By: Marilyn L. Davis
Let’s Build a Solid Platform
In 2012, Scott Biddulph and I would drink coffee at our local shop and debate whether we could build Two Drops of Ink into a platform that would attract published authors and writers as well as providing new writers an opportunity for exposure.
We knew that a solid platform had:
- A Website with loyal readers
- A sizeable mailing list
- Credibility within the literary communities
- A large following on all social media
We also realized that we didn’t have that appealing platform yet, but we were willing to take a chance that the concept had merit.
About the only thing we could both bring to the site was enthusiasm, determination, and a desire to write, read, and encourage other writers in our vision of a community of writers, poets, the how-to advice givers, and writers who made us laugh, cry, or reflect.
Let’s Just Invite Them to Submit
We took risks, reaching out to other writers in our respective groups on social media.
Sometimes, we got submissions. However, there were times that we got rejected. I remember getting a curt response back that if Two Drops of Ink ever ranked high on Google, this writer might consider a short story. Ouch.
But just as every writer is often rejected if the editor doesn’t like the manuscript, we had to be willing to face rejection from writers as well.
Fast Forward Five Years
Today, that concept of creating a home for collaborative writing was validated when we won our fourth award from The Write Life’s list of 100 Best Websites for Writers!
Then we got a notice that we’d also won a new award for the Top 100 Literary Blogs & Websites in 2019 For Writers and Publishing Agents
Contributors Make the Awards Possible
None of these awards were possible without the writers who are monthly contributors at Two Drops of Ink. This list has their top two read posts, but I would encourage you to read more of their writing on Two Drops of Ink.
Christopher Fox
Five Ways to Become a Kind Writer
Claudia Ricci
Michelle Gunnin
Noelle Sterne
Why Writers Should Stop Reading
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Peter B. Giblett
What Collaborative Writing Means
Do Published Books Make You an Expert in Your Subject?
Shahnaz Radjy
Best 1000 Words for the Image Contest: Shahnaz Radjy: My Secret Legacy
5 Writing Lessons I Learned from Reading this Year
Other Talented Contributors at Two Drops of Ink
While the monthly contributors listed above are featured, the wealth of talent at Two Drops of Ink doesn’t end there.
Are you looking for a specific genre today? Then look at the pull-down menu under contributing writers and find that poem, essay, how-to, memoir, or short fiction post, grab your coffee, and enjoy.
Never Far from the Coffee Shop Idea
I still believe in encouraging writers to submit a guest post. However, I no longer wonder if we can provide them with a solid platform for increasing exposure for their posts, sites, or books.
We do.
I hope that you’ll consider a submission to a multiple-award winning literary site.
If you find posts that entertain, educate, or enchant you at Two Drops of Ink, please consider nominating us for a Positive Writer Award. Thank you.
What a great post! Thank YOU Marilyn for hanging in there with us!!
I’m hoping to get up the courage. I’ve been trying to determine the length of the post and what’s been done. This post will give me a good start.
I will never forget those days in the coffee shop with you Marilyn. They seem so far away. I’m proud to see that our baby has become a full-grown adult.
Hi, Terry. Thank you.
There is going to be a fiction contest in the spring…hint, hint.
As the old Virginia Slim commercial phrase used to be “You’ve come a long way, baby!” A cup of coffee, a dream, some very hard work, and a group of very talented writers has translated into the award-winning blog Two Drops has become! Congratulations!!