It is a sure sign that a girl has reached the end of her tether when she signs up for a dating site. Yes, this is me admitting that I have signed up for a dating site. Looking at it one way, the internet has played a significant role in most aspects of my life so far, why not this one as well?
And yes, to reassure everyone, I will be careful.
Now, the tricky bit.
The photo, oh dear and fluffy lord, the photo! Now, my photostream to the contrary, I actually hate having my picture taken and rarely feel that photo captures me. My favourite picture is still the tea one which graces this blog and is my avatar all round the web. I like it for several reasons, not least because 1) it shows me drinking tea, which is kind of my default position and 2) the mug hides my face (also something of a default - if I can hide behind a scarf or something, I will!) But is it really a good shot to have on a dating site?
And then there is the blurb profile. You’d think I would be good at writing a brief bit about me, selling myself, captivating people. I am not. I stink at it, not least because I have never been concise in my life! My style is rambling, intimate, relying on twists of language to snag attention and promote humour.
You’ve got to describe yourself and your perfect match in 200 to 4000 words, and give yourself a “headline” of no more than 140 words. Reading their guidance isn’t much help. It just confuses me and makes it even harder to start!
- DO make it work with your username and photo
- DO make those first few words count
- DO show your personality—not tell
- DO grab attention
- DO say who you’re looking for
- DO invite a response
- DON’T use clichés
- Start off with a bang
- Be specific
- What makes you tick?
- Give people a reason to email you
- Keep your eye on the target
- Tease a little
*ARG!*
*Hides under the covers with her cup of tea*
Because on top of actually having to write the damned thing, there’s then the pressure of waiting for it to work its magic. What if no one likes me? What if no one wants to date me?
*sob*
Then I realised, I have been writing Bright Meadow for years now, and you lot have always been with me, reading and commenting as the mood takes you. I have got to know some of you really well, whilst others I just get an inkling of your presence from stray comments and reader-stats. I love you all. There has to be something about my words and personality that keeps you coming back, so who better to help me write this profile?
I am being stone-cold serious about this: write me a profile. Make it funny. Make it serious. I don’t care. Add them to this post in comments, or, if you’re feeling shy, email them to cas.brightmeadow[@]gmail.com
The best one will get some small token of my estimation (I’m thinking along the lines of iTunes vouchers, or a Flickr pro account or something comparable) and, who knows, will be guest of honour at my not-wedding to the White Knight your profile enchanted 
I am intrigued as to what y’all come up with. How much of me has come across in this blog over the years…
Welcome to Bright Meadow. My name is Cas and I try to post here every day during the week. I give myself a break on Saturdays and Sundays because I'm also trying to write a book along with hold down a full time job, blog and have something approaching a social life! Check out my