Also, i agree with others who have said that there are so many audition pieces, I can’t imagine choosing between them.

Only a very small percentage of the blogging world will ever make a dune.

JD wrote “… [she]has been blogging since long before “blog” was even a word. In fact, she was one of the prime reasons I started blogging myself.” = If so, perhaps there could be an explanation of why she is doing this?

I’m not trying to be antagonistic, but the immediate impression I got was that Karawynn must be unsuccessful as a blogger herself, which is why she’s doing this? Perhaps I am wrong, but that was my first thought… Maybe it’s simply the way JD wrote the sentence?

[Then again, even if I was right, better to keep trying than not at all!]

don’t get all TSD on us

Louise is infusing the Mexican economy with money. She is giving opportunities to Mexicans. She didn’t say she wasn’t paying them, or paying them less than a prevailing wage. And we all would flee is things got bad in our American cities to places that were safer. (In fact, it has happened, over and over). It is smart to have a plan B. Would it be the same concept to not live in NYC and instead live in Florida, for example, in retirement? This just involves another country.

I don’t see a moral problem with that. She is being sensible with the money she has.

I know how to be poor comfortably, my family and I were poor for the first 16 years of my life.

I remember enjoying the boat article, the Mexico article from 2/2011. I just read the misfit grocery and I liked that (but I did not like her Ikea piece).

So, each get a thumbs up…

Glad I don’t have to make the decision!

What I need to know is how to earn more money, especially unconventional ways.

JD, there are so many options at this point for staff writer(s) that it’s a bit crazy to me. Honestly I’ve been mostly skimming for the past week or so. I understand that you have a lot of people applying, but perhaps next time (if there is one) there should be a bit of weeding beforehand?

I do understand the difficulty involved, but it goes back to El Nerdo’s comment a bit back about stronger input to make sure that things match the “voice” and vision you (or whoever is doing that bit at this point) have for the site. (Sorry Nerdo, I’m probably mangling what you said.) Some of these articles are gold, and good variety for the site. So much of them at once is a bit daunting, however. Perhaps it’s time for a different selection process, and/or a way to submit one or two really good articles for pay? That way you’ve got the variety but not so much of it at once. It may not be the way the current model works in the blogworld, but “do what works for you”, right?

Anyway, thought about the relevance of this for a bit but decided to post.

I would like to see someone who is at a later stage of money management than most of the writers. Someone who talks more about managing your savings once you have them, for example. What withdrawal methods do those who are living off savings (retired or financially independent) use? Even if most of the readers aren’t to this stage, it might be interesting for them to start learning so that they aren’t surprised when they do have savings. What I’m seeing of this later stage is pretty sparse.

Sorry but I couldn’t disagree with you more. JD and staff have dozens of candidates all of whom (presumably) are well qualified and eager for this opportunity. If you want to stand out in a tough competition, reusing old material is not the way to do so.

But at the same time, I would suggest that if ‘willing to keep writing for free’ is your primary selection criteria, you are not likely to end up with the best writers, because they will get better offers elsewhere.

I linked to Michael’s blog and have been fascinated with the Del Viento since then. He is a good writer.

I am not interested in money-anorexia (pathologic cheapness)

thanks!

I disagree with your assessment, which is essentially, “if a writer can’t be bothered to work for free, it’s hard to imagine it’d be any different when they’re getting paid.” I do not feel that’s true.