Not all blog writers are equal it would seem. Good writing helps but so do contacts-real and in cyberspace.
In the first case known to this writer a blog writer has netted a £70,000 publishing deal.
Amidst the sound of grinding teeth and the tapping of jealous “poisoned pen” keyboard messages over the internet Judith O’Reilly is reported by The Sunday Times to be £70,000 richer for her portrayal of N-S divide and a life-changing house move in her blog called “Wife in the North”.
The website can be found at www.wifeinthenorth.com.
The theme of a career woman turned housewife seeking a rural retreat has won over Viking Penguin, which is seeking to turn the blog into a book.
What makes it worse for serial e-writers is that O’Reilly only began her blog six weeks before attracting the notice of a local MP to whom O’Reilly had turned to on a matter and who featured the blog on his website. This in turn led to another link with a political commentator and then one more to another news columnist, which led to the publishing opportunity.
If nothing else for wanabee authors desperate for their “big break” it should provide comfort on how with the power of the internet, good links and contacts the unexpected can arise.
