Game 5: #1 Seed Daily Writing Tips Versus #8 Seed C. Hope Clark
March 30, 2008 by John Hewitt
The Matchup
#1 seed Daily Writing Tips takes on #8 seed C. Hope Clark. DWT is a blogging monster, but Clark may be the strongest of the #8 seeds, so don’t count her out yet.
Introductions
Daily Writing Tips
DWT isn’t quite a year old, but they quickly moved to the top of the heap. DWT is a team blog, with several regular writers and plenty of guest posters. This keeps the quantity and the quality of the posts high, though perhaps at a cost to personality.
C. Hope Clark
This is a blog about funding opportunities for writers mixed in with some personal observations. It is a narrow topic, but a valuable one. Clark runs a site called Funds for Writers, which is much more widely read. For some reason she chooses to host this blog off-site in the blogging ghetto, Blogspot. If her blog had been able to make use of her other site’s stronger numbers, she would probably have been a #4 or #3 seed.
Archives
C. Hope Clark
The archives date back to April of 2006. The pace was pretty slow at first but she has picked up speed since the middle of 2007, averaging about three posts a week. The posts are mostly about events or opportunities with deadlines, so they lose value quickly.
Result: Clark picks up a point at the charity stripe.
Daily Writing Tips
The archives date back to May of 2007. Since then there has been a post (as far as I can tell) every day with multiple posts on many of the days. One need only look at their extensive archive page to see that they have kept up a blistering pace. Their posts range from minor usage issues to how-to articles and general tips. Because they have an archive page, you can find all of their articles in one place.
Result: DWT announces its presence with authority, shooting a clean three-pointer.
DWT jumps out to an early 3-1 lead.
Design
C. Hope Clark
For a Blogspot blog, it is relatively attractive. Clark occasionally adds graphics to links, but she keeps them small so that they add to rather than detract from the content. All in all, she’s done her best to make the site attractive.
Result: Clark rattles in a layup. Two points.
Daily Writing Tips
Like many of the major blogs, there is an air of professionalism to their design, but there is also a lot of clutter from the advertising. At some points there are four columns of different items to look at, and that really stretches the limits of what a blog can handle. That said, they do keep things fairly symmetrical so that the eye isn’t too pained looking at the blog.
Result: DWT finger rolls the ball into the basket. Two points.
DWT maintains its lead, 5-3.
Usability and Navigation
C. Hope Clark
Clark falls short on usability. There are very few features. There’s a month by month archive and a tool for emailing a blog entry. These are both standard blogspot features. There is no subscription link or other tools.
Result: Clark shoots an airball. No points.
Daily Writing Tips
The subscription options are right at the top of the page. Popular articles are also featured on every page. There is a useful archives page (Although I would love to see it broken out in topics) that allows people to cruise their old content. Individual posts come complete with a list of related articles. This is a site that makes it easy for the reader to find what they want.
Result: DWT launches another three. Nothing but net.
DWT opens up a commanding 8-3 lead.
Purpose
C. Hope Clark
Purity of purpose is this blog’s strong suit. The posts follow a set pattern and they are all about the same topics: contests, grants and other funding opportunities for writers. It doesn’t get any clearer than that.
Result: Clark launches a three-pointer. Nothing but net!
Daily Writing Tips
They often stray outside of the realm of tips, but they always stay focused on writing.
Result: An easy layup. Two points.
Clark makes up a little ground. It is now 10-7 in favor of DWT.
Personality
C. Hope Clark
The primary focus of the blog is on the contests, retreats and funding opportunities but she takes a moment to give you a personal update on her current projects. The blog isn’t about her personality, but you do get a pretty good idea of who she is.
Result: Clark banks an eight-footer in off the glass. Two points.
Daily Writing Tips
This blog is far more focused on information than on personality. I can’t really tell one writer from another, and they rarely approach stories from a personal POV. They do maintain a consistent style, however. You know what you are getting when you go to DWT.
Result: DWT goes to the free throw line and picks up one.
Clark nibbles away another point from DWT’s lead. It is now 11-9. Can she pull even in the final category?
Five Most Recent Posts
Daily Writing Tips
Starting A Copywriting Business
“Wreck,” “Wreak,” and Other [rek] Words
How to Write an SEO Article - Part 2
Using Writing Bursts to Generate Ideas and Enthusiasm
All of the posts are information-based and authoritative, although I have read so many SEO (search engine optimization) articles at this point that I didn’t even want to look at this one. Frankly, it rehashed the same old stuff. As for posting frequency, they stick to the daily format without incident.
Result: DWT sinks a three pointer.
C. Hope Clark
High-Paying Spec Fiction Competition
Win a Vespa by Living Brightly
Theatre Conspiracy New Play Contest
The posts at C. Hope Clark follow a consistent pattern. Clark posts a contest, retreat or grant writing opportunity, followed by comments on the opportunity and personal reflections such as an update on what she is working on at the moment. These five posts all follow that pattern. It isn’t the most ambitious posting style in the world, but it works very well for what she is trying to accomplish. You know what to expect when you come here. All of her posts come from within the last week, so frequency is not a problem.
Result: C. Hope Clark scores a three by staying true to her purpose.
The final score is 14-12 in favor of Daily Writing Tips.
Post Game Analysis
Daily Writing Tips has risen to the top of the writing blog world in record time and they got there on their merits. They are going to be hard for most blogs to beat. C. Hope Clark is a small but very valuable blog. If Clark hadn’t come up against a top-ranked team in the first round, she would probably have gone farther.
What They Can Work On
Daily Writing Tips
Their only real weak spot in the contest was personality, which may not even be something they value. Their design could be a little more pleasant look at, but I get the feeling they value the advertising revenue more.
C. Hope Clark
Clark should move her blog to her main site and spend some time (or money) on designing it with more usability in mind. This is a blog that could and should be much more widely read than it is.
John, outstanding analysis.
It is both a funny and useful reading.
Yes I know that we have a big “sponsors” section right above the fold, but that is what makes possible to have 5 writers on the blog :).
We do try to make sure that the ads are not intrusive though, that is why we don’t accept anything animates or flashy, and we also do not blend ads with the content.
As for the personality you are right. Hopefully we will improve it a bit in time for the next match!
Daniel,
I understand the need for revenue. Sometimes money has to win out when you are blogging with the hope of getting paid.
Good luck in the next round.
John
Wow - I’m tickled to get the comments I received! A blog is not in my comfort zone, so I write what I think my readers want, not for the commercialism. But thanks for the pointers. I think I did pretty well against someone so large. Heck, they have five paid writers and sponsors. I’m just little ole me - (smile). Interesting. Thanks for having me in your list.
Hope
FundsforWriters.com
Thank you for being so gracious Hope. I do enjoy your blog and I hope you enjoy writing it.
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