so out loud. Because they're sort of hoping that ideal writer will spontaneously appear having magically read their minds.
2) They deliberately left out the details, because the kind of accomplished, professional, writer they secretly know they want, does not need to be told how to apply. It's like when I went to Temple Square. There's no dress code posted at the gate, but there is a clear divide between Mormon staff/visitors and non Mormon tourists and that line is mostly about what they're wearing. If you are LDS, you'll be given those clothing guidelines before leaving for your trip, if you're not, you won't be. Men must be in suits. Women must wear skirts that hit below the knee (but do not have to be ankle length), nylons/tights, flattish shoes that are comfortable yet attractive and a sweater (or blazer) over a blouse that doesn't show cleavage. Hair should be simple but attractive and in a natural color. Jewel tones and earth tones are the only acceptable colors. Everyone on staff or there for some important event, gets a name tag. So picking out the non LDS visitors becomes really, really easy.
So maybe Patheos is working from the same principle. If you're supposed to be there, no one will need to tell you what to bring. It's certainly one way to weed out the people who won't fit in.
You know, the non celebrity people.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-24 12:11 pm (UTC)I could see any of those reasons, quite easily, as you lay them out.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-25 12:47 am (UTC)Thank you.
I really need to interact with people again, maybe this will help.
It's always possible they never got the emails, maybe I went to their spam folder and got deleted automatically.