Pick a Card, Any Card – Pick a Topic, Any Topic
You’ve all received that paper letter in your mailbox or that email in your inbox. The one where your political party tells you how much they value your opinion. The one where they want you to fill out a three-page questionnaire. The one where they show you their true priorities by providing a check-off list so you can indicate how much money you are going to send them.
Well, we value your opinion, and we don’t want your money. (Actually, you can contact me privately and we’ll discuss how to make out the check.) What we really want to know is what type of blogs you would like on Fridays, and what topics you would like to see discussed (or participate in discussing).
So, today’s questions are simple:
- What kind of a blog are you looking for on a Friday? Short, long? Detailed new information or reader participation?
- What topics would like to see discussed?
Thanks for your participation, and please think seriously about contributing to the KZ re-election campaign. Every penny will be put to good use (after administrative expenses are covered).
Good morning, Steve. I’m good with the Reader Friday questions, as you have been doing. Thanks for asking.
Have a great weekend. I hope you have carved out some “me” time!
Good morning, Joe. Thanks for your vote for the way we are doing things. I like to ask for suggestions, for ways we could do better, from time to time. But, it’s also nice to hear that what we’re doing is working.
Have a great weekend, and I hope you find time for some things you want to do!
I like Reader Friday as it is. To me, it gives all the contributors a bit of a break at not having to come up with more indepth content as you all do all the other days, and speaking only for myself, by Friday, I’m wiped out so I really prefer a nice light-weight quick post to finish out the workweek.
Thanks, BK. I appreciate your comments. This is what I thought (or hoped) we would hear from most readers. But if you don’t ask, you might not get the feedback you need. And, in other areas of business (service industries), the idea used to be, “If your not constantly improving, you’re probably falling behind.” – “Continuous Quality Improvement”
Thanks for your participation.
I say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Well said, Terry. Thanks!
Good morning, Steve. I love Reader Friday and the reader-focused posts. I don’t mind if they are a bit longer, but then again, my recent guest Reader Fridays were a bit longer, so I may be biased 🙂
Thanks for calling a vote and giving everyone a say. Have a great day!
Thanks, Dale. I appreciate the recent posts that you did, and that’s one of the reasons I thought it might be helpful to give everyone a chance to state their preferences. Plus, last Saturday, there were two or three suggestions for topics You don’t know if you don’t ask.
Thanks for your continued participation and contributions. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend
Good question, Steve.
Always helpful to hear from TKZ readers about what they’d like or questions they have. Ideas for a number of my posts came from reader comments.
Thanks, Debbie. I’m glad you checked in today. I have a long list of requested topics that an anonymous reader sent me. Interestingly, the anonymous reader requested that the topics/articles/posts be written by you. The list is too long to copy here. I’ll email them to you.
Sorry, just trying to maintain my reputation for conning you into new topics. You do such a wonderful job with those topics.
Have a scam-free Labor Day weekend!
Steve, behind your innocent-looking exterior beats the heart of a true con artist! Well done!
I’m waiting for your email of topics…
Debbie,
You and your husband ran your own business, right?
When you’re self-employed, the Machiavellian term is “delegate.”
And that list of topics, I’ll send it after I receive your contribution.
Seriously, have a great Labor Day weekend!!!
Thanks for asking for our opinions, Steve. I like Reader Friday just the way it is. (The check is in the mail. 🙂 )
Thanks, Kay. It is looking like the majority is on your side.
And, thanks for the contribution. Your commemorative special edition of Reader Friday posts (with your name stamped in gold) will be in the return mail.
I like Fridays to be lightweight also. Asking a question and getting feedback and comments from all on interesting topics are a great way to wind up a busy week.
Thanks for asking.
Check’s in the mail . . . 🙂
Thanks, Deb. Your comment recently about an article on adapting JSB’s approach to writing fiction – https://killzoneblog.com/2022/08/how-to-form-your-bestseller-in-10-days.html – to writing nonfiction was one of the comments that made me think of surveying readers for Reader Friday. Let me know if you want me to send a note to JSB.
And thanks for your tax deductible contribution. You will be listed with the special donors.
Have a good one.
Yes, please send a note to the Master for me. 🥳🥳
Already done.
Reader Friday allows those who don’t comment on weightier subject a chance to say something. That’s a good thing.
Thanks, Marilynn. I agree.
And a note: I mentioned your request for a post on “the villain’s journey” to Debbie Burke. I think she’s hard at work writing that one.
Thanks for your contributions to the discussion.
Liking the love fest for Reader Friday!
Thanks, Jim. Me, too. I was hoping we might get some suggestions for topics for you, Sue, and me (for Fridays), but it appears everyone is happy with the status quo.
Please see my comment on Deb’s post above. She’s asking for a post on nonfiction, adapted from your “Bestseller in10 Days” post from a couple weeks ago.
I think Reader Friday sucks.*
*Actually, it’s one of my favorite features of TKZ, but someone had to say something negative.
Right, John. If it’s about fiction (or is that “if it is fiction”?), there must be conflict. Right? Thanks for stirring things up. Without dissention, discussions become boring. Glad we can count on you to keep things interesting.
The first Reader Friday:
https://killzoneblog.com/2012/07/reader-friday-desks-of-tkz.html
See my comment below.
More recipes! We must have more recipes!
Just kidding. It’s all good to me.
Thanks, Robert. Great idea. If we had more recipes, I think my wife would read the blog more regularly. But, I know nothing about cooking and baking. Let’s see, Kris gave us a great chicken recipe a year our so ago. Terry, I believe, includes recipes in her newsletter. Who else has recipes to share? Maybe that would be a good topic for Reader Friday on 9/16. “Cooking up a story” or “Writer’s Potluck” That will be our homework – finding a recipe to share.
Thanks for stirring things up a bit.
My fave recipe?
Get into Jeep, drive 2 miles to local eatery, buy food, return home, and enjoy!
(Follow me for more recipes.)
Deb, that sounds like my kind of recipe. Do you think that our recipes are similar because we both worked long hours in a demanding service industry? That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
I’m doing well to know where the utensils go after being dried.
By Jove, I think you nailed it, Mr. Hooley!
🤡
Don’t trust the cookbook from the Whistle Stop Cafe.
Hi, Cynthia
I’m not sure about the cookbook, but I think you’re probably okay with the menu, as long as you don’t order ribs.
Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks, Jim, for that interesting peek into the past. I can see that the discussion back then was a little more lively than what we’re doing now. We need to up our game. Thank goodness we have Gilstrap around to stir things up.