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I spent part of Christmas Eve trying to explain to my dad what a blog is.
I should have known it would be difficult, like the time I tried to show my mom how a fax machine worked. (I don’t blame her. Did any of us really understand that one?)
“But how do the words go through the phone line like that?” she asked.
I should have known that it’s impossible to explain my life’s work to someone who calls voice mail my answering service.
“I tried to call you yesterday, but I just got your answering service,” she said.
On Christmas Eve, after a couple of false starts, I told my dad, “Well, see, a blog comes through the computer. People subscribe to it—you know, kind of like your newspaper?
“You write stuff to help them solve their problems. They see how much you know and they start feeling like they can trust you. And some of them will become your clients.”
He squinted. “O-o-oh.”
I could tell he didn’t have a clue.
But four bright and accomplished people do know what a blog is. They recently got together with Write to Done, the amazing website for writers, and chose what they thought were this year’s Top Ten Blogs for Writers.
I was glad I was sitting down when I read this year’s winners’ list because my name was on it!
Thanks to the judges, whose daunting task was to narrow down 518 nominations to 20 finalists, to just 10 winners. What hard work that must have been!:
• Leo Babauta, creator of the blogs Zen Habits and mnmlist.com, author of Focus and co-creator of the top writers’ resource site, Write to Done.
• Brian Clark, creator of Copyblogger and co-founder of Teaching Sells and Third Tribe.
• Deb Ng, founder and former owner of Freelance Writing Jobs, owner of the blog Kommein and Conference Director for the BlogWorld and New Media Expo.
• Michael Stelzner, author of Writing White Papers and founder of Social Media Examiner.
And thanks to my readers, who left such encouraging words of support on the contest website. You are the best!
Whether you have that next blockbuster fiction book in your head or 2011 is the year you’ll finally write that how-to book to help your clients, there is something on this list for you.
As Mary Jaksch, Chief Editor of Write to Done, says, “There’s some serious gold here, folks!”
Top 10 Blogs for Writers 2010/2011
1. StoryFix- Bestselling author Larry Brooks helps budding novelists break down the storytelling process, from concept to character to sequence and theme.
2. Men with Pens- This Canadian blogging team of copywriters and web designers is a leading resource for writers, creative professionals, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
3. Make a Living Writing- Carol Tice is a blogger who is passionate about helping freelance writers earn more from their work.
4. Cat’s Eye Writer- Hey, that’s me. (Blush.)
5. The Renegade Writer- Linda Formichelli writes about developing a writing style that works for you, overcoming freelancing fear, getting motivated and earning money.
6. Writer Unboxed- Aspiring novelists Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton blog about “unboxing” genre fiction writing by discussing craft and interviewing successful authors.
7. Word Play- Novelist K.M. Weiland blogs to help writers become authors.
8. The Creative Penn- Author, speaker and consultant Joanna Penn shares her knowledge about writing and self-publishing with aspiring authors.
9. Victoria Mixon- Professional writer and editor Victoria Mixon blogs with spot-on advice to aspiring authors.
10. Courage to Create- On his blog, Ollin Morales chronicles his journey as he writes his first novel.
And if you’ve been wondering how to find the time to write, this post is for you.
Happy holidays to you, my dear readers, and here’s to the most awesome year of writing and blogging yet.
Have you thought about writing a book? If you’re undecided, what’s holding you back?
About the author
- More at
Judy, congratulations! I wrote an enthusiastic comment for this contest, so I’m delighted to hear how it came out and to know the judges had their heads screwed on right.
What stops me from writing my next book? Time and money. My writing goes into curriculum for my teaching business and my private practice takes a lot of time… and then there’s my husband’s business that needs my support too. Maybe 2011 will see a change in that. I hope so since that next book is partly written already.
Hope you have a dynamite new year!
Miriam,
Thanks for the congrats—and for the time you took to write such a nice comment on the contest site.
I hear you. Time and money are huge issues. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately, at least about the time issue. I know in my personal life, I could parcel out my time more efficiently. For example, I used to watch mindless sitcoms, reruns even!, for an hour each night. We pulled the plug on cable and now I seem to have even more extra time than that. I read at least a couple of hours a night. If I cut that down by one hour, look! I suddenly have two hours to work with!
I’m writing a post on exactly this subject—time and goals—on For Bloggers, By Bloggers next Tuesday. Would love to hear readers’ thoughts on it. : )
Hi Judy,
Congratulations on having Cat’s Eye Writer receive the much deserved honor of being one of Write to Done’s Top Ten Blogs for Writers in 2010. Do you fall asleep to the tune of “top ten in 10″?
My blog, Mid-Prairie High School and Park College 1960-1965, IS my book, being written one day at a time. I don’t read ahead in the diary I am posting from so that I can anticipate reading and transcribing the next day’s post.
I can identify with your dad’s puzzlement about what a blog is and your mom referring to your voice mail as your answering service. I still remember our youngest daughter laughing over my question to her about her use of the “w” “w” “w”.
Barbara McDowell Whitt recently posted..Monday- December 26- 1960
Barbara,
Thanks for the kind words about my award. I still can’t quite believe I won it!
What an interesting concept and premise for a book. I admire your tenacity and the commitment to write consistently, every day. When we look at a book that way, it becomes so much more do-able.
Yes, certain terms we just assume everyone knows what they are. Your example of www is perfect. And so true that a child would be able to clear up the confusion for us. My mom would also snicker at the “dot com” at the end of TV commercials. She had no idea what it meant. : )
Best of luck with that book.
Congratulations, Judy, on being selected for the top ten blogs on writing.
I don’t currently own a TV but I think another problem that eats away one’s time is the internet in general. I find that by giving myself a prearranged amount of “play time” with my Flickr account or email, I have more time to write. Oops–time for me to start writing.
Rob,
Thanks for the message of congrats. You know, on your comment about the internet? I believe it has become the new TV in terms of being a time waster!
Only it’s worse for me. TV can be repetitive, boring, stupid. But the internet? I can choose where to go and I can satisfy my insatiable curiosity and need for more information. I have wasted a lot of time clicking that “next link.” : )
May you have the best writing year ever, Rob.
Congrats. I’m honored to share the award with you!
K.M.,
Thanks. Looking forward to learning more about you and your blog. And likewise. Honored to be on this list with you. Cheers!
Congrats to you — and I’m thrilled to be on the list too! Looking forward to reading more of your blog.
Linda Formichelli recently posted..13 Random Tips from 13 Years of Freelancing
Linda,
Honored you stopped by my blog. Looking forward to reading your posts, too!
That’s great news! It’s always nice to see one’s work appreciated by other peers.
One of my favorite articles from you is – “5 Twitter Teasers…”. I’m always looking for ways to improve my Twitter click throughs.
Karl,
I know. What can be better than being recognized by your peers? : )
Glad you found the 5 Twitter Teasers post helpful. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Congratulations, Judy! I’ve been enjoying your writing for years, and it’s about time the world stood up and took notice.
You Rock!
Tshombe recently posted..What a For-Sale Sign teaches about embracing change
Tshombe,
Your friendship and support means so much to me. Thanks. : )
Thanks for the mention! Congratulations again, to you my fellow winner!
Glad to give you some press that you so richly deserve. And congrats to YOU!
Congratulations on being on the list! There are some great names on there and you should be proud of being on there!
In answer to the title of your blog, yes, great plans for book production for 2011, and the time to write!
Peace, light and Love,
Nic
Nic,
Thanks for the congrats. For sure, I am honored and humbled to have made this list.
Good for you for deciding to make 2011 the year for your book! It’s very cool to think of all these people toiling away on their books at the same time I am. I wrote a post recently on For Bloggers, By Bloggers about making time to write. You might find it helpful:
http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/will-you-find-time-to-blog-in-2011-in-unexpected-places/
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so happy for you and you totally deserve the honour of being listed in the top ten (and with such good company.)
I loved your stories about your parents. My sister emailed my dad some pictures of her children a few years ago. He deleted them immediately and called me in a panic…totally convinced that she’d sent him a virus. (He’d never seen an attachment before.)
Patty K recently posted..Fun and games
Patty,
Thanks! Yes, I am indeed in good company. : )
It can be tough explaining to non-tech parents what we do. When I was a teacher, they got that. But a writer and blogger? Not so much. Your story about the photos in attachments is hilarious. : )
I read a few of these already and well, thanks for suggesting some new ones to add to the feedreader!
This year’s going to bring lots more by way of writing projects (ebooks and more). Lots of ideas that’s for sure and one of my guiding words for the new year is: Create.
Ricardo,
So this is a writing year for many of us. How cool! I love that word CREATE. : )
Judy – I am thrilled that you are on this list for all the world to appreciate and learn from. I have certainly benefited and learned from reading your blog.
I have begun exploring these other blogs, and am excited to do more. It really becomes fuel for my own creative process.
The discipline of writing a regular blog has been wonderful. Your blog and the other 9 on the list will give me good grist for the mill as I hone my topics and process for 2011!
Barbara Breckenfeld recently posted..December reflections – looking back at 2010
Thank you, Barbara. Especially nice words from such a trusted colleague.
I think you are onto something with your comment about self-discipline. Blogging regularly will do that and I think it spills over into other area of your business (and life). Have enjoyed working with you on our mutual blog improvement goals these last couple of months.
Thank you Thank you Thank you! Yes, 2011 is my year to write my book. It is on the tip of my tongue and now I am taking it to paper.
There is some serious gold in that list you offered. And I know that with you as a resource…I am off to a great start all ready!
Congratulations also on being named one of the Top 10 blogs for writers too. You are now sharing with a bigger audience and I know that you will serve them all well.
Tammy Redmon recently posted..Blessings and Musings from 2010
Tammy,
We will travel this road together this year. (loving that. ) : )
Hi Judy, I only just discovered your site and love it. Talking of starting your book in 2011, everyone might like to know about MAD this Saturday (Massive Action Day). Here’s a link: http://www.writingbreakthroughstrategy.com/MAD/. The idea is to support people who want to kickstart their writing projects. One day of concentrated action, in which we all support each other. I’ve started mine. I did 50,000 words for Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). I expect you know about that? MAD is like a mini-nanowrimo. You’ll set your own goal and check in every 90 minutes to say how you’re getting on. Sounds great. And it’s free.