In the tradition of American Idol, it seems that Juggalo Low is auditioning for being a writer of the "Morning Docket" on Abovethelaw.com. Her try, which consists of commentary on Sweet Smelly Caroline Giuliani, lacks the usual brilliance and sarcastic bite of ATL. There's more. The dog days of August in which we tolerate less than perfect in weblogging are over. This is September 1st, when our metabolism is speeded up for action.
The news line on the piece is that this Harvard gal with alleged daddy issues has been sentenced to one day of community service in the New York Department of Sanitation.
As an old freshman composition teacher, I advise that the writer consider these recommendations:
- Humor is a difficult genre. That's why they pay such big bucks to those who master the craft. Therefore, it's too high risk to try to handle it so early in a writing career or in a new client relationship. Best to incorporate subtle irony.
- Do research on alleged daddy issues, provide links. That would create value in the article. Better yet, interview a few psychologists on daddy matters. The new market demands more meat and potatoes, even in our weblogs. Pure opining has gotten old.
- Provide a few sentences on the points of law. Those always have a pull force.
- Make reference to pop culture as in how Alicia from "The Good Wife" would have handled the case or could Sweet Caroline still hope to be hired by the elite FBI forces on "Criminal Minds." Those allusions are SEO magnets.
Was this commentary by me cruel? I am cruel to be kind. It's a rough marketplace out there for writers. We have to have the game down cold to get anywhere, never mind earn a buck.
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