Got questions for Little Bobby? Send them to dearlittlebobby@pyragraph.com.

Dear Little Bobby,

Hey there, I am an interior designer from Texas and I am trying to get more into online writing. I have attached a link to my blog where I have a few articles up. I was hoping that I could do some guest writing for Pyragraph to get more established as a writer. Any thoughts on how to do this? Thank you for your time!

—Hopeful Writer

Dear Hopeful Writer,

Yes I do have thoughts on how to write for Pyragraph, and for writing online in general. To start with, I appreciate your question, but it is odd that you sent your query to me at “Dear Little Bobby.” On every page of Pyragraph you’ll find a link at the top and bottom of the page titled WRITE FOR US and it includes all of the info you need, including detailed guidelines, Pyragraph’s editorial mission, content scope, target word counts, and more. Most importantly, it explains that prospective writers should send a query and writing samples.

As with just about any opportunity in life, following the instructions is an important first step, and you pretty much missed the mark here.

There’s a lot to be said for being able to follow instructions.

It is highly unlikely that my editor is going to visit your blog much less read the articles that you have there. [Ed. note: We do usually take at least a quick look.] I know she loves her job, but she gets plenty of time to stare at computer screens as it is. [Ed. note: Very true, Bobby.]

Yes, there are several well-known examples of unsolicited scripts being turned into movies, and yes, a certain few Star Trek films were produced based on fan-submitted scripts—but these are by far the exceptions to the rule. Your approach reminds me of the days of Myspace. I remember back when a million different emo bands would send me messages asking me, “Listen to our new track!” I NEVER went to their profile. Nor did I ever listen to any of their stuff, because, frankly I was busy trying to meet girls and promoting my own band…to each his own.

So, Hopeful Writer, I hope I have not come off as too snarky. The truth is, there’s a lot to be said for being able to follow instructions even though we are artists, writers, musicians, etc., who are specifically drawn to creative work which is about NOT following the rules. I do not know any musicians who began playing because they liked following directions. Studying art is about learning systems, but participating in truly creative work is about going beyond those systems; learning the rules in order to break them.

Aside from that dear Writer, keep writing what you love to write about THEN go beyond that. Keep studying interior design and what it means to you and others. Keep exploring it and writing about it, and keep evolving. Think of ways to keep writing. You could write about topics that perhaps you have avoided. Do it for the challenge. Use a different medium. Do it for the experience. I did most of my earliest writings on a website that I do not use as much anymore because of the continuing changes around me. Go with those changes. In fact, aim directly at them.

—Little Bobby Tucker
“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look?” —The Beatles “Paperback Writer” 1966