I warned you I would nag, and I don’t lie. Okay, to be more accurate, I wasn’t lying this time.
Beginning on Monday, November 5, we’re going to start running guest posts here at NCS, as we have around this time of year in the past. The tradition started because yours truly usually takes a vacation in November, and guest posts help us keep NCS from going dark while I’m off lolling around like a walrus on some coastline. This year I’m going nowhere, but we’re doing a series of guest posts anyway, because they’re fun — new voices and new subjects spice things up.
We’ve already received a half-dozen submissions since I issued the invitation a week ago, and I know of three more that are in the works, but we want more.
So, to repeat: If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of writing something for publication at NCS or some other metal blog, now’s a good time to give it a shot. Or maybe you’ve been generous enough to submit guest posts here in the past and might be willing to do it again. Or maybe you’re already writing for another blog and you’re willing to upgrade the content quality at NCS.
Regardless of your situation, we’re interested in what’s on your mind. What you submit can be long or short — whatever you have time to create. It can be a show review, a review of an album or EP that we haven’t yet reviewed, a piece designed to bring a relatively unknown band to a broader audience, thoughts about the scene or about recent news blurbs, something in the vein of our “THAT’S METAL!” posts or one of our other regular features — or anything else that’s related to metal that strikes your fancy.
I’ll start posting guest pieces on November 5 and continue running them through November 20, or until I run out of material. You can send them to me any time from now through November 20.
Here are a few other things you need to know:
1. Send your submissions as some kind of document or text-file attachment to an e-mail, addressed to islander@nocleansinging.com. You can also paste the text into the body of the e-mail.
2. In your e-mail, tell me what name you want to use as your by-line (i.e., your real name, if you don’t care about trashing your personal reputation, or a nom de plume).
3. If you want to include a graphic or embedded video or a link to another web page, be sure to include web links in your text so I can embed them in the post. As you probably know, we like to include music in just about everything we publish here, so this is encouraged.
4. Though not necessary, it will save e a step if you include links to any graphics you want included with your post (such as album covers). If you don’t, it’s not the end of the world — I’ll hunt down graphics myself, though there’s a risk that a pic of my genitals will be illustrating your post.
5. We do have certain standards here at NCS. Granted, they’re pretty fucking low, but still, I have to reserve some small amount of discretion on the final publication decision. It’s either that, or I have to let the lorises decide what goes up on the site, and I don’t think they’re quite ready for that. Plus, I don’t trust the fuckers any farther than I can throw them.
6. Don’t expect payment. Think of your compensation as the warm, fuzzy feeling you will get from helping out a bro in need.
7. Don’t worry too much about showing your ass, because I’ll fix typos and and any ungrammaticalnessness that I see.
23 Responses to “A REMINDER: START SCRIBBLING!!!”
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Ungrammaticalnessness – an ailment that plagues many, and one of my greatest fears. One day they will find a cure. One day.
A serious suggestion if you’re really worried about your grammar: find a good style guide. AP is probably the most widely used, though Chicago comes in a close second, I believe.
Still, it’s the Internet, and Islander is a generally competent editor. Except that he never corrects my grammar errors. I’m convinced he intentionally leaves my fuck ups in place so he has something to giggle about.
Generally competent?!? Generally? My cometence as an edator exceeds the compatance of the most highliest skilled editers at the biggist newspaprs and book publisshers in teh world!!
Then why do all of my posts on NCS have grammar errors???
Because, tho extremeley compitent, I’m also fuckin’ LAZY.
…
RELEASE THE BUTT-
KRACKENKRAKEN!I edited your comment.
Oh, sure, NOW you’re proactive.
You’re still getting a visit from the
AnalakenDalai Lama.ButtakenScarlett Johansson?KrakanalNobel Prize Committee?I edited ur comment.
Hm. Well, you’ll certainly not be getting a visit from Scarlett Johansson. I’ve requested her company already. We’ll drink wine and talk about the disappointing size of you penis.
Have fun with the bald theocrat though.
If you want to talk about my penis size, ask yo momma.
She was equally unimpressed.
You’re making that up.
As were you. But at least I have a head.
In the end, you always have to resort to the cheap shots! Always! I haz sads now.
😀 Your tears are my lubrication.
Wait. If Islander doesn’t have a head, where does he cry from?…
One believes those aren’t his tears, Phro.
Never written a review, and never had much desire to. That said, my most anticipated album of the year finally has a release date–the new Saturnus album, set for Nov. 30.
I’d be willing to put something thoughtful together. It’d give the band some necessary coverage–and hopefully good exposure, assuming the album’s half as good as their previous Doom/Death masterpieces. Would NCS be interested in such a band? Though a quick search reveals that they’ve never been mentioned around here… 🙁
The answer is absolutely yes! I’ve listened to about half of the album in between other things and it’s killing me. First time I’ve ever listened to their music. It would be great to have a review by someone who knows their music.
Excellent. So wait, you’re telling me that you have an advance copy? Oh, how I despise you right now. That’s no way to start a relationship! Guess I’ll go cry myself a river now, listening to some old Justin Timberlake…
In all seriousness though, if you have any affinity for doom/death, check their music out. I’m not typically a big fan of the genre (I get bored by the likes of Swallow the Sun), but Saturnus has a certain special ability to meld serenity with melody and some of the deepest, most convincing DM vocals I’ve ever heard.
E.g. “I Long”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzo82TGh-1k
Sweet, there’s a couple of bands I’ve been thrashing lately that I haven’t seen on this site that I believe are worthy of greater exposure (not the genital type!). I’ll send in a few reviews.
I may finally get something sent your way, now that I found the folder I stashed the stuff in. As long as I don’t have any more emergencies here at work to try to keep at bay, I may get them off to you in the next couple days.