Calling all writers
I'm about to try an experiment.
Since I redesigned the site last week, you may have noticed that the line "Posted by The Limey" now appears beneath the title of every post. You could be forgiven for thinking this is redundant. After all, don't I write all of them?
At the moment, yes I do. But I'd like that to change. That's why I'm now seeking guest bloggers for A Limey In Bermuda.
Initially this will just be for a trial period. But if that's considered a success, this site will undergo a permanent transformation from the opinions of one person into a full-fledged collaborative blog.
So why the change? Well, first and foremost, I'd like to foster more local writing talent. Many of the opinion column writers in Bermuda's newspapers - Tom Vesey, Larry Burchall, Stuart Hayward, Alvin Williams, Calvin Smith - have been around for years. Although their columns are usually interesting, it sometimes feels like there's a lack of young blood and fresh ideas.
Second, I'd like to broaden the range of topics available for discussion. By its nature, a blog limits discussion to the topics introduced by the posts, which are themselves limited by my time and interests. With more people writing, more topics would be opened up for debate.
Third, I hope that giving equal prominence to the views of those with different backgrounds or political opinions will make the site more interesting and help to stimulate debate about what's happening on our Island. Ultimately that's the the aim of A Limey In Bermuda.
The arrival of blogging has made it easier for would-be writers to express themselves, but it's still difficult to build up an audience. If no-one is reading, it's easy to become discouraged. Although anyone can express their thoughts in the comments here, there's a tendency for those to become lost. And of course, you're restricted to the issues that I have already posted on.
Guest bloggers would have more freedom. You would be able to post on any Bermuda-related topic, at any time, and your thoughts would appear on the front page of the site. I'm prepared to be flexible about the frequency and length of your posts, although initially I'd prefer less-frequent, longer ones. One-off opinion pieces are also welcome, but please speak to me before submitting anything for publication. The only provisos are that you must be able to write competently and coherently (I don't have time to do much editing) and that you must be prepared to post under your real name.
Given my goals, my preference is for Bermudians rather than expats, for unknown writers rather than established personalities, and for those whose political views differ from my own.
I'm not setting any quotas, however, so all are welcome to apply. If this sounds interesting to you, .
Archives By Date
Why does "getting bermuda talking" only involve like 9 people...
Posted by Kev on 12.09.05 at 15:49
Ummm. We figured out opposable thumbs before the others? Everyone else is looking at pr0n? Who knows.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 12.09.05 at 16:15
The Wolf will shed his fur and write a piece for his Royal Highness King of The Bloggers.I'll even write it in English rather than Flinglish.I know some of your readers are not up on their slang! Anyway let me know your length of like....1500 words ect...First up The future of Life comments on some of the choices we have re the enviroment. Drugs prohibition is a failure. Creating Political choice, Bermuda Football.Art in Bermuda. The Future of photography. The Emerald and sapphire neckless. ect ect later da ^..^
Posted by Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 12.09.05 at 16:48
Why does "getting bermuda talking" only involve like 9 people...
Posted by Kev on 12.09.05 at 15:49
Um Um....cos' the rest are all posting on Killbot.bm?
Posted by SmokingGun on 12.09.05 at 16:59
unlikely.
Posted by Kev on 12.09.05 at 17:05
Increasing the numbers and broadening the views of the posters which provide the starting point for these discussions is a brilliant idea!
Kev - I'm not sure where you got the number 9 from. I think a lot more people read this site than post on it. For me it has been an invaluable way of hearing a variety of points of view contributed (mostly!) from a reasoned perspective.
Maybe the Limey's motto should be "Getting Bermuda thinking" because I know a lot of people who read this site and find it thought-provoking but who are too inhibited/busy/shy to engage in the discussion. This doesn't mean that they don't discuss the issues with friends, family, co-workers, etc. And it doesn't mean that they agree with what is posted on this site.
Keep going Limey - I have thought a lot more about big issues as a result of reading your site than I have from face-to-face conversations with my fellow Bermudians. Maybe one day we lot won't have to be so cagey with one another, but until then this blog provides an unprecedented venue for learning about all points of view on current topics.
Posted by Turtle on 12.09.05 at 20:20
Have been reading the commentary, outcries and often nonsense found as response to the topics offered by the hijacked 10 or so regular participants, which are in my view too little to get a sample of the 66,000 populus of Bermuda and think that Limey should see what he can do to make the forum more attractive to more bloggers. Most of them become very predictable,repetitive and blow themselves out very quickly because of it.
In spite of continously claiming to contribute to the "positive" on the subjects they degrade too quickly into personal spats rather than, a meaningful dialog. This makes "voyers" to the site skip very quickly past many of the repetitive rehash, hoping, for some new ideas or comments to appear on the scene.
For the moment I want to offer this link as a means for inspiration, which could serve as sample and inspiration to those in "leadership positions or ambitions" in Gvmt.,who should observe better yet adapt some of these leadership skills, passion and fire exhibit in this link. This could lead to the type new societal motivation of this mainly petty, spoiled to the core (on all sides of the rainbow), Hamlet in the Atlantic!
Leadership ideas and fire is what is needed. It is proof that it can be done! Here is is what I mean
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/100505N.shtml
Hope you agree and take that part of the message that would fit well into this Bermudian discussion.
Will be watching!
TLC
Posted by TLC on 05.10.05 at 21:55
Hey there,
A note on the design of your frontispiece - is it consciously meant to echo the late sixties UK televisual masterpiece, "The Prisoner" in any way? The font is correct, I just wondered if you felt like you were living in The Village in any way...
Wookster.
Posted by Wookie Shan on 21.10.05 at 12:44
Wookie - I have never seen an episode of The Prisoner. Before my time...
Posted by Phil on 21.10.05 at 12:55