Each week I send out an update to a small but ever-growing email list. Because this week’s email discussed something I think all readers should know about, I decided to feature a copy on the site as well. Nothing is CHANGING, but I did want to bring to everyone’s attention something I want to start emphasizing more on the blog. Let me know what you think!

Lately I have had several readers ask me about guest posting. Not that long ago, I still left guest posting up as an option, thinking maybe I could help some people share their voice and ideas and maybe grow my readership a bit. I have since closed the opportunity, and I wanted to explain to you why.

It isn’t because I don’t want to hear what you have to say. Trust me. I actually have a much better idea, something I personally believe is much more beneficial than guest posting on other people’s blogs.

On most blogs, mine included, there are comments sections. And I think we need to use that feature more.

I think many of us get very caught up in writing things simply to make sure our name gets on them. A lot of us are a little obsessive about making sure everything we write has a link back to our personal website. I think this misses the point entirely.

It is the ideas we have to spread that should be the focus. Not trying to post on every single blog possible.

So I want us to continue to share our ideas with one another. But I want to do it differently. A lot of other blogs offer guest posting – I even have articles periodically featured on some of them. Novelty Revisions has never been, and shouldn’t have to be, like other blogs, though. I have always wanted this blog’s community to be its foundation. As readership grows – a lot more quickly than I expect, which sometimes freaks me out in a good way – this becomes more and more of a reality. Many of you are commenting almost daily, which has never happened before. I want THAT to be our focal point. I want anyone and everyone to be able to share their thoughts and add to the ideas I’ve already presented, directly in the comments of those posts.

Why? Because it’s quick. It’s easy. Once I approve your first comment, you don’t have to wait for me to screen it. There are no emails back and forth, no topics that need approving. NO EDITING (phew).

Writing guest posts is great. I have nothing against blogs who offer guest posting and bios that link back to personal sites. I’m not even completely ruling out guest posting as a possibility at some point in the future. But for now, I want to stick to strengthening our comments section as a collective unit. For both personal and professional reasons. I can respond to comments – I now do so at least once a day. But I don’t have the time or resources to do anything other than that, and I don’t think it’s necessary.

Does this mean you could potentially write 500 words in one comment? Sure, go for it! I’ll still read it. :) I want Novelty’s comments section to be about meeting and interacting with fellow writers; practicing new techniques; sharing tips; asking and answering each others’ questions. Writing is, more often than not, a team effort. Let’s work together as a team to get our ideas and words out there.

As always, be kind to one another. I’m very fortunate to never have to use my mom voice down in those comments. You are all positive, honest and constructive. Your questions are amazing and your gratitude glows. What do you think? Compose your words of wisdom! What you have to say matters to me. I read and respond because I care!

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Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a freelance writer and an eight-time NaNoWriMo winner with work published in Teen Ink, Success Story, Lifehack and USA TODAY College. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.