Back in January, I was invited to join a community of blogging moms to join together and form a site where we would offer informational and helpful blogs on our topics of choice. We are all working freelance writers, tired of working for pennies and decided this would be a good way to make some money writing about what we knew and liked.
So, I started another blog, The Guilty Parent I have even gotten someone to redesign it for me this month in anticipation of launching our site. We would have a home site with information about each of us, and then links to our blogs. I have spent time trying to update it weekly, in addition to all the other writing assignments and searching for steady work.
Sounds cool right? I thought so, and I was honored when I was invited to join. So here it is May and we have our domain name, but NO SITE. The mom in charge all had us send some money to cover the cost of the domain name and she would be able to host it on HER SERVER. Her husband was going to do the technical part of putting the site together. We have a logo, domain name, and still NO SITE.
So I decided to start looking around and see if I can contact any of the other mom bloggers. I get in contact with one and send her a message, then I find her blogs and find out that OUR SITE WILL NOT EXSIST. The mom who started the whole thing has changed her mind!!!! I have sent the mom in charge emails and messages through the board we post on and have been ASKING for information, how things are going, does she need any help with finding advertisers, ANYTHING. SHE HAS NEVER RESPONDED. Instead, the only message I get from her was asking me if she sent me a copy of an ebook she wrote could I read it and provide her with a testimonial. AGAIN. I REPLY SAY, SURE! I’D BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT A FELLOW WRITER! Then I ask how things are going with putting the site together, cause the last I heard, she said her husband would have it up over that weekend for us. I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT LAST EMAIL!!! This is ridiculous!!
The other mom blogger I emailed got back and confirmed that the mom starting all this flaked out and bailed!! WHAT???? I HAVE NEVER GOT AN EMAIL FROM HER SAYING ANY OF THIS!! But the other mom said she sent out a group email letting everyone know!! WELL NOT ME!! OH! I AM SO MAD I COULD SPIT NAILS!!! I HAVE SAVED EVERY EMAIL THIS MOM SENT ME, AND NOTHING, NOT ONE THING MENTIONS BACKING OUT.
So, now I am wondering, should I keep my blog? I don’t have many readers, at least not regular ones. Should I go ahead with the redesign? Or should I just focus on the other stuff. I don’t know what to do at this point. The redesign was going to be free but I haven’t had the time to send the gal doing the work, the artwork or pictures I want on the blog, and I hate wasting someone’s time. I have one blog, that I have put a lot of work into and I have readers who check in daily and weekly, but I don’t know I have time or energy to put into another one right now.
I have sent another email to the mom who flaked on us asking her to confirm her decision not to continue and also told me that I want my money returned. Since there is no site, I don’t feel it fair that she should keep our money. Even though she says we can use the domain for ourselves but we would have to set it up and market it. That was something she was going to be taking care of. I guess this isn’t the only project she backed out on either but I didn’t know about that until now.
I am feeling a little in limbo, not sure what to do with The Guilty Parent, and feeling a little ridiculous for even getting involved in something like this. Plus, I am angry that it seems like I sm the last to know and completely in the dark on the whole thing. Maybe I am just upset that I got excited about trying something new and leaping before looking 3 times over. Plus, I feel this is just bad form for writers to do to one another. I have no explanation, no reason, and I am out money, not much at all, but still out time as well. Should I be upset? Do I have a right to feel the way I do? I mean, at least one of the other moms knew what happened. Should I be asking for my money back? I don’t have the knowledge to build, host or market a site.
I know there is a lesson in here somewhere for this trusting writing mama, and when I can see straight again, I will let you know what it is.
You have every right to be upset. Certainly it was wrong for someone to take money for a project, then not carry through. But sometimes things happen, so without knowing the circumstances, I can’t say whether she used this as a way to get money with no intent to perform or if circumstances changed and she wasn’t able to finish. However, she certainly had an obligation to inform you regularly of what was happening. Since she did ask you for a testimonial and other people have heard from her, it’s obvious that she isn’t incapacitated and unable to communicate. And if she didn’t use the money for what it was intended, you are owed a refund. If it’s a fairly small amount of money, it might not be worth putting a lot of effort it, though. You should certainly ask, but you might use your time and energy more effectively moving forward.
As to whether or not you keep the other blog, you need to evaluate your blogging purpose and goals. Does this new blog fit your purpose and further your goals? If not, then focus on what you’re doing now.
You should continue with the blog if you look at the pros and cons and determine it’s right for you. But you shouldn’t keep doing it just because you started it. Unless you’re passionate about it, you probably won’t produce the best blog you can, and consequently, it won’t be as successful as it would if you are enthusiastic about it.
You have every right to be upset. Certainly it was wrong for someone to take money for a project, then not carry through. But sometimes things happen, so without knowing the circumstances, I can’t say whether she used this as a way to get money with no intent to perform or if circumstances changed and she wasn’t able to finish. However, she certainly had an obligation to inform you regularly of what was happening. Since she did ask you for a testimonial and other people have heard from her, it’s obvious that she isn’t incapacitated and unable to communicate. And if she didn’t use the money for what it was intended, you are owed a refund. If it’s a fairly small amount of money, it might not be worth putting a lot of effort it, though. You should certainly ask, but you might use your time and energy more effectively moving forward.
As to whether or not you keep the other blog, you need to evaluate your blogging purpose and goals. Does this new blog fit your purpose and further your goals? If not, then focus on what you’re doing now.
You should continue with the blog if you look at the pros and cons and determine it’s right for you. But you shouldn’t keep doing it just because you started it. Unless you’re passionate about it, you probably won’t produce the best blog you can, and consequently, it won’t be as successful as it would if you are enthusiastic about it.
Lillie’s advice is excellent. There’s not too much that I could add. As far as the other site goes, one thing to consider is that it does provide another place for advertising and I’ve noticed that a lot of those who make money blogging have more than one site. As yourself if you can keep up with two sites.
Lillie’s advice is excellent. There’s not too much that I could add. As far as the other site goes, one thing to consider is that it does provide another place for advertising and I’ve noticed that a lot of those who make money blogging have more than one site. As yourself if you can keep up with two sites.
Here’s how to get your money back – send her a letter, copied also to an attorney, stating that since the venture you two had agreed to IN WRITING was not followed through on by her, you’d like your money back within 15 days to avoid any unnecessary litigation. Then follow through with it in small claims court. You have all the evidence you need in email, honey. Let her have it.
Here’s how to get your money back – send her a letter, copied also to an attorney, stating that since the venture you two had agreed to IN WRITING was not followed through on by her, you’d like your money back within 15 days to avoid any unnecessary litigation. Then follow through with it in small claims court. You have all the evidence you need in email, honey. Let her have it.