I find myself agreeing with Akacra (who I note has posted many a thoughtful comment).

However, as someone interested in professional writing, there is a middle way. Close editorial control of published “guest” articles can enrich a blog. One has to weigh-up whether or not one has the literary acumen (and time) to carefully vet guest contributions. (In fact, all sites and publications vet their content. The ones that tend to survive are devoted to quality and building a regular readership).

Guest contributors must explicitly agree to publication before an article is posted, because the central lesson one learns as a writer is that worldwide publication can rock many a boat. A contributor should also agree that the site owner retains editorial control.

If you work with someone closely, know him or her well, and could trust them with your life savings – why not publish an article that’s inline with the sites aims and purpose? (Just remember you may have to defend what they wrote later!)

Kind Regards, NB

I’m very sorry to hear about your friend, but welcome back anyway Dane.

I haven’t been here in a while. Anyway, I don’t believe that you should have guest posters in a blog. A blog is basically a diary, which for the purposes of communication, is open to interpretation and comment online.

To allow others to make entries to your blog would be an unnecessary step, as we can all comment freely in the comments area.

But, yes, sorry for my absence. I found a friend has cancer, and that changed my priorities greatly.

I’m flattered that you might think of me writing for you, and I’ll admit I’m tempted, but I seriously don’t have the time right now. I have a lot of irons in the fire with my own affairs right now, and just can’t take the time to formulate substantial, coherent blogs about worldly issues. I will certainly contribute comments whenever I am available, as I couldn’t stay away from such a charmer, but not for now. I’m sure if you decide to allow guest bloggers, you’ll pick some very well read, and highly eloquent writers to cover a vast array of topics. I look forward to continuing my patronage!

You’re such a generous lady. However, plz try to maintain the purity of your viewpoint. Plz ensure that those guests are real ones but not the fraudulents.

Both of these sites started as individual blogs like yours, but soon became innundated with guest columnists, and then in the case of Dailykos, became the Democratic Party’s unofficial sounding board.

I sense that you are starting to find your voice in the blogosphere, and that there is no sense in allowing it to be possibly drowned in the cacophany of guest authors. Especially so soon after finding a resonant cord with so many of your commenters.