December 24, 2008 - My Best Post of 2008
One of the blogs that I started reading this year is called Confident Writing. It's, as you can imagine, a blog about writing.
Writing was one of my objectives of starting a blog in the first place, but I feel that I've become sidetracked with other things and have spent very little time actually writing on this blog. So one of my 2009 blogging goals is to actually write more often -- write my thoughts and my observations in words and not simply share in photos.
A photo is easy; it's technical. Snap, tweak, upload, and paste. Voila. A picture. And the readers love them. But I want the photographs to complement my writing, not overpower it. I've gotten lazy and let photos speak their "thousand words." But where has my own voice gone? I want to find it this year. I want to write more and write better. (Don't worry. I'll still be using lots of pictures.)
So, step one is to look backwards. Joanna at Confident Writing is hosting a group writing project titled Simply the Best. The task is to find my one best blog post of 2008 and explain my choice.
So, I've chosen Our New Apartment -- The Real Estate Agent. I'm cheating a tiny bit because this post is the first in a seven part series. I think the series was the best thing I've done this year. Ironically, the series is full of pics! I'm choosing the first one as a representative of the entire series.
This post (okay, the series) is simply the best because it drew far away readers right into my city and then into my home and finally into a dialogue with me via comments which in turn stimulated more blog posts.
Because it was a series, I didn't feel that I had to explain everything in one single post. Instead, I could leisurely dissect our new apartment part by part. That gave me material for many posts. Evidenced by all the comments it received, this series was very popular. Within those comments and questions I found even more to post about. Who knew that the squatty potty would be so interesting to as to warrant its own entire post?
If you'd like to participate in this group writing project, you have until Dec. 28 to post. Read the details here.
Before the new year, I'll post a recap of 2008, linking to 12 of the best posts of the last year -- one for each month.
Comments
December 25, 2008 - Writing
Posted by Anonymous
Dear Jimmie,
I applaud you in your efforts to really speak to people through your writing. Something that has come to my mind since I started keeping a blog is that I really do *like* to write. It has been the first time in my life that I felt like I am a "writer".
I was always a confident speaker but now I realize that writing is just talking on paper. (not my term, I think it came from Writing Power)
Thanks for sharing the link.
You are a great writer already so I only expect good things from you as you endeavor to improve.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
December 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Thanks so much for joining in Jimmie - I'm looking forward to reading your best post, but I'll need to wait till after Christmas now!
December 27, 2008 - Simply the best
Posted by Anonymous
Hi Jimmie,
Thank you for posting this site. I also wrote a submission. I hope you are having a Merry Christmas.
Shannon
http://mountaineercountrywv.blogspot.com
December 27, 2008 - Junie B.
Posted by Shannon
My daughter STILL reads Junie B.! I don't "count" it for anything anymore except I'm thankful that she has that and not her Nintendo DS in front of her nose. However, two short years ago, Junie B. helped her WANT to read. I think we have just about every book because she wanted to read them. My daughter though, like myself, does not like to struggle when she learns something and really struggled with reading. So, giant 68-page potato chip or not, I was glad when she would sit with Junie B. and read it cover to cover. (I know now poor Charlotte would have been turning over in her grave.)
I still have to shake my head EVERY time I think about that conversation...and it still empowers me and my decision to hs.
Thanks for stopping by.
Shannon
http://mountaineercountrywv.blogspot.com
December 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
I thought that was a very interesting series! It would be very difficult to pick only one post though... too many choices overwhelm me (not that I have so many that are fabulous or anything like that... Oh, you know what I mean!). ;-)
