sharing remixes smarter
Inspired by Maxie Laine's how to @ someone on bear.
It's true that linking inspirational bloggers or posts within your own work can increase readers' serendipity and context when they click those links.
However, it doesn't always pan out so smoothly. People stumbling upon posts mentioning them or their work, organically or not, can startle themselves into scrubbing their content, changing their domain name, or even quitting. Some bloggers don't have a referrers section in their analytics, let alone check or use analytics whatsoever. It's more unfortunate that others don't stick around long enough to find their impact.
That said, most of those missed connections or burnt bridges aren't in my control. Even so, is there an easy but more direct way to get people's attention for this? I'm seeking something kind and respectful of their time, which also encourages a reply back (if not an ongoing conversation) without coercion.
Some bloggers implement Webmentions, guestbooks, post comments, and other opt-in platforms on their website or elsewhere. Sometimes these don't last as long as initially expected. Common culprits include lacking replies, not enough activity, wanting a space for themselves, or not wanting to maintain it for whatever reason. Some of these apply for myself.
My best idea so far is email: it's often a prerequisite for blogging services and many bloggers readily share their email address. I could send out a very short email saying that I remixed or were inspired by a work of theirs. Just like how I structure my blog posts, part of me would want to link my work so they can visit it. However, another part of me thinks that approach isn't so wise. A link alone could induce guilt, shame, or other negative emotions for many reasons: feeling seen, taking too long to respond, being replied to in the first place, etc. Am I thinking clearly about this or overthinking such an exchange?
I haven't done this myself as I don't know what to say. Even though many of my works are inspired by others', nobody else has tried this with me. I could resort to generative AI for this but I'm curious as to your opinions too. Would you mind workshopping this with me or someone else for everyone's benefit? If my writing has indirectly or directly inspired your own work, I would appreciate seeing how you built upon my thoughts. If not, I encourage you to show me your best-received attempt at such an email.
Want to reach out? Connect with me however you prefer:
- Email me via your mail client
- Copy my email address or remember it for later:
yoursimperfect@proton.me
- Email me via Letterbird contact form or open it in a new tab