Fast Fiction

1. I sympathize with you, but it’s Google’s service and they can run out however works best for them. I’m wondering if your distinct publisher was an attempt to circumvent their earlier issue, but that’s just my simple curiosity.

   I think their problem may be that if they admit you, they’ve opened the doors to millions of other, similar sites and including them all might dilute the effectiveness of their service.

   Even though your site is very active, including the comments as proof of multiple authors may be stretching things a bit!

   Maybe someday you’ll get recognized by them, but to be fair, while your reviews are new to you, the products themselves aren’t always new!

   Comment by Russ on 4/15/10 at 10:44 am

    

2. Russ - I’m not sure what you’re saying. I got a “publisher” because I was taking advertising and Manny provides a layer of insulation from me editorially. I don’t talk directly to the advertisers, he does and manages the invoicing. (Manny also takes photos while we’re at trade shows, which are published on the blog, so he does provide content - though none of the text.) I never said that comments meant that there were multiple authors.

   Their policies are not applied consistently, they treat other product reviews differently. Sites written by one person that cover the iPad (and have never actually touched an iPad, but instead use promo images and CC licensed ones) are already in the Google News system. Sites with no actual editorial oversight like Associated Content (which requires only registration and agreement to terms & conditions) are included.

   What’s the difference between this:
   http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_14881984?nclick_check=1

   And this:
   http://www.candyblog.net/blog/item/qbel_double_dark

   I agree that not all reviews are for new products. They were at one time, but I now review 5 times a week and there simply aren’t that many new products to feed the machine. But again, reviews included on Google News are not always for “new” things - such as hotels, restaurants, long-running Broadway shows, etc. I review things that are available.

   Yes, it’s Google’s service. They never said don’t apply again ... I’m following their rules. (6 applications in 4 years isn’t exactly harassing.) Is there any reason why I shouldn’t try to be included?

   Comment by Cybele on 4/15/10 at 12:32 pm

    

3. There’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t keep trying to be included. Keep it up!

   I was just grasping at straws when I talked about comments, thinking maybe you used that as an argument to convince them of multiple voices being included on CB.

   Thx for clearing up the publisher question. Like I said, it was just something I was curious about. My other guess was something having to do with some obscure (to me) tax advantage or something.

   Kathie Jenkins’ blog differs from yours in what Google must believe is one important respect: it’s hosted by a newspaper and isn’t a standalone site. That’s my guess, anyway.

   I’m on your side here, btw. I’m just trying to understand their arguments for denying you and arguing their position. They’ve already crossed the line with reviews from what you’ve said, so maybe that’s because the products are new(ish), the restaurants have added a menu item or changed somehow, or something like that. I guess it all depends on what you call “news.” Associated Content, from your description, meets their definition of an organization, so I guess that’s why they give it a pass. Their position and rules from the quotes you pasted, make sense to me.

   I agree it’s not all black and white (unlike some dogs I could mention) and I hope there’s enough wiggle room for them to let you in.

   Comment by Russ on 4/15/10 at 2:08 pm

    

4. Stop trying to ruin Google news! Your site is to news as Mcdonald’s french fries are to health food. Damn you must be annoying those poor people at Google!

   Comment by anon on 6/09/10 at 7:52 pm

    

5. just a give informative post. informative post is a news.

   Comment by utari on 7/11/10 at 7:46 pm

    

6. Does Google include music/movie/theatre reviews on sites maintained by individuals in Google news? Does Google include every 12-year-old saying “I love Twilight” in Google news? Your site is fun but completely inappropriate for Google news.

   Comment by alison on 8/14/10 at 8:06 pm

    

7. maybe google just thinks you are boring….because you are….which is why your “wonderful plays & novels” collect dust, not fans.

   Comment by pips on 11/07/10 at 11:26 am

    

8. pips - think your reading comprehension skills need improvement. The point is that Google is inconsistent in its application of its own guidelines.

   As for the personal critique of my other works, well, yeah, I’ve largely abandoned my work as a playwright though my publications still seem to be selling consistently. The past seven novels haven’t been read by other people, I can’t consider that a rejection since I’ve never submitted them or even revised them.

   (For the record, pips arrived at typetive.com & candyblog.net via the search strings “cybele may asshole” and “candyblog sucks”. I’m glad pips found what he/she was looking for.)

   Comment by Cybele on 11/07/10 at 11:51 am

    

9. Cybele, it’s good to see you don’t seem to take people like pips with more than a grain of confectioners sugar. What a rampant flood of ignorance! BTW, love the candy blog

   Comment by ElctrcRngr on 12/07/14 at 4:43 pm

    

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