About TLL/FAQ
TLL’s Mission
The blog has contributors from around the world. Some of our authors are located in China, the UK, and Germany just to name a few. We hope to prove that no matter what your color, race, or sexuality we are all human before we are anything else. TLL gives lesbians a chance to read about the lives of other lesbians, and it gives heterosexuals a peek into the reality of our lives, opinions, and every day concerns.
The TLL writers continually focus on a wide variety of topics. They cover small every day events as well as larger issues and how they effect being a lesbian in today’s society. Each month the authors will tackle one to three topics posted by the blogs editor. They can chose to post about one or all of the topics. TLL also encourages blog authors to share posts from their own personal blogs. This gives them a chance to promote their blog and not over extend their writing duties. We always accept topic suggestions so if you have one please feel free to send it my way.
The Lesbian Lifestyle’s goal is to become the largest lesbian storyteller blog on the Internet. We have been around since 2004, we have over 150 registered authors, and over 500 posts. We are well on our way to reaching that goal and would love for you to come along for the ride.
Whether you’re feeling happy, confused, or indifferent you’re bound to find a little bit of every emotion here. As editor of this blog I have worked hard to make TLL a place where you can feel at home. focusing on making it a blog where you can read posts that let you know you’re not alone.
Interested in becoming a TLL Author? Find more information about becoming one here.
We would love it if you add our logo to your blog and link it back to http://thelesbianlifestyle.com!!!
Who Runs The Lesbian Lifestyle Blog?
Well that’s a fantastic question now isn’t it! My name is Kelly Leszczynski and I am the Managing Editor of The Lesbian Lifestyle Blog. I like to stay behind the scenes for the most part, but I post under the screen name Goldstardyke on occasion. I’ve been blogging since 2003 in various forms. I started TLL as a way to bring women together and to share our stories as women who identify as lesbian.
TLL does a great job of running itself. With over 100 contributing authors I pretty much just have to sit back and maintain things to make sure every thing continues to look pretty and neat. I honestly couldn’t ask for an easier job. I have been running TLL since 2004 and have met several wonderful women over the past few years because of this blog.
In the real world I’m a Project Manager for an IT company. I’m 30, single, love to write, and have a personal blog called Brain Clouds. If you ever have any questions or concerns about TLL please feel free to drop me a line. I try my best to get back to all emails ASAP.
TLL’s FAQ
1. Why is this blog called The Lesbian “Lifestyle.”? Being a lesbian is not a choice nor is it a lifestyle!
I’ve gotten some flack over the years for the title of this blog. I suppose when I chose the word “Lifestyle” I was thinking about your life stories, the lives we lead, and the mannerisms in which we lead them. What I can tell you I wasn’t doing was labeling homosexuality as a lifestyle choice. I don’t feel that way, nor do I believe that one’s sexuality is in anyway a choice.
2. What types of posts are you looking for on TLL?
TLL is looking for entries written in a story/essay format.
A bad example of a post would be. “Today I woke up and my girlfriend was hogging the bed. Then I ate breakfast, went to work, and had to deal with a boss who hates gays.”
We are looking for more essay style posts. Mostly we are looking for snip-its from your life, in your city, with your friends and families. We want the readers of TLL to be able to relate to your posts and know that they are not alone. We want to focus on issues that are “lesbian only” as well as broader issues that effect women from all over the world.
An acceptable post would be one that reads like a story or an autobiography. TLL is looking for description and true emotion within all posts. The best advise I can give you is to tell your stories as vividly and honestly as you possibly can. First person, third person, it doesn’t matter. Write what comes natural to you when describing moments from your life.
3. How frequently will blog authors be expected to post?
We realize that not every day contains something significant to write about. As a matter of fact those lazy days where nothing much happens are the best! But if something does happen that you feel that you would like to share, and that others would benefit from reading, please post. We will not put a minimum or maximum number to author posts at this time.
4. Do the authors have to be out?
Sure don’t! After all, I’m sure there will be many visitors that aren’t out either. They will learn from other’s stories. Our stance on sexual identity is this… If you have loved a women and you have a story about it, than we would love to read it. Out, in, semi-out, no matter where you are in the stages of finding out who you are you are accepted at TLL.
5. Are writers allowed to be anonymous (especially if they’re not out)?
You can add as much or as little information to your account as you would like.
6. Is there an age requirement?
No. I can remember when I was 14 and had no one to talk to about my sexuality. I wish they had something like this then. All ages welcome.
7. Is there a post format?
All posts should have a title. All posts should be creatively written. By creative I mean think different. Try to come up with new ways to tell stories that have already been told. You should also chose a category/s for your post as well as using your personal avatar or the TLL Default avatar.
8. I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
To reset your password go to the TLL homepage and click on REGISTER. It’s located on the upper right hand corner of the page. At the bottom of that page click on LOST YOUR PASSWORD?. It will then ask for your user name and or the email address you used to register as an author on TLL. Enter one of the two and then click GET NEW PASSWORD.
Wordpress will then email you a temporary password to log in with. You can change the temporary password by logging on to TLL with the temporary password. From the word press dashboard click on PROFILE, which is located at the top right hand side of the screen. Scroll all the way down to New Password: and fill in the open fields to make the change.
9. How do I get one of those cute little avatars next to my posts?
It’s easy! Just send me a pic you would like to use and I will add it to the author file. Make sure the pic you chose looks good at 80×80 pixels. Then when you submit a post just make sure to chose your avatar which will be listed under your user name.
10. How do I get a cute little avatar when I post a comment?
That ones just as easy. Go to the Gravatar website, register, and poof you have a Gravatar all your own that will show up when you leave a comment using the email you signed up to Gravatar with.
11. Why does the Editor review my post before it’s published?
There are a few reasons for this. When I review the posts I give them a quick spell check so we needn’t have the grammar police knocking on our door. I will also add categories to your post, if you haven’t already, to help out the “similar post” feature we are now using. Also, and most importantly, anyone can register to post on TLL which has it’s good and bad points. To avoid any hate posts coming through I have opted to take a sneak peek at all the posts before they go live.
12. Why must you have ads on TLL?
It helps pay the hosting bill. It also helped pay for the new TLL template that launched in April of 2008.
