Eight months ago, Le Clown met with alumni bloggers Sara, Madame Weebles, Roller Giraffe and Jen Tonic, and created The Outlier Collective. This new blog was going to be the independent and fringe answer to the Freshly Pressed nod. At that time, we as a collective were somewhat bothered by the often very beige content of the posts featured on the Freshly Pressed page. We were going to offer an alternative: a new award that was going to be granted to the edgier blog posts, the ones with graphic sexual content, the ones that perturbed by their political, social, and even religious content. We were going to promote these posts on our blog, with an award, and we were going to make a pretty big deal out of the whole thing. Until these two came along:
Automattic‘s Cheri Lucas and Michelle Weber, our WordPress story wranglers. So what if more food and photography blogs were Freshly Pressed… Bloggers like Madame Weebles, David Dixon, Jen Tonic, Mike Calahan, 25toFly, and Le Clown were suddenly awarded the honour… These writers used coarse language, were often politically incorrect, and weren’t the crowd’s favourites, and even though it was often some of their straighter posts that were Freshly Pressed, these bloggers were nonetheless Freshly Pressed… It all happened under Michelle and Cheri’s watch. With the greater variety of blogs being chosen, the alumni bloggers and I decided to pull the plug on The Outlier Collective. Story Wranglers and Co., hats off for showcasing bloggers of all walks of life… I for one, appreciate your new direction, and vision.
Has The Outlier Collective project died for good? Absolutely not. Madame Weebles and I are reviving it, and giving the project a whole different mission… Curious? You should be. But for the time being, we’re asking you: go and follow our new site… We will need all of you to make this project work. Keyword? Collective. Exactly. Make some noise…
Question: Have you noticed a difference in the quality of the recent Freshly Pressed posts? Have you been Freshly Pressed? Were you surprised by the post chosen? If you haven’t been Freshly Pressed, have you wondered why?
What what? Word…
Posted by pouringmyartout | March 4, 2013, 17:28Arthur,
…Press?
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 18:31… to your Mother…
Posted by pouringmyartout | March 4, 2013, 18:33I was well into half a year of blogging before I even knew what Freshly Pressed was. I still could care less, though I’m happy for people who’re happy to have been so. Maybe I should care? If they paid I would be trying.
Posted by Sandee | March 4, 2013, 18:44Sandee,
If I had to complain about one blogger not being FP’d, it would be you. It’s a travesty.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 18:46I’ve not been FP’d nor do I think I will be. I’m not really aiming in that direction though so it’s cool with me. I am only a newbie so I have not noticed a shift in FP choices. I have used the FP page to discover and follow some awesome blogs on wordpress including this one. I’m a silent follower mainly and collect more blogs to follow based on bloggers comments and links to other blogs.
Posted by Daile | March 4, 2013, 18:55Daile,
Welcome on A Clown on Fire… And for commenting… Which will prompt me over to your blog. Blogging shouldn’t be about being Freshly Pressed, it,s mostly about being passionate about writing, and having fun, at least, that’s what it is to me. Being Freshly Pressed is a very nice recognition, I have to say. I’ll see you on your blog.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 18:58I have noticed that the FP folks seem to pick the same family friendly posts related to very similar articles, but they have also made specific statements regarding what they find enjoyable. When I joined WordPress the description of Freshly Pressed hints at this based on who selects the posts. People who select the posts come from differing backgrounds and experiences and as such tend to gravitate toward the blogs they themselves find interesting. For this reason I have noticed quite a few posts on religion with leanings towards Christianity over other religious beliefs. The remainder seem to be on writing and this is followed by ‘safe’ controversial topics written in equally safe language. Even the posts you referenced seem to be written along these lines and having followed your blog for as long as I have been on WordPress (two months) you have written much better posts than the one selected to be Freshly Pressed (at least in my opinion). I loved the series you did on your father. It was honest, beautiful writing that touched me deeply, but this was not pressed. Both were excellent stories, but I just can’t see why one was selected over the other. Given the statements they have made regarding these topics related to how their own interests guide selections for pressing, I feel that nobody can be truly offended when not selected, but I can see how frustrations could mount given the definite patterns that seem to exist. In fact, I stopped reading the Freshly Pressed sections for that very reason and have merely begun using search terms to find topics I find interesting. I enjoy edgier blogs that aren’t afraid to step outside and push the boundaries a little bit, but these will likely never be Freshly Pressed.
Posted by josefkul | March 4, 2013, 20:06Josef,
What a well written and thoughtful comment. Thank you. I do feel the posts written about my dad were much better (and the last installment will be published next week), but I understand why they weren’t FP’d, even if I think they are a better literary achievement, they are extremely hermetic, in their form and topic. But like you, I like them much better than the post chosen.
For the remainder of your comment, it would be interesting to read what a story wrangler would actually have to say…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 21:18I usually check out FP to see if anything grabs me, but I mostly use the ‘explore topics’ area to find specifics, or I’ll just hit a random topic to see what comes up. But I am now a regular reader of a number of blogs I first found on FP, so I guess it’s all just the timing of when I decide to read from each area.
Posted by The Philosophunculist | March 4, 2013, 20:12Michael,
Welcome on ACOF, can I make a comment on your Gravatar instead? No, no. I won’t, I will comment on your comment, as I have it in me tonight. Perhaps it’s because I had veggies with my steak.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 21:11I’ve been Freshly Pressed le deux fois. I’d like to have something that I actually wrote/created get Pressed, rather than my response to a writing challenge/prompt/etc. I am just out of gusto and steam lately, and it takes time. I still really enjoy it and you need to actually do it to get better. So I’ve resigned myself for now that if I can’t put the time into it then the posts will not be FP-able.
I’ve signed up for the Outliers. Looking forward to more good time chaos.
Posted by iRuniBreathe | March 4, 2013, 20:35Tania,
I’ve been feeling you out of steam, my friend. Winter’s almost done with, hopefully you’ll find a revival with Spring coming. Write me, as always, if you need, or want.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 21:08I am amazed you have the time to notice or feel when I have been so much in the periphery.
Thank you for your kindness. An email would be good.
T
Posted by iRuniBreathe | March 4, 2013, 21:10I was FrePressed shortly after starting my blog. I should pretend to be proud of my writing, but I was really like “WTF?” I was pouring my heart out early on and THAT was the post they noticed? Now I just go all over the place since I figured what I thought were the more intense posts were only being read by me (which is fine) .
I have since moved to a different hostsite, so my FP badge is gone, my following went back to zero. Fine. I keep saying that the blog is my outlet, etc, I just wish the post that got noticed was one I felt could help others in my situation vs. the advantages of drinking more water. Or maybe that did help someone who was dehydrated, IDK.
And I would love to comment on the current FP selections, but they, like my subscription reader, are full of glitches or not updating at all. I either look like I have dropped off the face of the earth with not commenting on my regular blogs, or rude as hell because I get notified of responses but cannot pull up who responded where. So if you respond to this and I don’t reply , I am just being rude. Maybe.
Posted by sortaginger | March 4, 2013, 20:47Ginger,
(See how I change your name each time I answer you? I know)…
Countdown to rudeness starts NOW.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 21:04Ah, LC, you never even called me by my name.
Counting on down…
Posted by sortaginger | March 4, 2013, 21:58Jeanette,
I beg to differ…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:31I’ve actually stopped looking at FP lately because it didn’t seem like there was a lot of great, mind-blowing content. In fact, one post I saw on FP was just a re-blog of someone else’s old blog post for a few years ago… it wasn’t even original writing! I began to wonder about the content they choose to feature.
That being said, I’ve been FP’d and it was the last thing I expected. I think the choice of my FP’d post was a pretty good one, even though it doesn’t capture anything about who I really am. The piece, however, was raw, emotional, and straight from the deepest part of my being. Without sounding pompous, I think it was worthy of FP. That being said, I don’t think it would have ever been discovered if it wasn’t a response to a dpchallenge.
Posted by crankygiraffe | March 4, 2013, 22:15Cranky Giraffe,
There’s nothing pompous about agreeing with Automattic’s choice to FP your post. Recognizing our work is an important process, may it be by agreeing with the quality others think of your writing, or admitting a post was a piece of crap. I personally believe that it is actually one way that allows us to evolve as a writer.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:33That post was VERY worthy of the FP nod.
Posted by Meizac | March 5, 2013, 09:43Alas I have never been Freshly Pressed (I’ve only been on WordPress since November though). I have not really wondered why because I really don’t expect these sorts of things to happen to me and I tend to write better stuff when I write what I want rather than trying to write something that might be ‘Pressable’ (I hope that makes sense).
I have definitely been liking the Freshly Pressed lately. I used to hardly ever go there in my reader and now I check it often and have found new and exciting blogs to follow there as well as been elated when some of my favourites made it in.
Posted by stephrogers | March 4, 2013, 22:50Steph,
You said something key: you tend to write better when you write what you want. The essence is there. Occasionally, it’s a question of rewriting sentences, playing with words, editing yourself. There’s a great tool available to you in your Dashboard: Request Feedback. I use it all the time. As much as I write, I always have someone validate or read my post before I publish it. Most of the time, that person is Madame Weebles, as I know I can trust her judgement, and she’ll tell me how it is every time. Just by being challenged, the feedback tool helps me improve my posts by bouncing them off on fellow bloggers…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:46Thanks for your advice. Great as always! I have seen the feedback tool but don’t have any blogging friends as yet that could do that. I think being freshly pressed is not so important to me. I do like to improve my writing though. When I started my blog I didn’t actually expect anyone to read it. The fact that I actually have followers is a source of amazement to me. Every time I put out a new post I seem to pick up a follower or two, so I figure I must be doing ok.
Posted by stephrogers | March 5, 2013, 00:31I do keep a tab on the Freshly Pressed posts and I have been reading those since I joined WordPress in August last year. Pondering on the past and currently pressed posts, I do feel that now reading out there has become all the more interesting. I tend to find more posts that I like and more blogs that I wish to follow. The WP team has started paying attention on controversial subjects and issues that didn’t make it to the Freshly Pressed page too often earlier.
I haven’t thought too deeply about me not being freshly pressed but I wouldn’t lie if I say I would love to be there. I believe they can’t read each and every post that bloggers all over the world publish on their sites, so it definitely is a matter of luck. I still have fingers crossed
Posted by Read Stuff With Me! | March 4, 2013, 23:08Nikita,
Being FP’d will increase your starts for two days, an amount of new followers, and some temporary exposure. It’s great on that level. Building a readership though, one post at a time, with your own style, is even more important, as it is the safest way to increase a loyal readership, one that will come back as they know your style, the one you keep on bringing back one post after another…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:41I have not yet been “honored” by being freshly pressed. For awhile I wondered why not? Especially in the beginning when I was trying to build a good following and trying to write something that was damn good… And then I sort of stopped caring. I wrote things that were more fun for me to write and tried to be humorous, and stopped trying to tackle current issues of the day… In the end, I think it may just be down to the sheer volume of new posts being added every day and the exponential growth of over time. We can’t all be freshly pressed.
Plus, I may be happier with a core group of people who read everything I write and make comments and are engaged than the massive influx of new people who may not do any of that if I do ever get freshly pressed. I understand it is still a great tool for getting one’s site recognized and disbursed to a wider audience, and I would still be happy if I was ever freshly pressed, but I’m certainly not losing sleep over it.
Posted by djmatticus | March 4, 2013, 23:15DJ,
I repeat this often, to my readers, or my clients: blogging should be first and foremost about conveying your own personal message, by being passionate and having fun. If you’re doing that, the quality of your posts will come through, and that FP’d nod will come your way… Posts written to be FP’d might be, but in my opinion, have an awful feel of boredom and unauthenticity to them…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:37I think that is a very fair assessment, and while I won’t speak to the quality of my posts when I first started blogging, lo’ those 7 months ago, compared to my current contrbutions, I will say that I have had fun the whole time.
Posted by djmatticus | March 4, 2013, 23:41DJ,
I’m looking forward to start reading you more seriously.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 4, 2013, 23:41Thank you for the follow. I do hope you find something in my kingdom of silliness and seriousness, fiction and fact, that amuses you and makes you think.
Posted by djmatticus | March 4, 2013, 23:46Eric, thematticuskingdom is a great blog, i think you will love it. I love it.
Posted by stephrogers | March 5, 2013, 00:27I used to look at the Freshly Pressed section quite often, but I don’t anymore. I’m having a hard enough time keeping up with those I regularly read.
I will say I was disappointed when I was FP’d. I mean, I was really happy to be chosen, but they categorized my post as shopping instead of humor (or something else better suited.) I assume this was an automatic thing their system did, but I don’t think I got the right kind of readers viewing my blog. People who wanted to read about shopping ended up getting a post making fun of shopping. But, I’m not complaining since I wasn’t owed anything anyway.
Posted by Jen and Tonic | March 5, 2013, 01:00Jen,
Was it really tagged as “shopping”? Christ on a stick, that is as accurate as tagging The Vampire Diaries as entertainment.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 07:37Yes, it was. I think I got maybe 1,000 views on it total?
Posted by Jen and Tonic | March 5, 2013, 11:31Good points by all the commentators who have been FPd.
Had a post Freshly Pressed several years ago. To this day I have NO idea why that post was picked. Probably because out of 300 posts at that time it never once contained the word Fuck.
Still can’t believe they skipped over the classic post ‘Bring shrimp and Hookers.’
At that time WP was also VERY famous for censorship and a lot of us sported tags on our blogs with the WP logo done in a slightly, uh, sarcastic manner and pointing this out.
Also stopped looking at the FP page.
Same reasons as Eric gave.
Normally detest cute kids, shopping, making red velvet cake, idiocy masquerading -or categorized- as humor. Did I mention the damned kittens? No?
Piss off to all the cute kitties. ‘Ya bastards.
Except mine naturally.
Sincerely,
Misanthropic in Reno
Posted by Rachael Black | March 5, 2013, 02:08Rachael,
I was just like you… Before I got Freshly Pressed, I had created myself a badge: Not Featured on Freshly Pressed, and it was soon borrowed by fellow bloggers. And I enjoyed poking fun at WordPress for the very middle of the road posts often chosen (but not always) to be FP’d. I even gotten into a public dispute with another blogger which ended up with me dissociating myself from her, as it was suggested that I should give the story wranglers what they wanted so I could be finally Freshly Pressed, and the idea of compromising my voice was just appalling to me, that if I was going to be FP’d, it would be on my own terms, and not with a prostitute of a post…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 07:32Eric, your phrase ‘prostitute of a post’ is spot on! Still giggling because those few words really sum it up don’t they?
Doubt YoYo-Dyne will get another FP but I’ll keep writing in my own style, about the things that really matter: madness, mayhem, black humor, Neurotic Nevada, and life through these goddamned cracked glasses.
You see, these are all of the subjects and stylings that lure me to follow other original bloggers.
To quote Brian… ‘We are all individuals!’
Posted by Rachael Black | March 5, 2013, 15:11Hahaha! That’s what I told someone about my recent(ish) FP nod…that it was the first post I’d written in a while that didn’t have any swearing in it.
Because it definitely wasn’t the best thing I’d written, but I didn’t once say “fuck.”
Posted by Meizac | March 5, 2013, 09:41hahahaha. High Fucking Five!
Posted by Rachael Black | March 5, 2013, 15:05Le Clown,
I was Freshley Pressed. Did I just spell that wrong? Anyways… it had to have been related to being active on your blog… I just cannot imagine them reading one of my poems and thinking, “we have to put this on the page!” But maybe I am wrong.
I have no idea how they chose the post they did… No idea whatsoever… I write poetry… I am guessing they threw a dart at a board or played a game of eenie meenie miinie moe. Seriously, why that poem? I just don’t know.
Also, I visit the FP’d page every time I post. I like to find new blogs. I know I can’t spend all day reading blogs… but I always am hoping to be inspired.
-Soul Walker
Posted by Soul Walker | March 5, 2013, 03:33Soul Walker,
And what if it was just by your writing? You are one of the few poets I follow on WordPress, and I thoroughly enjoy your poems. I’m like you, even though I have difficulties reading the writers in my blogroll, I will occasionally peruse through the Freshly Pressed page hoping to find the new gem…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 07:28Eric,
Perhaps it’s my constant commenting on Freshly Pressed blogs that got their attention… but I suppose you could be right. Even I like things I write every once in a while.
-Soul Walker
Posted by Soul Walker | March 5, 2013, 22:27Soul Walker, I do not normally follow poetry blogs, but because of your posts on Le Clown I do visit your page and enjoy your writing.
Me thinks it was the FP trolls who found you. Your musings are too good to be picked up as simply a ‘heavy commenter.’ Better than a heavy breather too.
Posted by Rachael Black | March 5, 2013, 15:21Rachael,
Agreed. I am not a poetry connoisseur, but I do enjoy what Soul writes. I’m glad you see this too, Rachael.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:13One thing that does interest me is discussion… of course a poetry blog is a rather difficult venue for discussion… which is something I am still thinking about…
Posted by Soul Walker | March 5, 2013, 22:53Rachel Black,
You know my comments are rarely of the same character as my poetry. Also, I am glad you can’t hear my heavy breathing.
-Soul Walker
Posted by Soul Walker | March 5, 2013, 22:23Since WP changed the formats so much, I don’t look at Freshly Pressed any more… but congratulations!
Posted by acflory | March 5, 2013, 05:22Acflory,
It’s a comment I’ve read often. By the little traffic that the FP’d post brought me, and some of my fellow recent FP’d bloggers, it would be safe to assume that the page is indeed less read…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 07:03Very much ‘out of sight, out of mind’.
Posted by acflory | March 5, 2013, 21:05I have noticed the difference in Freshly Pressed I must say, and I started reading more and more recommendations – also started following more and more blogs which is starting to prove infeasible, but they are so awesome!
Never been FP-ed myself, but then my current blog is only a couple of months old. HOWEVER I am really proud of my today’s post about those damn introverts, check it out Le Clown, maybe at least I can get a ‘Le Clown-approved’ badge
I realise that being Freshly Pressed is as much about PR as about anything else. The team cannot possibly read everything, so unless you have influential friends and/ or a popular enough post that comes up in search terms / is talked about, chances are you can be brilliant and never be featured. Is it wrong? Nah. The recognition is great, but come on, if we were to write just to be Freshly-Pressed, it would be pretty sad around here.
Lots of love,
Pixie xx
Posted by Pixie Girl | March 5, 2013, 07:09Pixie,
One must write from the heart, and not for the story wranglers, unless it’s to mock them. But don’t tell them I said that. On my way to your blog, PG.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 07:20Eric, I like that. If I ever get consumer by power-writing, I’ll come back to what you said to bring me back to reality!
Pix x
Posted by Pixie Girl | March 5, 2013, 07:21(that was supposed to say ‘consumed’…)
Posted by Pixie Girl | March 5, 2013, 07:43I was surprised to be Freshly Pressed to be honest – never really hankered after it – and my train story, although good, wasn’t really what I would have chosen! (Oily George would have been much more interesting)
You are right in saying that there does appear a predeliction to the “beige” world of blogs and US life in general (But I suppose that is due to where the blogs spring from – who’s have thought there were so many keen amateur bridge photographers!) and what I find frustrating is the difficulty in finding, not necessarily like minded bloggers but people whose content is worth visiting more than twice.
There will always be gatekeepers but I think creating virtuous circles of others who want to reach out and connect and not rely solely on chance must be a good thing! Probably an organic thing in the loing term but with a few nudges in the right direction……
Posted by gingerfightback | March 5, 2013, 08:10Ginger,
I must read you more. I am often drawn by your comments. I will make it my goal to read your posts more regularly. I’ve said it publicly. There.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 08:11Le Clown,
You should! Ginger is awesome…and very gingery…
Rogue
Posted by rogueblogger46 | March 5, 2013, 11:01You’re well aware of how surprised I was by my recent FP nod.
Posted by Meizac | March 5, 2013, 09:17Meizac,
No, I am not. Were you outspoken about something? (See, this is one instance where I think an emoticon would be appropriate…).
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:43You made me laugh.
Posted by Meizac | March 5, 2013, 17:46I used to find bloggers I liked on Freshly Pressed, but I stopped looking at it following a big spell of boring. My first year blogging I was pathetically anxious to be embraced by the FP powers, but then I got discouraged and now I am just bitter. Bitter, I tell you. Although I am pretty sure being Freshly Pressed at this point would just be confusing. I am impressed with the Collective’s empowerment. It would never occur to me to do something about it, but I console myself with the fact that every movement needs followers, even the PG-13 kind.
Posted by lynnettedobberpuhl | March 5, 2013, 10:31Lynette,
I like my sushi bitter. And let their be a voice for all of us, mine being louder than all the other ones, of course.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:46*confused by sushi reference but carrying on* And now I am envisioning you as Marching Band Major with whistle and Clown hat. In unrelated news, I thought of you this morning when I put on my sock monkey slippers. That is all.
Posted by lynnettedobberpuhl | March 7, 2013, 11:00Le Clown,
I don’t often peruse the FP site, and really it doesn’t affect me to any degree to be FP’d or not…that sounds naughty.
Anyway, to be or not to be, that is the question. Whether ’tis…uh, oh. sorry. I figure I’ve never been FP’d due to ma interesting linguistic skills…and the over-use of the word ‘fuck’.
My nickel’s worth since the penny is no more.
Rogue
Posted by rogueblogger46 | March 5, 2013, 11:00Rogue,
Fuck is the new “the”.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:43It kind of makes me laugh when I see them mention on twitter “Yes, that IS a great post, but we just FPed that person a few months ago!”
…and then the same blogs are FPed every 6 weeks (present company excluded, of course). It feels very hypocritical, and is one of the reasons I no longer view the page.
One of my posts was Freshly Pressed on Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t a very good post (and one I still wish I hadn’t written because it’s rather frivolous and not tonally or thematically similar to anything else on my blog).
Posted by sj | March 5, 2013, 11:22SJ,
Love your honesty. One of the recurring comment on this thread was about bloggers’ FP’d posts, and had these posts did not reflect the writer, or it was one which the writer felt lukewarm about, like yours. I do think it’s one of the reasons why the initial flux of new readers die quickly… I can just imagine a new reader reading about my custody battle, and suddenly being exposed to White Baby Jesus on a cross, with a Santa Claus hat…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:42Admittedly, I stopped checking Freshly Pressed quite some time ago because I was not ever intrigued by the posts I saw there. Pictures and food recipes are not interesting reading to me.
I have thought a couple of times about being FP’d, but I’m quite confused on what the criteria are so I quit worrying about it. I have a decent following now and people are reading my stuph™ and that’s all that matters.
Posted by twindaddy | March 5, 2013, 12:38Twindaddy,
Good to see that you’re at peace with your craft.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:38Le Clown,
The only thing I notice about Freshly Pressed is that I am still not on it. (*tears in my eyes*) C’est la vie.
UC/L
Posted by UndercoverL | March 5, 2013, 15:20UC/L,
On the plus side, it’s a good thing that tears are indeed in your eyes. I’d be worried if tears were in your toe nails.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:22Le Clown,
Well, I guess that is looking at the glass as half-full. I am starting to feel the same way about Freshly Pressed as I did about cheer-leading and Grease. If I am not part of it, it must not be cool. Hmmm.
UC/L
Posted by UndercoverL | March 5, 2013, 19:40Ha!
You know exactly how I feel about the subject! I have no idea if my FP post came before or after the story wrangler transition. All I know was I felt very grateful for the nod to my writing, and it gave me the confidence to think I might really be able to make a go at writing professionally. Someday.
Posted by Kylie | March 5, 2013, 15:38Kylie,
And now you know exactly why I didn’t want to write too much on your post. The timing was… perfect?
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:16I had two posts I thought could have been pressed (Will Social Media Kill My Writing? and Do Real Readers Read Unpublished Writer Blogs?). But no. Generally, my posts are too specific and too topic-oriented (my writing) for them. Someday maybe. Still, I’m happy when my blog buddies find their fingers cramped from replying to oodles of comments from well wishers. And I agree Vanessa should have been Pressed long ago. That is a massive oversight on the part of WordPress.
Posted by jmmcdowell | March 5, 2013, 16:33JM,
Are you on Twitter? I myself have no shame in promoting myself, and I actually don’t have a problem in doing so, as I believe in my craft, and I think occasionally, we can be our best agent… Have you thought about submitting some of your posts to Freshly Pressed (@freshly_pressed)? That’s why they are there…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:02I hadn’t thought of that—probably because I may be the only person in the greater Washington, DC, area who doesn’t tweet. Everyone warns me what a massive time suck it is, and I hardly spend enough time on my writing as it is. Someday, when publication is in sight, I’ll have to break down and try to decipher Twitter.
Posted by jmmcdowell | March 5, 2013, 18:47I’m new to wordpress but even before I left blogger, I noticed that wordpress bloggers seem to be obsessed with being freshly pressed. I understand it’s a big deal but it’s kind of intimidating to an outsider. I feel like I’m sitting at the band geeks’ table (true of high school also). Of course, now I’m self hosted so too bad for me.
Posted by Jill Pinnella Corso | March 5, 2013, 16:38Jill,
No need to feel intimidated: you LEFT Blogger.
Kudos.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 17:15As you know, Le Clown, I blame you for me getting Freshly Pressed back in October but I believe what an earlier commenter said, that the Word Press reviewers don’t have time to read every single post and there is a bit of the ‘luck of the draw’ for some of us while other posts richly deserve the honor. I follow Freshly Pressed specifically for two purposes: 1) to find interesting new bloggers I had not read or viewed before and 2) to see if the blogging community I follow has gotten an article FP’ed. I agree with you that FP hasn’t gotten edgier, just more varied.
With regards to The Outlier Collective, anything that has Sara, Madame Weebles, Roller Giraffe, Jen and Tonic and you attached to it will get me as a follower.
Posted by Curmudgeon-at-Large | March 5, 2013, 18:13C-a-L,
I have mentioned you in a comment on this thread, as you are one of these writers I thought was worthy of the Freshly Pressed nod, just because of how creative your blog is… Thanks for following TOC, friend.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:40I’m following your new blog, now where’s my cookie?
Posted by mabukach | March 5, 2013, 18:47Mike,
In the cookie jar?
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:38ba dum dum pssh
Posted by mabukach | March 7, 2013, 13:05LC,
This not-silly ask and follow post was posted in “Clowning.” Seriously.
A.
Posted by adamjasonp | March 5, 2013, 21:06Adam,
Good point. Corrected.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 5, 2013, 21:45The first time I was Freshly Pressed (on my first blog), I didn’t even know what it was! I went to log in and saw my post on the home page. (This was back when the FP posts were on the WordPress landing page) I was thrilled, of course, but I know how such things work. I’ve read so many great posts that do not get the attention that they deserve. Best of luck with the new blog. I’ve followed. –Julie
Posted by LaVagabonde | March 6, 2013, 04:45Julie,
Thanks for following the new blog. If I may say so, your blog is one of the most unique out there. I love your pictures and the way you convey your travels and discoveries.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:37Thank you, Eric.
Posted by LaVagabonde | March 7, 2013, 12:29I have been Freshly Pressed…my surprise was that it was for a post that I wrote for another blog.
Nothing on my blog has been Freshly Pressed (except if you count that I reblogged the above). It is frustrating. I shall check out your new venture even though I seldom get graphic (unless you count my boob pocket) and I don’t swear.
Posted by Michelle Gillies | March 6, 2013, 08:52Michelle,
There might be cursing, occasionally, and I might take off my clown nose and expose myself too on Outlier Collective… Time will tell. As for being FP’d, this should happen to you soon, and on your own blog…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:35I’ve never been freshly pressed, and have never been interested, but I did read them when I first started blogging (but then I realised that they’d release new ones every fucking day! so stopped) which is how I found Rich; not freshly pressed obviously, but through one of his comments. The post was a picture of a pontoon leading out to a nice lake – in Vietnam I think, but could be wrong – the comments were the usual, “Oh that’s beautiful, where is it?” despite it saying so in the post; “Wow, so evocative! Thanks for sharing
”; “So makes me want to pack my bags and head for etc.” But a little way down was ‘brainsnorts’ who simply said, “it’s a lake…”
I went over to his blog, read a few bits – this was in the day when he had his lil rascals gravatar and everyone thought he was black, he was cool coz no-one read him – and liked him a lot; his was the first blog I really read and the first I ever commented on; it was a fucking brilliant comment about the semi-colon….he never replied……..bastard.
I kind of stalked him a bit I guess, posted something clever™, had him follow me and then fucked off! Not really; I found other people to read and got sidetracked and realised that he wasn’t interested in me any more because I’ve got a penis. He started to amass quite the following, therefore became uncool so I decided to set him free; I quietly pop back every now and then to see how he’s doing.
Your post was about Rich wasn’t it?
Posted by TheSeedSaidSo | March 6, 2013, 19:58The Seed,
Who’s that Rich you are referring to? And I see there were many words before the last sentence…
Le Clown
PS: Rich was the inspiration behind the original “Outlier Collective” indeed…
Posted by Le Clown | March 7, 2013, 07:31Yeah, don’t worry about wasting your time with all those silly preliminary words; I often just tap stuff because I like the sound of the keyboard.
Rich Rich, you know…Rich; his ‘Why I’ll never be Freshly Pressed’ was good.
Posted by TheSeedSaidSo | March 7, 2013, 18:39LeClown,
I have been Freshly pressed twice, once from each of my blogs. I was surprised with both. One was serious and an evaluation of my life in terms of the hero’s journey after reading the original evaluation of the hero’s journey, and the other was so very not serious and a silly little story that has now turned into a silly little series.
I am an avid Freshly Pressed reader. I pop over there every couple of days and read the majority of the posts posted. I like the variety. I enjoy reading outside of my blogger box. Sometimes I even follow, if, after spending time perusing the bloggers non-FPed posts, I find that the writing is inspiring. Sometimes I return, aka blog stalk, for a while before I follow. That said, I don’t always like, or Like, the posts, and there are some I don’t ever finish reading. I don’t generally comment either. I’m not a “congrats” commenter. That feels less like saying an actual congrats and more like saying “look at me”.
I’m looking forward to this new venture of yours. March 26. 19 days. That’s a decade in blog time.
Thank you for your time,
Melanie
Posted by Melanie | March 7, 2013, 21:52Melanie,
There are a great deal of parallels between our way of blogging, may it be the reading or writing part. When I first started last year, I would follow and read a great deal of bloggers. When my blog took off, it became harder to follow back ever one who followed me, and read as much as I used to. So I concentrated on the writers on my blogroll, and the occasional blog I was referred to… This is why I also created the “Carnies Corner” section on my blog, so that writers could share links to posts they would like me to read and/or like and/or comment. And so far, it has worked. It’s good to see you here.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | March 8, 2013, 07:27Le Clown,
I tried to follow my followers, but I learned I’m not capable of reading that much, and my numbers are still relatively low. I’ve since pared down my list to who intrigues me, who inspires me, who teaches me, and who makes me laugh.
I am glad to be here. Thank you. I used to not follow anyone with over 1000 followers, but then I realized what I was missing. I thought I would get lost in the crowd, but I’ve learned better. A thousand followers is not 1000 commenters. Now I’m much less intimidated by numbers. Thank you, too, for the follow on Deliberate Donkey.
Melanie
Posted by Melanie | March 8, 2013, 10:55I’ve been Freshly Pressed – and I was surprised at the category in which they placed my post – it was under “sports” when really I consider myself to be an expat/travel blogger. It just so happened that the post was about a boxing program for out of school youth. So, the category makes sense. It’s that I didn’t consider it – at the time – to be a sports post. The great thing is that it opened up my blog to sports readers – and opened my eyes to trying out (both writing and reading) other categories.
Posted by Liana | March 8, 2013, 10:56Liana,
I’m so sorry for the delay in answering your comment. I’ve been too busy drinking too much coffee, and being jacked up. It’s a good point you bring: whatever post WP might have chosen, it will introduce you to a slew of new readers… The challenge afterwards is to maintain their interest…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 13, 2013, 11:32I write political satire most of the time, and that stuff never gets FP, as far as I’ve noticed. But I did get FP’d once for one of my beige-ier guest posts about making funerals fun.
Posted by List of X | March 9, 2013, 14:11List of X,
This is where I would like to see the FP’d process take it up a notch: political satires, or thought provoking posts being featured more frequently. My wife published a post yesterday, on fat shaming. It’s an important post, it’s well written, and I was sure she would be FP’d for it, and not just because she is my wife, and gorgeous, and bright, and… Seriously, sometimes I feel WordPress misses an opportunity to make the world a better place, by spreading important messages…
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 13, 2013, 11:23A political (satire or serious) post tends to bring out the crazies from all sides. I can see why WordPress might not want that.
Your wife’s post, on the other hand, could and should be Freshly Pressed. Just on the merits and the subject matter alone it should meet any FP criteria, but it would also be logical to have an FP post about dealing with fat after so many FP’d recipe posts.
Posted by List of X | March 14, 2013, 01:30List of X,
Agreed, a political post will generate conversation, and opportunity to discuss and exchange, even when the crazies and trolls show up… where the author can moderate the thread. Anticipating the worst shouldn’t be, in my opinion, the barometer behind chosing a post to be FP’d or not… Thanks for your comment on my wife’s post. She will appreciate reading this.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | March 14, 2013, 07:42Why am I just now seeing this?! I want to hug all of you right now. This is fucking amazingly brilliant. I’m holding my breath right now. Why am I so excited??
Posted by Adam S | April 3, 2013, 00:55Adam,
Because it is so brilliant.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | April 3, 2013, 06:45Le Clown,
Yes, yes it is.
Adam
Posted by Adam S | April 3, 2013, 07:37