Reconnect

Sunshine Blogger Nominations: Understanding the Invitation and Connecting with Other Writers

Understand a blogger-to-blogger invitation, check its requests, and decide how you want to participate.

By Mel’s 2nd Act•04 November 2026•3 min read

Two midlife women exchanging writing ideas at a cafe table.

If you begin blogging in your next chapter, an invitation from another writer can feel encouraging and a little puzzling. A Sunshine Blogger nomination may ask you to answer questions and recommend other blogs. Before accepting, read what this particular invitation involves and decide whether it suits the kind of connection you want.

This guide explains how to assess an invitation. It is not an announcement that Mel’s 2nd Act has received a nomination.

Read the invitation in context

Published participant accounts describe a blogger-to-blogger activity involving acknowledgments, questions, and further nominations. In a 2021 post, Learning to FI listed a version involving eleven questions and eleven nominations, then explained that the writer adapted part of it. E. G. Bella’s 2025 account also presents participation as a blogging tag. These are participant examples, not a single authoritative rulebook. See the linked accounts below.

Read the post that names you, check the writer’s usual work, and look at the actual requests. Do not assume that every invitation uses identical rules or that a familiar label verifies an unfamiliar sender.

Separate recognition from credentials

You can appreciate being noticed without describing the invitation as proof of professional expertise. If you mention it publicly, explain what happened in plain terms: another blogger invited you to participate in a question-and-answer exchange. Only make that statement if it is true.

Treat unexpected requests for payment, account access, or private information as separate matters requiring verification. They should not be accepted simply because the message calls itself an award.

Read all the questions before promising a response. You may prefer not to answer questions about family, health, finances, or other people’s lives. A public writing activity does not require a public account of everything personal.

If participating sounds enjoyable, choose a manageable response and explain any changes you make to the format. If it does not fit, a brief thank-you can be enough. Avoid turning an invitation into an obligation for everyone you know.

Before adding a logo or another person’s image, check permission to use it. A link and your own words may be sufficient for the connection you want to make.

Let the conversation continue naturally

Read a piece by the person who contacted you and respond to something specific that interests you. You may find more value in that exchange than in completing a long nomination list.

If you recommend another writer, explain what you appreciate and let them decide whether to participate. If your main challenge is making room to write at all, begin with a sustainable blogging rhythm.