Mixed and Matched

Readers will know I love to try new things, and I had an idea to include guest posts from other bloggers on secondeffects.com. I approached blogger extraordinary Vint Falken with this notion and we began talking about it, and before long we came up with the crazy-ass idea of doing Random guest posts! Yes, that's right – we want to recruit willing and able SL bloggers to submit themselves to our first annual Mix and Match Blog Carnival. 

Here's how it works. You'll enter the contest specifying a topic and your blog information. On the designated day, Vint and I will randomly mix and match all the entries and come up with your blog assignment. In other words, we'll notify you that you must write a post on this topic on that blog. And it must be good, of course. We want all the entries to be published on the same day; it will make for some very interesting reading.

Oh, you want specifics?

How do I enter the event? Simply add a comment to this post (or the corresponding post on Vint's blog) containing your avatar name, your blog name, your blog URL, the SL-related blog topic and an email address that actually works (very important).

When does this take place? Entries will be accepted until close of day 31 October 2008. Random selections will take place on November 1st, and the writing assignments will be posted both here and on Vint's blog. You have until November 9th to send your post to your assigned blog owner for them to post on your behalf. All event postings should occur simultaneously on November 12th.

What do I need to do? After entering the event, simply wait for your assignment to appear on our blogs. Then, carefully write an excellent post, as you can be certain it will be read by thousands. Well, hundreds. Probably. Package it up and send it to the assigned blog author by email containing the post's text, at least one appropriate picture, your name and link to your blog in case the poster doesn't know who you are. And don't forget a title for your post!

What happens next?  Check your inbox for an incoming post. You should be expecting one for your blog based on the mix and match selections. If you don't get one, you might consider bugging the person assigned to your blog. When you receive their post, prepare a post for your blog that contains the text and image(s), the name of the author who wrote it, link to their blog, name of the topic suggestor, link to the suggestor's blog. Publish it on November 12th.

Is there anything else I should do? You might want to include a link to the blog where your own post appears and a link to the blog that suggested your topic, if you feel anyone would benefit by reading it. You can also put in a brief explanation for your own readers who may be baffled by the strange material suddenly appearing on your normally well-behaved blog.

If that isn't totally clear, try reading Vint's instructions, which are far better than mine.

And so begins the first annual SL Blog Mix'nMatch Event!