I agree that it would be interesting to hear what others think. But, then again, it’s understandable that those who are still in the race might not want to comment on the judging at this point. Even after my blog was eliminated, I didn’t feel totally comfortable expressing an opinion, because I didn’t want it to sound like sour grapes.

Jeanne

I actually appreciate the analysis of my analysis. I was hoping for more second opinions than I have been getting. I’d like to see some debate about what really makes a blog great.

No tomatoes intended! Yours is a tough job, and you do it well! Being the analytical type, I just can’t help but point out some of the finer points that I notice about such matches. It would be quite impossible, I think, to design a blog tournament that would please every blogger! After all, we’re an awfully diverse lot!

You are right, of course, that Yvonne lost only one point for the Twitter and blogger health posts; and you did, after all, give her the full three points in the Community category. It’s obvious that you do your best to be fair to every blogger, and I know that all the competitors appreciate that–including me. Your job is not an easy one, and I fully admit that I wouldn’t want to be the one doing the judging in this tournament. One thing’s for certain: you’re motivating many of us to take another look at our blogs and see what ideas we can come up with to make our blogs better. And for that we thank you!

Unquestionably a fan,
Jeanne

Excellent analysis (ducks a flying tomato). Basing the top three articles on comments definitely leads to some interesting results, and it did cost DWT as well. As for posts about twitter etc., it isn’t that they are bad, I just consider them to be less about writing than the DWT’s articles. She still got two points in the category, which isn’t a bad score.

The way this round was set up, though, placed GYWB at a slight disadvantage, since it forced Yvonne’s intentionally shorter Writer’s Cafe posts into the spotlight and then penalized her for their brevity.

These posts are designed to present a short introductory piece to get the conversation started (a writing prompt of sorts) and then give Yvonne’s readers the floor to let them carry on the conversation–which they do quite well! Because of the format of this round, Yvonne’s longer, meatier posts weren’t very involved in the main judging, since her Writer’s Cafe posts are the ones with the most comments.

I think it’s clear, though, that GYWB has a vibrant community and really does shine in this area–and others!

One might even reasonably claim that Yvonne shouldn’t have lost points for posts about Twitter and the effect of blogging on one’s health, since these are issues and topics that definitely impact one’s writing business, though they may not discuss writing directly. After all, it’s easy enough to identify her blog’s focus by its title.

Despite my comments above, I’d like to offer my hearty congratulations to Daily Writing Tips–a very worthy blog!

And to Yvonne: I feel for you, since I, too, lost my match by one point. In one way that’s even tougher (”so close and yet so far and all that”), but in another, it’s good to know that our opponents’ victories weren’t slam dunks!

Jeanne

Congratulations to Daniel and the team at Daily Writing Tips… well done.

Commiserations Yvonne – you were up against stiff competition there with Daily Writing Tips.

Joanna