Chris Roper's a crafty devil. Great writer - I'll give him that. But I reckon he's a devious master strategist as well. For a long while I've held the opinion that there's slim pickings on them there blogs over at 24.com. I've even had strong (but highly civilized) exchanges with Elan Lohmann about this as well. My view - up until now - has been that there's not much creativity on that blog engine, and I wondered why Elan was making such a great fuss when I stated as much.
Bada-bing-bada-boom... The Roper emails to ask if will I judge the blog competition at 24.com. I smell a rat and gently enquire whether it involves my wearing cement shoes. Before I can say "cry me a river" I'm a judge and wondering how the hell I am going to wade through all those half baked blogs they will send me to peruse.
Now for the bit about me eating humble pie.Damn. The first round of entries were good. This is not the "cash for friends voting for you" or number pumping competitions that 24.com has had in the past to drive up blog counts. This is an editorial competition where quality content is selected in an effort to up the game at the social media hub. I was hugely surprised when I went through the shortlist this week, which was a search for the best photo blog. (I'm kind of hoping it's all downhill from here or else I'm in for week after week of eating humble pie. Saying: "Sorry. You okes were right. I was wrong." Damn. Did I tell you that Roper fella is as crafty as a fox?)
My personal favourite for this week didn't win - but my second pick did. There are three judges - the other two being Charl Norman and Lauren Beukes. I've written about Charl before - he's an incredible social media entrepreneur who's barely skidded past twenty and is already taking co.za by storm. In my books, he's one to watch. If I was an investor (of the Buffet school - it's the people not the company that counts) I'd certainly be in talks with him. Then Lauren is a great writer who completed her MA in Creative Writing at UCT and has just published Moxyland - a refreshing break from the normal genre you get from South African writers. But then Beukes is anyting but 'run of the mill'. Can't wait for my review copy to arrive - I'll be doing a piece on her for MoneywebLIFE.
But back to the blogs at 24.com. Do yourself a favour. Go look at James Nel's blog "Capturing the moment". It is inspired.
Thanks Mandy. I hope you discover more hidden treasures in there. Elan.
Posted by: Elan | 18 August 2008 at 11:22
Thanks for the kind words Mandy - let's hope the rest of the categories live up to this standard. Holding thumbs...
Posted by: Alistair | 19 August 2008 at 13:46
@Elan and Alistair - thanks for being so gracious about the egg all over my face.
Posted by: Mandy de Waal | 19 August 2008 at 19:05
Ha, I do love it when commentators see 24.com as more than just the corporate monster in the water.
I hope your copy of Moxyland arrives soon - Lauren the Alien Incubator did herself proud.
x
Posted by: Sam Wilson | 23 August 2008 at 12:07