As a matter of fact, as WordCount heads into its fifth year, I’ve noticed a uptick in guest posting requests, some from writers I know, others from total strangers. In the past week alone I’ve probably received no fewer than four.

Writing a guest post for WordCount is a smart move if you have a book, ebook or other project about to debut that you’d like to promote, or if you’d just like to gain some more exposure for your own blog. As of this month, WordCount has more than 500 subscribers who will automatically see your guest post. In addition, I share links to everything that appears on WordCount with my Twitter followers, who now number close to 5,000.

Until now, I’ve handled guest requests on a case by case basis. Then it dawned on me that I was sharing the same information over and over again, which meant that it was high time to publish official guidelines for anyone interested in writing a guest post for this blog. This way, the next time someone inquires, I can direct them to this post, which I’ll also make a spot for somewhere on the main nav bar so it’s super easy to find.

Got an idea that you think would make a good guest post for WordCount? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Study the blog. WordCount covers writing, blogging, running a freelance business, and the media industry. Every post relates to one of those subjects in some way. If you’re not sure whether I’ve covered something before, use the search box in the far right-hand column (under the BlogHer ad) to look up a keyword related to the subject.

2. Contact me. Save yourself some time contacting me before you write a post. I’d hate for you to go to the trouble of writing something that I’ve already covered, or am planning to write about in the near future. You can reach me at wordcountfreelance@gmail.com.

3. Keep it simple. When you’re pitching, put “Guest Post” in the email subject line. In the message, explain your guest post idea in a sentence or two. That’s all I need to decide whether the idea’s a good fit. If I need more information I’ll ask for it. Also, give me an idea of how quickly you could submit a post.

4. Write the post. The best posts are 400 to 600 words long, 700 words if you really have a lot to say. Include a few relevant links. Submit it with a suggested title of no more than 60 characters and a suggested meta-description of no more than 160 characters (lengths are for SEO purposes). Use Word or your preferred writing program and include links as hypertext.

5. Include a bio. Describe yourself in a sentence or two. Add links to your website, blog and profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Tumblr – whatever is appropriate.

6. Submit art. Send a head shot of yourself. If you’re writing a guest post to promote a book, e-book, newsletter, lecture, or some other writing project, send a high-res digital image of the book jacket, or if it’s a blog or website, a screen shot.

 7. Be OK with being edited. As WordCount’s editor in chief, I reserve the write to edit guest posts to conform to the blog’s style. If I make changes, I’ll send the post back to you for a final read through before it runs.

8. Promote it.  Once the post is finished, I’ll finalize the date it will run and let you know. Once it’s live, I’ll share a link with you, and share it on my social networks.

Depending on my schedule and what else I’ve got lined up, your guest post could appear on WordCount within a week or two of being submitted.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

The 2011 WordCount Blogathon starts in 2 days and the 2011 American Society of Journalists and Authors Writer’s annual conference starts today and I’ve been working hard getting ready for both.

I’m using this week’s recommended reading to showcase a couple guest posts I wrote this week on two other writing blogs in honor of both occasions.

I’m  sharing the opening paragraphs of each – click through on the titles to reach the entire posts. And if you’re coming to ASJA please find me and say hi. Enjoy!

10 Reasons for Writers to Blog Daily, at Susan Johnston’s blog, The Urban Muse:

If you work full-time as a freelance writer, it can be brutal to juggle paid assignments along with maintaining a personal blog. If your blog isn’t a money maker, it’s easy to let a couple days – or weeks or months – slip by without adding new material. After all, why put the effort into something that’s not paying the bills when you could spend time working on something that does? But there are plenty of reasons to post regularly, especially if you have any desire to turn what started as a hobby into paid work.

An Editor Reveals 7 Secrets Every Writer Needs to Know, at Carol Tice’s blog, Make a Living Writing:

There’s something about editors that writers don’t get: They’re not the know-it-all, don’t-have-time-for-you, I’ll rewrite-this-because-I-can people you think they are. When it comes to editors, it’s easy to default to that kind of attitude if you’ve been on the receiving end of too many rejection letters or rewrites.

But if you can see past the “Thanks but no thanks” emails and the sometimes off-putting behavior, you’ll realize it’s not always about you. You’ll discover editors – most of them anyway – are just trying to get their jobs done and looking for people who can help them do that. You could be one of them.

Many editors work as writers before trading places, and a lot still do both. I fall into that category. Since late 2009, I’ve worked as the freelance editor of a finance website, where I set the editorial calendar and manage about 10 freelance writers, and also as a writer and blogger for a handful of business and consumer publications. Based on my experience on the other side of the desk, here are some secrets about editors you need to know:

Around Portland and the state, hyperlocal news sites, blogs, and other fledgling news efforts are popping up to take over where traditional media outlets have left off.

That’s the message that came through from journalists – including me – who discussed about the local media scene on this morning’s installment, Rebirth of Local Journalism, on Think Outloud, Oregon Public Broadcasting’s morning public affairs show.

In case you missed it, here’s a stream of the complete, 60 minute broadcast. Yours truly comes on at about minute 37 (give or take a minute or two).

The show, called “The Rebirth of Local Journalism,” airs live tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m.

I’ll be one of the guests on the show, along with several other Portland and Oregon journalists who’ve made it their business to keep tabs on the local media scene.

The WeMaketheMedia. com conference, which takes place at UO’s Turnbull Center in downtown Portland on Saturday, is looking at what it would take to start a non-profit investigative journalism initiative in the area. Even if you can’t attend, you can get a taste of what they’ll be discussing by reading these working papers the group’s organizers have put together in advance of the event.

If you miss the OPB live broadcast, you can catch a podcast of the segment after it airs. Once a link’s available I’ll include it here.