Blog of the Year Award

Posted by 4amWriter

Thanks Vikki from The View Outside

What a neat award. Thank you, Vikki, for thinking of me.

Update as of 1/11/13…I was given another one from Cayman Thorn.

Now I have two! Thanks, Cayman

When I think about blog awards, I always find myself reevaluating the purpose of why I’m here. The other day I was talking to a friend, and she told me she was quitting her blog. She was tired of constantly juggling her blog with her 3 children, a full-time job, and house/husband. She said she had no time for herself anymore.

I asked her why she started a blog in the first place. She said she needed that outlet. She lives in a remote town and doesn’t get out much. She thought her blog would be a great way to network and find a community of people with similar interests, common ground.

I tried to show her that the blog was her treat to herself. That without the blog her time would be sucked up by Things. Children. Housework. Life. That there would be no other way she could engage in adult conversation or air her frustrations, tension, joy.

Why is it that we put ourselves last? Not all of us, certainly, but damn enough. When I started my blog it was initially because I was informed that ‘Writers have blogs.’ It was the smart thing to do if you wanted your name out there. I did it out of necessity.

Funny thing is I started enjoying myself. I don’t usually talk about ‘Me’ with people. Even in family gatherings, I’m the one listening to everyone one else talking. So, the fact I am out in blogosphere, chatting, is strange. I feel like Sleeping Beauty waking up in Never Land.

I’m not a numbers person. I mean, I could rattle off my stats (once I actually hunt them down) and give you an overview of the impact of my blog. But I don’t think that info tells me or anyone else how much my blog really means.

The point is, for me, no matter what my stats might be, blogging has helped me grow as a writer as well as a person. Even if my numbers don’t go anywhere fast, I am getting a lot more out of blogging than simply introducing people to my writing. This is my playground, my workspace, my barstool, my comfy couch. This is where I take care of myself.

Thanks for blogging with me.

* * * * * * *

Now on to sharing the award. Check out The Blog Of The Year Award Page for rules and info on how it all works. I always have a hard time picking and choosing award recipients because I follow blogs equally and for various reasons. Some I follow for the poetry and prose; some I follow for the savvy advice; some I follow for the camaraderie. So, I did what I usually do and made my choices based on a theme.

The theme for this award is:

4 blogs that make me laugh

One Year Blogiversary

Posted by 4amWriter

One year ago today I published the first post on my blog. For many moons before that day I had been a homeless blogger. I visited sites, read posts, commented on a few—but I had no blog or site of my own.

My writing life had long been a private, secretive endeavor. I never felt comfortable sharing my writing experiences with other people, even other writers. I never felt up to par or worthy of the title “Writer.”

courtesy of inkpunks.com

When I decided I wanted to be a published author, I knew I was setting myself up for trouble. It meant sharing my work with others. This did not bode well for me, and I resisted making those connections for a long time.

But writing is my calling, and it is something I have tried to ignore but failed. Failed miserably. When I started lurking through writing blogs and reading what other writers were doing, I was envious. I felt like a kid who got chicken pox on Halloween and couldn’t go out to trick-or-treat.

google images YourKidsEd.com

Becoming part of a blogging community was one of the best decisions I ever made. I suddenly felt like I belonged, and that’s not easy for an introvert with low self-confidence. Even though writing is mostly a solitary act, the end result is anything but. Blogging turned out to be great practice for the time when I was ready to go back to querying my novel.

4amWriter wouldn’t have lasted this long if it weren’t for the people who read my posts once—and then came back to read again. Even though I have a short story published in The Greensilk Journal (definitely a proud moment), I get just as much pride and thrill when I publish my blog posts. Knowing that the words I wrote will be out there for anyone to read, should they choose. It’s really a fascinating feeling.

courtesy of Nan Rinella

There are a few bloggers that need to be mentioned in this post. While I adore and appreciate all of my readers, there are some that have stood the test of time, and for that I am eternally grateful.

MY FIRST 5 FOLLOWERS

These bloggers all found me before I even turned a month old. And they are still devoted followers and commenters:

MY TOP 5 COMMENTERS

These bloggers have commented on every post I wrote since the first day they started following my blog. I know I can always depend on them to swing by, read my stuff, engage in the conversation. Of course, now that I have announced their names, there is the pressure on them to continue that trend.

So, it’s been a great opening year for 4amWriter. I have enjoyed what I have learned, the people I have met, the ideas that have sparked. Thanks again to everyone who has helped make this possible. Virtual hugs and Black Forest Pudding Cake all around.

A side note: As most of you are aware, I’ll be participating in NaNoWriMo in a few days. This blog will likely be on the quiet side for the month of November. But I’ll be posting NaNo-related articles at Limebird Writers. So, if you need a 4am fix, look up Limebirdkate.