Game 6: #4 Seed Grow Your Writing Business Versus #5 Seed Book Marketing Bestsellers
March 31, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 2 Comments
The Matchup
Both these blogs say they want to help you succeed in the writing business. The #4 and #5 seeds are the closest matchups in the contest — at least on paper. This should be good.
Introductions
Grow Your Writing Business
Grow your Writing Business is the blog of Yvonne Russell, a freelance writer and professional blogger. It is community-oriented, with much of the value coming in the comments. The main topic is freelancing, but the blog approaches many writing topics.
Book Marketing Bestsellers
Book Marketing Bestsellers is run by author and public speaker John Kremer. It is billed as part of a program that he developed to help writers write bestsellers. Mostly, the blog promotes his books, programs and speaking engagements.
Archives
Book Marketing Bestsellers
The BMB blog has been around since the beginning of 2005. Many of the entries are links to other people’s articles or excerpts of their articles, but there is also plenty of original material squeezed in among his plethora of self-promotional posts. It is difficult to find the best through because he is hampered by the Blogspot design flaw of only listing archives by month.
Result: Kremer picks up two points for being around so long.
Grow Your Writing Business
GWYB has many good articles in its archives and they are easy to find because Russell provides multiple archive options. The articles date back to December of 2006. The posting schedule can be a bit slow at times and she often relies on her community to provide relevant information, but the community comes through more often than not.
Result: GYWB shoots the three. It rattles in.
Grow Your Writing Business Jumps out to an early 3-2 lead.
Design
Book Marketing Bestsellers
This is one ugly blog. It is a Blogspot blog too, which is always annoying. Kremer has wallpapered it with the cover to his book and there is no shortage of graphic ads to assault the eyes as you scroll down the page. The blog design is clearly about selling the book, not pleasing the reader.
Result: Airball. No points.
Grow Your Writing Business
There are many good things to say about GYWB’s design. It is a stock theme, but a good one. It doesn’t feel cluttered, especially when you navigate away from the main page. The colors are easy on the eyes, although there could perhaps be a little more contrast. My only real complaint is the graphic she is using in her Writer’s Café posts. It doesn’t fit the rest of the site, and it looks poorly rendered as well.
Result: Two points from outside the paint.
GYWB extends its lead to 5-2. This could get ugly.
Usability and Navigation
Book Marketing Bestsellers
BMB provides an email subscription form and several other feed options. There are lots of other bells and whistles too, although they are interspersed with ads so that it is hard to determine what is valuable and what is not. It would be nice if the options were better organized and if there was a real archives page.
Result: Kremer gets two on a finger roll.
Grow Your Writing Business
This site shines when it comes to usability. GYWB makes it easy to find relevant content. There are tabs that will lead you to recent articles, popular articles, categories and archives. QYWB even has a key articles page, although it could be a little longer. Subscription buttons are prominently displayed as well.
Result: GYWB nails the three-pointer.
Once again, GYWB moves ahead. It is now 8-4.
Purpose
Book Marketing Bestsellers
BMB bills itself as “The Book Promotion Blog!” and it is. The problem is, it seems more about promoting his books than about helping you promote yours. There are some solid nuggets of advice though. “A Brilliant Novel Marketing Idea” gives the details of a clever way that W. Somerset Maugham found to sell his novel back in 1897. That’s the sort of thing I want more of. Kremer does have something to add, when he feels like it.
Result: Kremer sinks a two from the top of the key.
Grow Your Writing Business
The purpose of the blog is right in the title — Grow your Writing Business. It is a fairly general category, which allows Russell to post a lot of different writing-related articles and lead some interesting discussions.
Result: Russell pulls up for a jumper. Two points.
BMB fails to make up any ground. It is now 10-6 in favor of GYWB.
Personality
Book Marketing Bestsellers
When Kremer calms down from the relentless self-promotion and offers his actual opinions, he seems like a decent and helpful guy. Unfortunately, the face he mostly puts on is that of someone trying to sell you something.
Result: Kremer rushes to the basket and sinks a two. Did he charge? Yes, he probably did. But the ref didn’t call it, so two points for Kremer.
Grow Your Writing Business
Russell’s blog is focused on community. She is there to lead a discussion. She shares a piece of herself and then encourages other people to share. It may not be flashy, but it’s a personality you feel very comfortable with.
Result: Russell lays in a smooth two-pointer.
Even with a favorable call from the refs, BMB fails to make up any ground. All GYWB has to do is run out the clock. The score is 12-8. The crowd begins to head for the exits.
Five Most Recent Posts
Grow Your Writing Business
- Weekend Writers Cafe – Who Wants To Write A Book?
- Weekend Writers Cafe – Let’s Share Our Swipe File Idea & Word Sparks & Happy Easter
- A Writer’s Swipe File – Why You Should Have One & Some Links
- Writers Cafe – What Are You Up To Writing Wise Behind The Scenes?
- 10 Writing Hooks To Catch Your Readers Interest From The First Sentence
The last five posts all run along the same general theme. Russell introduces a topic with a few brief statements and then encourages her community to comment. The method works reasonably well. She tends to have 20 or more comments for each topic. The posting frequency isn’t high though. The first of the articles was 20 days ago.
Result: With an assist from her community, Russell sinks a two pointer.
Book Marketing Bestsellers
- The Importance of Meter in Rhyming Books
- John Kremer’s Online Book Marketing Seminar
- Strong Images: Strong Book Covers
- Welcome to the Book Marketing Network
- Book Covers Sell Books
Two of Kremer’s last five articles were purely promotional. I understand the need to sell services for some bloggers, but to me a posting still needs to add value in order to be worthwhile. Kremer also includes two posts on interesting book covers that he thinks will help sales. It is a running theme for his blog, so I will give him credit for those. The best of the articles is his most recent. In it, he answer’s a children’s book writer’s question regarding meter and editing. The post is spot on. Kremer’s posting frequency is slightly low, with the oldest of the five over two week’s old.
Result: Kremer misses two out of three on penalties from the charity stripe. One for taking too long to shoot. One for showboating. Kremer converts the third for a point.
GYWB closes out the game 14-9. The stands have already emptied out.
Post Game Analysis
Grow Your Writing Business jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. This one wasn’t close.
What They Can Work On
Grow Your Writing Business
I would love to see some more expansive posts. It seems as if Russell is relying a little too much on her community, although it is understandable coming off of a recent death in the family. My other suggestion is to spruce up the design a little. With a nicer masthead and a little personalization, she could make the site look professional.
Book Marketing Bestsellers
Many, many people start blogs so that they can promote their services or their books. That’s fine. You have to have at least a little subtlety and modesty though. Kremer has some good things to say but he needs to dial it back several notches. He also needs to get out of the blogging ghetto and find someone to design an attractive blog that can sell his books without making him look like a carnival barker.
Tune in next time when #3 seed All Freelance Writing takes a shot at #6 seed Crime Fiction Dossier.
Game 5: #1 Seed Daily Writing Tips Versus #8 Seed C. Hope Clark
March 30, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 5 Comments
The Matchup
#1 seed Daily Writing Tips takes on #8 seed C. Hope Clark. DWT is a blogging monster, but Clark may be the strongest of the #8 seeds, so don’t count her out yet.
Introductions
Daily Writing Tips
DWT isn’t quite a year old, but they quickly moved to the top of the heap. DWT is a team blog, with several regular writers and plenty of guest posters. This keeps the quantity and the quality of the posts high, though perhaps at a cost to personality.
C. Hope Clark
This is a blog about funding opportunities for writers mixed in with some personal observations. It is a narrow topic, but a valuable one. Clark runs a site called Funds for Writers, which is much more widely read. For some reason she chooses to host this blog off-site in the blogging ghetto, Blogspot. If her blog had been able to make use of her other site’s stronger numbers, she would probably have been a #4 or #3 seed.
Archives
C. Hope Clark
The archives date back to April of 2006. The pace was pretty slow at first but she has picked up speed since the middle of 2007, averaging about three posts a week. The posts are mostly about events or opportunities with deadlines, so they lose value quickly.
Result: Clark picks up a point at the charity stripe.
Daily Writing Tips
The archives date back to May of 2007. Since then there has been a post (as far as I can tell) every day with multiple posts on many of the days. One need only look at their extensive archive page to see that they have kept up a blistering pace. Their posts range from minor usage issues to how-to articles and general tips. Because they have an archive page, you can find all of their articles in one place.
Result: DWT announces its presence with authority, shooting a clean three-pointer.
DWT jumps out to an early 3-1 lead.
Design
C. Hope Clark
For a Blogspot blog, it is relatively attractive. Clark occasionally adds graphics to links, but she keeps them small so that they add to rather than detract from the content. All in all, she’s done her best to make the site attractive.
Result: Clark rattles in a layup. Two points.
Daily Writing Tips
Like many of the major blogs, there is an air of professionalism to their design, but there is also a lot of clutter from the advertising. At some points there are four columns of different items to look at, and that really stretches the limits of what a blog can handle. That said, they do keep things fairly symmetrical so that the eye isn’t too pained looking at the blog.
Result: DWT finger rolls the ball into the basket. Two points.
DWT maintains its lead, 5-3.
Usability and Navigation
C. Hope Clark
Clark falls short on usability. There are very few features. There’s a month by month archive and a tool for emailing a blog entry. These are both standard blogspot features. There is no subscription link or other tools.
Result: Clark shoots an airball. No points.
Daily Writing Tips
The subscription options are right at the top of the page. Popular articles are also featured on every page. There is a useful archives page (Although I would love to see it broken out in topics) that allows people to cruise their old content. Individual posts come complete with a list of related articles. This is a site that makes it easy for the reader to find what they want.
Result: DWT launches another three. Nothing but net.
DWT opens up a commanding 8-3 lead.
Purpose
C. Hope Clark
Purity of purpose is this blog’s strong suit. The posts follow a set pattern and they are all about the same topics: contests, grants and other funding opportunities for writers. It doesn’t get any clearer than that.
Result: Clark launches a three-pointer. Nothing but net!
Daily Writing Tips
They often stray outside of the realm of tips, but they always stay focused on writing.
Result: An easy layup. Two points.
Clark makes up a little ground. It is now 10-7 in favor of DWT.
Personality
C. Hope Clark
The primary focus of the blog is on the contests, retreats and funding opportunities but she takes a moment to give you a personal update on her current projects. The blog isn’t about her personality, but you do get a pretty good idea of who she is.
Result: Clark banks an eight-footer in off the glass. Two points.
Daily Writing Tips
This blog is far more focused on information than on personality. I can’t really tell one writer from another, and they rarely approach stories from a personal POV. They do maintain a consistent style, however. You know what you are getting when you go to DWT.
Result: DWT goes to the free throw line and picks up one.
Clark nibbles away another point from DWT’s lead. It is now 11-9. Can she pull even in the final category?
Five Most Recent Posts
Daily Writing Tips
Starting A Copywriting Business
“Wreck,” “Wreak,” and Other [rek] Words
How to Write an SEO Article – Part 2
Using Writing Bursts to Generate Ideas and Enthusiasm
All of the posts are information-based and authoritative, although I have read so many SEO (search engine optimization) articles at this point that I didn’t even want to look at this one. Frankly, it rehashed the same old stuff. As for posting frequency, they stick to the daily format without incident.
Result: DWT sinks a three pointer.
C. Hope Clark
High-Paying Spec Fiction Competition
Win a Vespa by Living Brightly
Theatre Conspiracy New Play Contest
The posts at C. Hope Clark follow a consistent pattern. Clark posts a contest, retreat or grant writing opportunity, followed by comments on the opportunity and personal reflections such as an update on what she is working on at the moment. These five posts all follow that pattern. It isn’t the most ambitious posting style in the world, but it works very well for what she is trying to accomplish. You know what to expect when you come here. All of her posts come from within the last week, so frequency is not a problem.
Result: C. Hope Clark scores a three by staying true to her purpose.
The final score is 14-12 in favor of Daily Writing Tips.
Post Game Analysis
Daily Writing Tips has risen to the top of the writing blog world in record time and they got there on their merits. They are going to be hard for most blogs to beat. C. Hope Clark is a small but very valuable blog. If Clark hadn’t come up against a top-ranked team in the first round, she would probably have gone farther.
What They Can Work On
Daily Writing Tips
Their only real weak spot in the contest was personality, which may not even be something they value. Their design could be a little more pleasant look at, but I get the feeling they value the advertising revenue more.
C. Hope Clark
Clark should move her blog to her main site and spend some time (or money) on designing it with more usability in mind. This is a blog that could and should be much more widely read than it is.
Game 4: #2 Seed Bob Bly Copywriter Versus #7 Seed Words on the Water
March 28, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 5 Comments
The Matchup
Second seeded Bob Bly Copywriter takes on seventh seeded Words on the Water. Bob Bly offers the allure of big money and success. Words on the Water is smaller and dates back less than a year, but there is some good content.
Introductions
Bob Bly Copywriter
This is the third copywriting blog in four games. What Bob Bly brings to the table is a fame that moves beyond blogging. His book, Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More (upgraded from $85,000) is one of the all-time best selling books on writing. He has written several other books on the subject as well. Bob Bly was one of the inspirations for my career. Although I shied away from copywriting in favor of technical writing, it was his book that first gave me insight into the world of professional writing.
Words on the Water
Blog author Monica Valentinelli is a freelance fiction writer and ghostwriter who also works full-time for an Internet search optimization company. The blog primarily about freelance writing.
Archives
Words on the Water
Valentinelli has less than a year of archives. Her past posting record was a little spotty but it has picked up in past months. One of the staples of her blog is freelance tips – short articles focused on a single aspect of freelance writing. There are also many articles about blogging and marketing.
Result: Words on the Water scores a layup. Two points.
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob has been at the blogging game since 2004, but he doesn’t really seem to like it. Clicking on his Blogging category brings up a series of articles about how pointless blogging is. My personal favorite is, Are Most Blogs Self-Indulgent Drivel?. He concludes yes. Still, his dislike of the medium doesn’t seem to stop him from posting. He writes about three short posts a week. Unfortunately it is hard to find any “best” articles because he lacks an archive page, which is becoming my most common tournament complaint.
Result: Bob answers back with a two-point finger roll.
The score is even at 2-2
Design
Words on the Water
Words on the Water has a very attractive design. It is simple and uncluttered with a soothing graphic for the masthead. The two-column page has no major distractions to take away from the content. While this isn’t a professional design, it as pleasing as a stock design can look. It uses a black background and white text though, which can make using graphics in posts a little more complicated.
Result: Words on Water shoots a three. It may not be nothing but net, but it goes down smoothly.
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob’s blog theme is a three column affair, which can lead to clutter. In this case the look is pretty clean, just bland. There is nothing offensive or annoying about the look, but there’s nothing to really catch the eye either. If a professional designer was involved at all, it was just to do the masthead, which is still nothing special. For a guy who claims to be making big money, I think it would be nice if he spent some on his blog.
Result: Bob banks an easy two pointer in off the glass.
For the first time in tournament, an underdog has taken the lead, 5-4.
Usability and Navigation
Words on the Water
Words on Water is definitely pro-usability. There is only one advertisement on the page and it comes at the bottom of the right-hand column, so the users are immediately given options. You can subscribe to the posting feed (but not a comments feed) and view the archives by category or using the tag cloud, which highlights the more frequent blogging topics. There aren’t a lot of extra bells and whistles such as a recent posts list or a recent comments list, but everything she does offer is easy to find and access.
Result: Words on Water is fouled shooting the three. The shot goes wide, but she might be able to make it up from the stripe. The first shot goes down easily. The second is a gimmie. The third rattles out however. So close… a comments feed and a site map might have put that last shot in. Two points.
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob has all of the standard tools. There’s a recent posts list, categories and an archive sorted by month. He has several subscription options, but they are all related to different readers, not different feeds. You can’t get an email subscription or subscribe to comments. You can sign up for a direct marketing newsletter, however. The one annoying usability problem is the lack of a Home link that goes back to the blog. Clicking on the masthead goes to an extremely involved contact form aimed at customers. As I already brought up, there is no archive or best of page either. That would have been nice.
Result: Bob hits the six-foot jump shot for two.
Words on Water maintains its one-point lead, 7-6.
Purpose
Words on the Water
Words on Water is about freelance writing. The large number of freelance tips articles fall right in line with that purpose. Related topics such as blogging, marketing and career planning also keep the blog on track. There is no sales pitch to distract the reade.
Result: A two pointer from ten feet back. Nothing but net.
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob bills his blog as a direct marketing blog. Oddly though, his last post in the category of direct marketing was last October. In the past five months, he hasn’t written about his core subject. The most related topics, Advertising and Online Marketing also haven’t been covered since around the beginning of the year. Most of his recent posts have been in the General category, although reading through them shows that several are about freelancing, a topic he does have plenty of experience with. I would say he has strayed a bit from his purpose, which isn’t a bad thing in life, but won’t get you a lot of points in this category.
Result: Bob gets a free throw based on past performance. One point.
The score is 9-7 now in favor of the underdog. The crowd is starting to get excited. It looks like an upset is in the making.
Personality
Words on the Water
Valentinelli is straightforward about what she advocates and in talking about her professional life. She alternates well between objective advice and opinion. The blog is less personal than I expected when I saw the theme, but it does have a point-of-view.
Result: Two more points from the paint.
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob has the nerve to blog about how he hates blogs. You’ve got to give him some credit for that. He isn’t afraid to be a contrarian, even taking on some of the assumptions that would drive people to buy his books (more on that later). He also makes my favorite nerd statement in quite some time, “One of my greatest pleasures is to read trade journals, newsletters, and business magazines…” This guy is a character.
Result: Bob stops and pops a three.
You knew Bob wasn’t going to give up easily. Words on the Water now leads by just a point. 11-10.
Five Most Recent Posts
Bob Bly Copywriter
Hey, didn’t I just write 10 Reasons Freelancing is for Suckers? Heck, I even mentioned Bob in the article. His article covers the stuff I covered. Surely he mentioned me, right? Damn, no. He must not have seen mine. It must be a coincidence. Don’t cry John, don’t cry…
I Have Seen the Future, and It Is Automated
Bob talks about automation and self-service culture. He doesn’t mention anything related to marketing or blogging, but it is a nice little article.
Are You a Broken Man (or Woman)?
I find this article very interesting. Bob is criticizing the fact that our culture is obsessed with money. He also lambasts “make money online” schemes. I completely agree with Bob, but with a book called Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More, I’m not sure that Bob has the moral authority to lead.
The #1 Perk of Freelance Writing
Bob says the number one perk of being a freelance writer is not wearing a suit and tie to work every day. I felt a little strange reading it. I’ve worked as a technical writer for some of the biggest companies in the world, and the only time I wore a tie was the job interviews. I’ve never worn a suit to work except once as a joke. I think Bob is remembering a corporate world that doesn’t exist – at least not in my area code.
Another Nail in Print’s Coffin
Bob discusses the slow destruction of print magazines, especially the b-to-b magazines he loves. I agree that magazines are on the decline and I will miss them.
Overall the articles are interesting, although off topic. His has some things to say, but I don’t feel like I learned much more about direct marketing or advertising. All his posts are recent, with the oldest about two weeks old.
Result: Bob makes a turnaround jump shot for a two pointer.
Words on the Water
A Freelancer’s Service Announcement: Please Write your Emails
Valentinelli urges writers to use proper English in their emails, especially when they are looking for work. The advice may seem obvious, sadly, some writers still need to hear it.
You Can Market Your Work with Video
Can you pimp your writing career on YouTube? Apparently you can. This is mainly a YouTube clip, and not her own.
The Guild: Web Video about Online Gamers at “their Finest”
Another YouTube clip and this time it is for gamers. Valentinelli does write for online games, so the topic is valid, but it could be a little more interesting.
March’s Battle of Words: Nomination for my Blog
This is a post talking about my tournament. It also doubles as a reason for her to discuss “benchmarking tools like Google’s PageRank and Alexa rankings.” We are in agreement on this issue.
Usability: The Good (and Bad) of Facebook
Usability! Now there’s a post after my heart. Pity it’s so short.
I’ve read better articles on Valentinelli’s site than the last five. The writing could be more expansive. On the upside, the five posts have come in the past three days, so the frequency is well above average.
Result: It isn’t a slam dunk, but it is good enough for two points.
The final score is 13-12. Writing on the Water pulls off the upset!
Post Game Analysis
It’s the first upset in the tournament! One of my original idols, Bob Bly, falls to an underfunded upstart. Dreams can come true for a blog that makes an effort. The giants are not invincible.
What They Can Work On
Bob Bly Copywriter
Bob needs to open up that mighty bank account and put some money into his blog. There’s no real excuse for a guy who claims $100,000 a year to nickel dime his web site. He also needs to take a look at what he wants his site to be about. Is it about direct marketing? Copywriting? The pointlessness of blogging? Aspiring minds want to know.
Words on the Water
It would help if Valentinelli slowed down a bit and took more time on her posts. She could go into some detail on the subjects she explores and perhaps show a bit more of her personality. Also, she needs to choose her graphics carefully. With a white text on black background blog, she should probably shy away from anything but black and white photos and graphics.
Tune in next time, when we move to the Janowitz bracket and watch #1 seed Daily Writing Tips take on #8 seed C. Hope Clark. Will we see another upset?
Game 3: #3 Seed The Copywriting Maven Versus #6 Seed Be the Story
March 27, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 7 Comments
The Matchup
Third-seeded The Copywriting Maven is taking on sixth-seeded Be the Story. This should be a much different game than the last one. The two sites have widely contrasting topics and styles. The higher seed is devoted to copywriting and the lower seed to fiction. As for the looks of the two sites, they couldn’t be more different.
Note: I am dying to work in the phrase, That’s so Maven! Let’s see if I can do it.
Introductions
The Copywriting Maven is the blog of Roberta Rosenberg, an experienced copywriter and blogger whose work has often appeared on the ubiquitous Copyblogger. The topic is copywriting and marketing. The posts often cover topical items such as current advertising campaigns and other public events. There are also many how-to type articles.
Be the Story is the blog of J. Timothy King, a fiction writer who mainly self-publishes e-books. The posts focus on fiction and often cover King’s thoughts on different books and movies. He often posts humorous or light pieces such as The Dr. House Drinking Game.
Archives
The Copywriting Maven
The Maven began in earnest back in June of 2006. The posts average about eleven a month, which is a reasonable clip. Typical posts include tips, resources and commentary. There area also some sponsored reviews. There’s nothing wrong with that, but from what I can see she doesn’t really address them in such a way that it teaches more about copywriting, which would be nice. It would also be nice to have some better archive tools, but I’ll go into that when it comes to usability.
Result: The Maven stops and pops in a two pointer off the backboard.
Be the Story
Be the Story has been around a reasonably long time. It’s archives stretch back to November of 2005. The frequency varies greatly, but I would average it out to be about two or three a month, with some months skipped entirely. Many of the posts are advice, while others are personal observations or rants and the occasional product promotion.
Result: Be the Story answers back with a two of their own.
The two teams start out even, 2-2.
Design
Be the Story
This may be the least attractive design in the whole tournament. The posts are hard to look at. The ad placement is jarring and the site even seems lopsided. I’m glad there is a feed, because I hate visiting this site.
Result: Airball! No points.
The Copywriting Maven
I don’t love the site design, but after the punishment dealt to my eyes by Be the Story, anything is an improvement. Three column themes can look cluttered if you aren’t very careful, and this one is definitely cluttered. There are a lot of features mixed in with a lot of ads. The site could also benefit from a more attractive masthead. That said, you can tell that the site is serious about blogging, and it is a step up from the basics.
Result: The Maven attempts a three but barely hits the rim. She gets her own rebound though and puts it in for two.
The Maven jumps forward with a 4-2 lead. Be the Story is going to have to make up a lot of ground now.
Usability and Navigation
The Copywriting Maven
There are a lot of cool features on this site, including both content feeds and email subscriptions, a twitter feed, a list of recent comments, a list of recent posts and a list of recent visitors. There are also a lot of ads, and they are interspersed with the features. This means a nice feature like the recent posts list is forced to the bottom of the page but a fat button leading to Rosenberg’s LinkedIn profile runs near the top. I don’t see a real strategy here. Perhaps one column needs to be devoted to text and the other to graphics or one to ads and the other to content. Whatever the case, a little organization would go a long way. Another confusing aspect is that it can be hard to tell site links from ad links, which may be helpful for drumming up business, but can also turn off readers. As for the archives. Well, there IS an archive page, but it is blank.
Result: The Maven goes for an ambitious three-point shot, but has to settle for one point from the charity stripe. That’s the way it goes sometimes.
Be the Story
Can a site be ugly but still score ok on usability? Lets find out. Be the story offers a LOT of subscription options and has a very prominent (though only moderately useful) archives section. King also offers a related post feature at the bottom of his posts, which is a nice way to keep readers reading. Overall, the features of the site are easy to find, so while it isn’t spectacular, it is usable.
Result: Be The Story manages to rattle in a two-pointer from the top of the key.
Be the Story closes the gap to 5-4 by sticking to the basics.
Purpose
Be the Story
This site says it is “about writing stories and being a better writer” . By the looks of the items for sale, it is also about selling a few e-books. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as the second doesn’t get in the way of the first. The are some decent how-to type posts, but there are many others that seem like filler or just random thoughts.
Result: Be the Story picks up another point at the free throw line.
The Copywriting Maven
The tagline reads. A copywriter shares tips, techniques, reviews & cranky commentary. The Maven writes about copywriting. While there are how-to articles and discussions of concepts, she also spends a lot of time observing current copywriting. All of that fits within the purpose. She is even up front about the reviews.
Result: The Maven finger-rolls a two in.
The Maven pushes ahead 7-5.
Personality
The Copywriting Maven
The Maven is happy to share. Her opinions run first and foremost through her articles, and you get an excellent sense of who she is by reading the blog. More importantly, you get the feeling she is an entertaining person to be around.
Result: Slam Dunk. Two points with authority.
Be the Story
King seems like a likable guy. His articles do sometimes go into the personal. He isn’t quite as entertaining as The Maven, but he runs a friendly, fun blog.
Result: Be the Story scores on an unspectacular layup. Two points.
The Maven maintains her lead, 9-7.
Five Most Recent Posts
Be the Story
- Online Fiction Tuesday #1
- Carnival of Storytelling #9
- Why I Don’t do 70 Days of Sweat (and other sprints)
- Sharing the Love with Holly Lisle Fans: Limited-time Free Offer
- Carnival of Storytelling #8
Three of the last five stories are basically groups of links. Another is a promotion for an affiliate. That leaves only Why I Don’t do 70 Days of Sweat (and other sprints) as a legitimate article. It’s an explanation of why he doesn’t compete in events such as NaNoWriMo. It is mildly interesting. A second problem is the length between posts. The five posts stretch back to the first week of January. With a pace that slow, you would hope for more substantive material.
Result: One point from the charity stripe.
The Copywriting Maven
- Maven’s Mailbag: CLIO wants 12 Jr CW Stars, Email Stats, Boiling Egg Perfection
- I Hate Logos – The Downside to Being a Value-Added Marketing Copywriter
- Copywriting Maven EXPOSED? Not until you show me the big bucks upfront, pally.
- Maybelline Plumps Up Their Promises with a Brilliant Proof
- Top 100 Freelancing Blogs – and Copywriting Maven is on the list
While the Maven does not post daily, all of her posts are from the past two weeks, so she is staying current. The I Hate Logos article has a good explanation of how a message can get lost among all the pretty pictures if you start the design process before the writing process. The Maybelline article also stands out as a discussion of clever customer-friendly marketing practices. Overall, the posts are solid, though not spectacular.
Result: A final two point shot to close out the game.
Final Score: 11-8
Post Game Analysis
The Copywriting Maven is a quality site and Rosenberg has plenty to say about the marketing industry. It is a site worth taking a look at if you are interested in copywriting and marketing. Be The Story seems to be on the decline. There are some good things in the archive, but there isn’t much happening lately.
What They Can Work On
The Copywriting Maven could benefit from a better masthead and a more user-friendly organization. Rosenberg also needs to put some material in that archives section. Those two steps alone could add two to three points to her score.
Be the Story needs a bit of an overhaul and a stronger work ethic. An attractive theme, even if it was a stock theme, would be a big improvement. A few more posts a month would show some commitment. If these don’t change, I doubt we’ll see this site in the competition next year.
Note: Nope. I couldn’t find a way. Maybe next round.
Stay tuned for the next matchup. The $100,000 Dollar Man, #2 Bob Bly Copywriter takes on #7. Words on the Water. Will we see our first upset?
Game 2: #4 Seed Confident Writing Versus #5 Seed Renegade Writer Blog
March 26, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 7 Comments
The Matchup
Today we have a first round face-off between fourth seeded Confident Writing and fifth seeded The Renegade Writer This should be a good matchup. The two blogs share similar goals, with both aiming to teach and inform as a way to help promote the writing-related services or products that each blogger offers.
Introductions
Confident Writing is the blog of writing coach Joanna Young. Because she is a writing coach, the primary goals of the blog are to help people improve their writing, find their voice and become more confident writers.
The Renegade Writer is the blog of Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell, who are the authors of a freelancing book called The Renegade Writer and another more recent book, The Renegade Writer’s Query Letters That Rock. The central premise of their book and blog is that many of the rules of freelancing are invalid and they believe there is a better path toward becoming a successful freelance writer.
Archives
Confident Writing
Confident Writing has archives dating back to April of 2007. Since then, the posts appear to come several times a week. Many of her articles address basic writing issues such as the use of apostrophes the splitting of infinitives and the proper application of bullet points. Other articles address more advanced writing issues such as the proper way to cut extraneous words from your writing, writing with clarity and even larger topics such as business writing. Confidence is, of course, a major running theme in her articles.
Result: Confident writing dribbles confidently down the court and scores a quick layup for two points.
The Renegade Writer
The Renegades have archives dating back to May of 2006. While there is the occasional flurry of posts, the general frequency seems to be about three to four a week. After two years of posts, that leaves them with a fairly substantial archive. The main focus appears to be advice, and they frequently answer questions from their community. The site does have an archive page, but it does not have individual articles. Instead the archive separates into categories and months.
Result: The Renegades answer back with a six- foot jump shot to score two points of their own.
The score is tied at 2-2.
Design
The Renegade Writer
The Renegades use a stock WordPress theme. It is reasonably attractive, and certainly a step up from the BlogSpot crowd. There is no major clutter to detract from the look. There is an advertisement for their E-courses, but the graphic blends well into the rest of the masthead so there is no real minus there. They occasionally run a graphic with an individual blog, but it is an exception rather than the rule. All in all it is a respectable, though unspectacular design. There are no real high points or low points.
Result: The Renegades shoot a ten-footer o ff the backboard, scoring another two.
Confident Writing
Confident Writing has a clean and simple design. While I don’t immediately recognize the theme, it looks like most standard blog themes. The masthead has the name and tagline, along with some key links. The right side contains links, ads and some social media widgets. None of it detracts from reading the actual posts. The posts themselves often contain pictures and other graphics that add to the look, but others are left to stand on their own, which is fine. Not every post needs a cool picture.
Result: Confident Writing drives to the lane and lays in another two-pointer.
The score is once again tied at 4-4.
Usability and Navigation
Confident Writing
On the usability front, Confident Writing has some nice things to offer. It is especially easy to subscribe to the site. You can quickly subscribe to a syndication feed, a standard email feed and a weekly digest. The only hole in their otherwise impressive list of subscription options is the lack of a comments feed. Confident Writing also offers podcasts, a guide to recent comments and the standard category lists. There isn’t a site map but there is an archives section. Unfortunately it is buried halfway down the page in a category called “Useful Stuff”. That archive is the standard blog build of a list of months and a list of categories. You are better off using the Writing Tips link at the top of the page. It will take you to some of the better posts.
Result: Confident Writing launches a three, it almost rattles out but just manages to fall in.
The Renegade Writer
The Renegades don’t deviate much from the stock blog template. You get all of the basic offerings such as a regular feed and a comments feed. Their archives section is easy to find, but is still the standard categories and months, with the addition of a calendar. They do have a section called pages and interesting links, but it doesn’t really lead to old posts, just things they want to sell you and other web sites they like. They do have one really nice tool, The Renegade Writer Markets Wiki , which tracks some freelance markets.
Result: The Renegades score two from the paint.
Confident Writing grabs a 7-6 lead.
Purpose
The Renegade Writer
The Renegades are up front in their sales pitch without being distracting about it. Their tagline says it clearly “You read the book … now read the blog. ” They also include an ad for “E-Courses for Writers” as a part of their masthead. The main theme of the blog is breaking the rules of freelancing when they need to be broken. Some of the posts address that very well, but there is plenty of standard advice as well, such as Beating Burnout Creatively, which gives fairly well-trod advice for dealing with burnout. The blog does have helpful articles for writers, but it also has posts that are promotional in nature. I have nothing against a blog that also wants your business, as long as they are upfront and reasonable about it, and the Renegades are.
Result: Two more points for The Renegade Writer as part of their steady inside game.
Confident Writing
Confident Writing’s Joanna Young is also upfront about the fact that she is offering her services as a writing coach. Her main, stated goal is to turn people into more confident writers, and she does so with a mix of practical advice and “Yes You Can” encouragement. Her posts each month run along positive emotional themes , which keeps the posts focused. The fact that she can weave so many elements into the basic premise of writing with confidence is impressive.
Result: Confident Writing finds it’s groove, hitting a clean three-point basket.
Confident Writing extends its lead to 10-8.
Personality
Confident Writing
Joanna Young isn’t just a writing coach, she’s a life coach, and it shows. Her posts are enthusiastic and affirming. With posts like, To My Muse: 10 Reasons Why I Love You, you don’t go to Confident Writing looking sober analysis or angry rants. Her posts are written in the first person and she will tell you about what she hopes for and dreams of. It is most definitely a blog that manages to give clear advice in the first person, which is a skill I’m still working on.
Result: Confident Writing scores on a finger tip role and adds a free throw after some incidental contact. Three points.
The Renegade Writer
Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell do give their opinions and often write in the first person. Unfortunately, I can’t really tell which one is writing without looking at the name, and the blog does not come with an option for selecting just one person view their articles. Overall, the blog does have a personality, but with a name like The Renegade Writer, I feel as if there should be more.
Result: Another two-pointer. This is starting to become a habit with them.
Confident Writing starts to pull away, 13-10.
Five Most Recent Posts
The Renegade Writer
Kudos for Elaine Grant’s E-Course
This is a sales pitch. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it won’t get you to the top either.
Thank God Something’s Gone Wrong
Guest writer (and now Renegade travel writing instructor) Alison Stein Wellner tells of a recent disaster on a trip to India and how she turned it around to benefit her as a writer. It’s a nice little article that made me wish I could hear more about India.
This piece is about the rules of freelancing and how you can break them. In a double switch, she follows one of the rules that she normally breaks. It plays to the central theme of the site and is a good piece.
10 Things I Learned While on Assignment in India
This is my favorite of the five articles. It is about Diana Burrell’s adventures and misadventures in India, and comes complete with a few rules that should be followed (not broken). It has the most personality of any of the posts. I would suggest that she try to incorporate her adventures in India into more posts. It is a unique way to approach the material.
This posts goes back to the rules and discusses the “image” that some people have of a freelance writer and the fact that you can do whatever you want. It’s an ok piece, but the image of a freelancer they think most people have doesn’t sound remotely like the image I have, so it does not really engage me.
The oldest of the five posts is eight days old, so you can see that they are keeping up a steady stream of new articles.
Result: The articles on India almost got them into three point territory, but the rest just didn’t impress. Their toe was on the line. Two points.
Confident Writing
Group Writing Project Reminder And Other Goodies
Much like the Rebel Writer, Confident Writing takes a time out for a little self promotion. It also discusses how she dropped the ball on this week’s podcast. That was a missed opportunity.
Are You Inspired To Be An Authority?
This is a substantial post about the benefits of authority. She lists the reasons to be an authority writer but I do feel like she misses a central point, which is that authority doesn’t just come from confidence, comes from experience and knowledge.
Inspiring Words That Connect Us Together
This is a response to a meme in which she lists her favorite quote. There isn’t much meat to it.
What’s The Opposite Of Inspire?
This is another quick post in which she lists some of her reader’s thoughts on what the opposite of inspire is.
Feel The Fear And Podcast Anyway
This post refers to a podcast interview. Some highlights or a transcript would have given it more value.
The oldest post is six days old, so she is putting out plenty of material.
Result: With a solid lead, Confident Writing takes it easy down the stretch and pulls up for a five-foot jump shot. Two points.
Final Score: 15-12
Post Game Analysis
The Renegade Writer is a classic mid-level blog. There are no real low points or high points. The writing is solid but could be a little better. The design is attractive but far from unique. The sales pitch isn’t distracting, but doesn’t add anything either. It is a good but not great blog. Confident Writing shows the difference attention to a few details and personal touches can make. There is more attention paid to usability and purpose, and that gave it the edge.
What They Can Work On
The Renegade Writer
Their stock theme is an attractive one. I once used it for a blog (not this one) myself. It has a lot of limitations though, and is not very customizable. I would suggest that they either spend some money on blog design or look for a more adaptable stock theme. I would also suggest that they play up their “rebel” status a little more and try some more daring entries.
Confident Writing
A better archive page would improve both the usability and my opinion of her archives. It’s a two-for-one improvement. The design could be a more attractive as well. It is perfectly usable, but lacks the polish of a big-time blog, which I think Confident Writing could be with a little improvement in the daily writing and a little less emphasis on sales.
Tune in next time when we get to watch third seeded The Copywriting Maven take on sixth seeded Be the story.
Game 1: #1 Seed Copyblogger Versus #8 Seed The Struggling Writer
March 25, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 8 Comments
The Matchup
With superior resources and budget, Copyblogger uses a team-oriented approach to dominate the competition. Many fans think this blog could go all the way. The Struggling Writer plays a more personal game, but is hampered by its small-time status and slow post game.
Introductions
Copyblogger
This site is devoted to copywriting. The emphasis is on professional, how-to articles that take a mildly irreverent approach to the subject matter. Brian Clark is the founder and driving force behind the site, but there are many other frequent and occasional contributors . The tone of the site is light, with emphasis on motivation and information but it occasionally delves into more academic or theoretical analysis. Also, perhaps because it is a site about copywriting, you often get the feeling they are trying to sell you something.
The Struggling Writer
The Struggling Writer mixes information with personal reflection. Freelance writer (when he can find work) Andy Humphrey gives the details of his struggles to make a career out of freelance writing.
Archives
Copyblogger
Copyblogger’s ten-part Copywriting 101 series is probably their best offering, but you can spend a solid month reading all of their articles without a break. Anyone who does so will come away with a much greater knowledge of copywriting, albeit with a strong web bias.
Result: Copyblogger swishes a three pointer, getting off to a fast start.
The Struggling Writer
The archives extend back to February 2006. Read as a whole, they make for an interesting tale about the ups and downs of a freelance writer, but their usefulness is limited when it comes to increasing your skills. The posting pace is only about an article or two a month, so you can easily get through the whole blog in one sitting.
Result: The Struggling Writer makes one of two free throws for a single point.
Copyblogger leads 3-1.
Design
The Struggling Writer
All Blogspot blogs look pretty much the same. The design is serviceable, but not particularly attractive. The choice of an orange and brown color scheme does little to help out. There are no pictures to accompany the posts and nothing to make it stand out.
Result: The Struggling Writer makes the first of two free (blogging service) throws for just one point.
Copyblogger
Copyblogger is so proud of their theme that they make it available for other blogs. They have reason to be proud. The base theme is elegant and attractive. I know because I have seen that attractiveness on other sites. Unfortunately, they have chosen to litter their site with a hodgepodge of ads and other graphics. Every ad is a different color and there are many different shapes. Virtually all of their posts come with graphics as well, which even further clutters the landscape. This is definitely a blog that is more pleasant to read using a feed than by going to the site.
Result: It’s Copyblogger’s turn at the free throw line, and they can do no better. Making one of two for a single point.
Copyblogger leads 4-2
Usability and Navigation
Copyblogger
Copyblogger makes it easy to subscribe to their syndication feeds, even by email. They also make it easy to read their most popular articles. To their credit, they have several series of articles under “Resources” that you can quickly access, including the “Copywriting 101″ series. On the down side, there is no site map or general archive that is reachable from the home page, and some of their “Resources” are actually materials that they have for sale, which feels a bit like a bait and switch.
Result: Copyblogger launches a long one that looks like a three but it turns out their toe is on the line. Two points.
The Struggling Writer
The Struggling Writer has little to offer in the usability and navigation arena. Their archives are sorted by month, which isn’t very useful. There is no easy way to subscribe to his feed and the “about me” information is limited to the blogger’s name, industry and location.
Result: The Struggling Writer misses an easy six-footer. 0 Points.
Copyblogger pulls away, 6-2.
Purpose
The Struggling Writer
The Struggling Writer bills itself as, “The chronicles of a freelance writer as he tries to make a living.” It lives up to that description. There isn’t a hidden agenda or sales pitch. It is a simple blog with a simple purpose.
Result: The struggling writer scores a layup. Two points.
Copyblogger
The Copyblogger slogan is, “Copywriting tips for Online Marketing Success.” Their “about” page claims that “Copyblogger is all about helping you: get traffic, gain subscribers, attract links, sell something!” In general, they live up to all of those goals. You can find articles that discuss all of those aspects of copywriting. This is clearly not a site about copywriting as a general profession so much as copywriting as a way to drive traffic to web sites and make sales at those sites. What they don’t say is that this site is also trying to sell you things such as tutorials and reports. While the sales pitch isn’t sledgehammer hard, it does tend to crop up in places where you don’t expect it.
Result: Copyblogger scores a slam dunk. It’s a spectacular looking shot, but still only worth two points.
Copyblogger maintains its lead, 8-4.
Personality
Copyblogger
Copyblogger is more about the information than the people, but Clark & Company do sometimes let you know when an assertion is their opinion rather than an objective fact. If you are looking for a blog in which you get to know the writers, this isn’t it.
Result: It’s Copyblogger’s turn at the free throw line, picking up a point.
The Struggling Writer
Andy Humphrey’s blog is a more personal affair. While some articles are advice, others are about his struggles as a freelance writer and still others are about more personal thoughts. His blog is a classic mix of the informational and the personal.
Result: The Struggling Writer scores two from the top of the circle, narrowing the gap slightly.
Copyblogger leads 9-6.
Five Most Recent Posts
Struggling Writer
- Motivation for Freelancers
- The curse of the lazy freelancer
- Not dead yet
- Slowly getting back to it
- July = total bust
After closing the gap a bit in the last round, The Struggling Writer quickly loses steam. Its last five posts stretch back all the way to July, showing a dramatic drop-off in posting frequency, although the latest post came just days ago. The posts are virtually all about adapting your freelance schedule to an increasingly hectic lifestyle (perhaps the reason for the decreasing number of posts). Whatever the case, it is not a strong finish.
Result: Another single point free throw.
Copyblogger
- Agile Content Development: The Ready, Fire, Aim, Reload Strategy for Social Media Success
- How Bloggers Profit FromNiche Media Disruption
- 3 Sure-Fire Steps for Beating the Boring Content Blues
- Getting Writing Done: How to Stop Thinking About It and Write
- Freelance Writers: 7 Advantages ofWorking in Your Dream Market
This category plays right into the hands of Copyblogger. The posts are longer than the average blog post and cover a variety of topics all related to the general theme of copy writing and online marketing. All of the articles have appeared within the past week and are packed with content. Because there are multiple writers, there are several different voices that give their own perspectives.
Result: Copyblogger stays focused and sinks a three pointer to close the door on The Struggling Writer.
Final Score: 12-7
Post Game Analysis
As expected, Copyblogger had no trouble handling the relatively light competition from The Struggling Writer. It can expect stiffer competition in the sweet sixteen when it faces the winner of Confident Writing versus The Renegade Writer.
What they can work on:
The Struggling Writer would benefit greatly from moving to its own domain and getting off the Blogspot platform. Increasing the number and variety of posts would be the next big hurdle after that.
Copyblogger is strong but not invincible. There is definite room for improvement in their cluttered, distracting design and their lack of an expansive archive section.
Tune in next time when we get to watch fourth seeded Confident Writing take on fifth seeded The Renegade Writer.
March Writing Blog Madness Seedings
March 25, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 19 Comments
It’s time to announce the seedings for March Writing Blog Madness. My apologies to those who attempted to join this afternoon, but I had already put the brackets together and begun the first round’s judging, so I have to stick with the contestants I have. This is not a reflection on your fine blogs.
There are four brackets with eight teams apiece. They are listed below in order of their matchups. I have also included a PDF showing them in their respective slots. I wish everyone luck. Try not to take any losses too hard. Remember, 31 contestants go home disappointed. Also, while I am not a contestant, I assure you I would not win.
The Ellis Bracket
1. Copyblogger
8. The Struggling Writer
4. Confident Writing
5. The Renegade Writer
3. The Copywriting Maven
6. Be the story
2. Bob Bly Copywriter
7. Words on the Water
The Janowitz Bracket
1. Daily Writing Tips
8. C. Hope Clark
4. Grow Your Writing Business
5. Book Marketing Bestsellers
3. All Freelance Writing
6. Crime Fiction Dossier
2. Writing White Papers
7. The Writing Journey
The McInerney Bracket
1. John August
8. Quiet Rebel Writer
4. Editor’s Blog
5. How to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career
3. The Golden Pencil
6. Write From Home
2. Content Maven
7. Writer’s Notes
The Chabon Bracket
1. Writers Write
8. Publishing Careers
4. Writing on the Web
5. Men with Pens
3. Jane in Progress
6. PODdy Mouth
2. I’d Rather Be Writing
7. The Book Sistah
The first round will begin immediately.
March Writing Blog Madness Explained
March 23, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 3 Comments
How the Tournament Works
The blogs will be seeded in four brackets with eight blogs in each bracket. The blogs will be judged in the categories below. The field of thirty-two will be narrowed to sixteen, then eight then four. In the end, two sites will go head to head to determine which site is the writing blog of 2007.
Judging Categories
- Archives: This is the heart of a site. Substance is the key to a good blog. What are the best articles and how good are they?
- Design: Substance is great, but flash does count for something. A site that is pleasant to look at makes a difference.
- Usability and Navigation: This is the second half of the design puzzle. How easy is it to move around the site and get to the best stuff? Can find the best articles?
- Purpose: What is the blog supposed to be about and what is the blog really about?
- Personality: Some sites thrive on the writer’s personality and others stick to the information without giving any hints about the writer.
- Five Most Recent Posts: This category is all about what the blogger has done lately. How good are the most recent articles and how often do they appear?
Moving Up
As the judge I will determine who moves on, but as fans it is perfectly acceptable for you to root for sites and complain bitterly if your favorite doesn’t win. Also remember that the judging will be reevaluated after reach round. If someone fixes a problem between rounds, more power to them.
March Writing Blog Madness
March 22, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 14 Comments
It’s March, and in the USA, that means March Madness. The top 64 college basketball teams in the USA come together to compete to see who is the best. Well, I went to the University of Arizona, so my alma mater has already been eliminated from the tournament. That means I need to find my fun elsewhere. That is why I am bringing you March Writing Blog Madness! A field of 32 blogs about writing will gather to compete to see who is the best.
Much like the NCAA Basketball Tournament I will use rankings to help determine who will enter the tournament and at what level. Below is the top 32 teams so far. The rankings were determined by a simple formula based on the blog’s Google Page Rank and Alexa Site Rank. The rankings have nothing to do with my opinions about the sites. Before I bore people too much, here are the current rankings.
- Copyblogger http://copyblogger.com/
- Daily Writing Tips http://dailywritingtips.com/
- John August http://johnaugust.com/
- Writers Write http://writerswrite.com/
- Bob Bly Copywriter http://bly.com/blog/
- Writing White Papers http://writingwhitepapers.com/blog/
- Content Maven http://meryl.net/
- I’d Rather Be Writing http://idratherbewriting.com/
- Jane in Progress http://janeespenson.com/
- The Golden Pencil http://thegoldenpencil.com/
- All Freelance Writing http://allfreelancewriting.com/
- The Copywriting Maven http://copywritingmaven.com/
- Confident Writing http://www.confidentwriting.com/
- Grow Your Writing Business http://growyourwritingbusiness.com/
- Writing on the Web http://coachezines.com/
- Editor’s Blog http://www.writershelper.com/editing-services-blog.html
- Men with Pens http://menwithpens.ca/
- How to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
- The Renegade Writer Blog http://therenegadewriter.com/
- Book Marketing Bestsellers http://blog.bookmarket.com/
- PODdy Mouth http://poddymouth.wordpress.com/
- Crime Fiction Dossier http://crimefictionblog.com/
- Be the story http://bethestory.com/
- Write From Home http://write-from-home.com/
- The Book Sistah http://thebooksistah.com/blog/
- Writer’s Notes http://writersnotes.net/
- The Writing Journey http://writing-journey.com/
- Words on the Water http://mlvwrites.com/
- Publishing Careers http://publishingcareers.blogspot.com/
- Quiet Rebel Writer http://quietrebelwriter.com/
- C. Hope Clark http://hopeclark.blogspot.com/
- The Struggling Writer http://struggling-writer.blogspot.com/
Now, if you think there is a deserving blog out there that for some reason isn’t on the list, please suggest the site in the comments. If your blog (or one you like) is on the bubble (pretty low in the rankings) feel free to also make your case for selection. The seedings will be announced Tuesday afternoon.
The criteria for being considered for the list is simple. The site must be a blog, and it must be about a writing topic. That includes a wide range of topics, as the list above clearly indicates. However, writing must be a significant part of the emphasis. For example, FreelanceSwitch.com is an excellent site about freelancing that many freelance writers should read, but the site is about all freelancing, not about freelance writing. That is why it is not ranked.
One final note: I just wanted to give credit where credit is due. PODdy Mouth is running a similar tournament for Print on Demand (POD) Publishers. My idea came from my seeing that site and thinking that it would be a good idea to do something similar with writing blogs.
7 Easy Steps to a More Pretentious Poem
March 20, 2008 by J.C. Hewitt · 52 Comments
Need help annoying the hell out of your writer’s group? The best way is to learn how to write a pretentious poem. This lesson works best with an example, so let’s start with one of the simplest and most well known poems of all time.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you.
This a simple poem. It is short, sweet and lacks pretension. Let’s fix it.
Step One: Add old time words nobody uses in real life
Roses doth be red,
Err violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
Thus so art thou.
Step Two: Add complex terms for simple words
Grandifloras doth be damask,
Err viola are azurite,
Sugar is ambrosial,
Thus so art thou.
Step Three: Add some foreign words and italicize them
Grandifloras doth be damask,
Err Viola are azurite,
Tener azucar ambrosial,
Thus so art thou.
Step Four: Add something technological so people realize you’re living in a new age
Grandifloras doth be damask,
Err Viola ping azurite,
Tener azucar ambrosial,
Thus thou art interfaced.
Step Five: Add some other modern stuff such as abbreviations and slang
OMG Grandifloras doth B damask,
Err Viola ping azurite,
Tener azucar ambrosial,
Thus thou RT interfaced sandwich girl.
Step Six: Mix up the line endings
OMG Grandifloras
Doth B
Damask, err
Viola ping
Azurite, tener azucar
Ambrosial,
Thus
Thou
RT interfaced
Sandwich girl.
Step Seven: Take out the punctuation
OMG Grandifloras
Doth B
Damask err
Viola ping
Azurite tener azucar
Ambrosial
Thus
Thou
RT interfaced
Sandwich girl
There you go. One gloriously pretentious poem in seven easy steps.
