Write Nonfiction in November

October is half over…That means it’s almost November. Time, once again, for Write Nonfiction in November! Whoo hoo!

I didn’t manage to post a blog last month. I was too busy setting up some really great guest bloggers for this year’s challenge. You’ll be so pleased with the line up!

And, to get things rolling, tomorrow you can listen to me talk about Write Nonfiction in November on The National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW) teleseminar. If you recall, last year one of my guest bloggers was Linda Joy Meyers, founder of NAMW.  Meyers and I will be chatting about Write Nonfiction in November, my response to National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO). For anyone new to this site, Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN) is a contest that has fiction writers writing 50,000 words in 30 days during November. My blog challenges nonfiction writers to spend the month of November writing and completing a work of nonfiction. While they do so, the blog itself provides nonfiction writing, promotion and marketing information to help them sell themselves and their writing to publishing companies and readers. Additionally, via the blog comments, Write Nonfiction in November provides a forum for nonfiction writers to comment on their writing experiences during November each year.

During the NAWM teleseminar, I will discuss different types of nonfiction, including:

• journalistic articles
• personal essays
• inspirational essays
• booklets
• books

If time allows, I’ll also discuss:

• the difference between personal essay and memoir
• platform building on the Internet
• how to use your nonfiction skills to write articles to generate publicity for yourself as a writer
• how the business of writing can be a spiritual endeavor

NAWM  invites memoir writers from all over the world to connect, learn, and become inspired about writing their stories. The goal of our organization is to help memoir writers feel empowered with purpose and energy to begin and develop their life stories into a publishable memoir, whether in essay form, a book, a family legacy, or to create a blog.

Many memoir writers want to use writing as means for healing and transformation, so we assist in this goal by offering workshops, teleseminars, and interviews with writers and experts in the area of memoir, writing skills, therapeutic writing, spiritual autobiography, and healing through writing personal, authentic stories.

Myers, President of NAMW, has been a therapist for 30 years, and is the author of three books, a prize-winning memoir Don’t Call Me Mother, about three generations of mothers who abandoned their daughters, and two books on the ways that writing helps to heal emotionally and physically. Her new book The Power of Memoir—How to Write Your Healing Story will be released in January, 2010, through Jossey Bass publishers in San Francisco. She teaches writing workshops nationally, online, and in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Those who join NAMW receive a unique package of memoir writing resources including the NAMW welcome kit and a collection of online and hard copy resources to help memoir writers within all phases of the exciting journey of memoir writing.  Members also receive discounts on select NAMW teleseminars, workshops, retreats and other learning opportunities and materials.

To learn more about NAMW, contact info@namw.org or visit http://www.namw.org

Now…you do have to be a NAWM member to listen in on the teleseminar tomorrow. But if you are a memoir writer–or want to become one–this is a great time to go ahead a join this great group of writers.  So, hurry up and join and call in by 11 a.m. PST!

Here are the details:

Date: October 16, 2009
Guest Speaker: Nina Amir
Times: 11 am Pacific | 12 noon Mountain | 1 pm Central | 2 pm Eastern
Cost: Free for NAMW Members
Become A Member of NAMW Today to take part in this teleseminar!
To join: info@namw.org or http://www.namw.org

An earlier posting on the need for writers to have either a website or a blog – or both – generated a bit of debate. However, those of you reading this blog have not been privy to those comment, because they were left on identical posts published at www.redroom.com. I’m proud to say Write Nonfiction in November actually was featured for a whole week (from Nov. 17-23) in the Red Room as part of their “Best Blog” series. In any case, I’d like to address the topic of that debate: Is blogging really writing?

The debate began when I told a reader that the time they spent blogging should, indeed, be considered writing. This was followed by a comment by another reader that seemed to think if someone wrote something, a blog being the “something” in question, not worth writing, then the blog post didn’t really consist of writing at all. So, at the risk of boring those who read the comments in Red Room and repeating myself, here’s what I have to say on the topic.

Blogging allows a writer a forum never before available. Free publishing! You can become a published writer in minutes.

Now, whether or not you gain any readers has a lot to do with my blog reader’s complaint about writers who write and have nothing of importance to say. Some blogs consist of daily accounts of taking the dog for a walk, cooking dinner and interactions with friends. To most people, this seems like meaningless drivel. And a blog on these topics probably won’t attract many readers – except maybe family and friends. Unless you’re really funny…or very judgemental…or write with a strange, twisted perception of these mundane, daily events.

Blogging is writing – no matter what the blogger writes about. Now, in the mind of a drivel-writing blogger, he or she still is performing the act of writing. In my mind, they are writing – yes, even if they have little to write about that would make me subscribe to their blog. They might even write badly, but if they sit down every few days and write a blog post, they are writing. Even if I see their writing as a bunch of worthless words, it doesn’t matter. And, they may even have a huge readership despite my judgement about their writing. (If someone is reading, they must be writing, no?)

Many books have been published that aren’t worth reading. Does that mean they don’t contain pages and pages of writing? No. Their authors participated in the act of writing. (I’ve even edited a few self-published books that fall into this category…)

One more point about whether or not drivel represents writing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) doesn’t ask fiction writers to write well or to produce good writing; it only asks fiction writers to write. They can write 50,000 words of drivel – worthless, not-worth-reading copy.  I understand that sometimes that is, indeed, what the participants turn out. The point, however, revolves around the fact that NaNoWriMo participants are writing about 1,500 words a day. They are sitting down and turning out words. Are they worth reading? Maybe not, but it’s still considered writing.

Blogging also allows a writer to participate in a writing practice every day. The only way to become a good writer is to write, preferably every day. Writing takes practice. Now, not all of us want to publish our practice writing, but a blog does give us a format that almost requires us to sit down every day or a few times a week and actually post something – hopefully something of value that we feel represents good writing. Many writers like to do “morning pages” or some sort of journaling exercise. Blogging can serve the same purpose, only in a much more public venue. Writers write. Bloggers blog. It’s the same thing.

Blogging allows you to test market your ideas. By blogging on the topic of your writing projects, such as your nonfiction books, you can test market the material. If it’s of interest, you’ll gain readershp. You also can get feedback on your writing (given that anyone actually reads your blog). If you develop a readership, that says something about both your writing and your subject matter. If no one ever shows up to read what you have to say, that also tells you something.

You can find many stories these days of bloggers who have become published book authors simply by choosing to blog. I met a women just the other day whose niece had a book published by a major publishing house; they found her blog, which was about her experiences raising a coyote pup. She didn’t even have aspirations of becoming an author. However, her blog attracted a big following. And that attracted the editor of a publishing house. So, if you are an aspiring author, you should think about using your blog as a way to see if interest exists for your book. Or you might consider blogging your whole book; that’s been done as well. It’s a great way to sit down every day and write your book – much less intimidating, I think. Just write a few paragraphs a day, and see if anyone starts showing up to read it!

Blogging provides a great way to promote your book and to build a platform. The more readers you get, the bigger your platform. The bigger your platform, the easier it becomes to sell your book idea to a publisher and to sell your book to potential readers once published. All the people reading your blog on a regular basis – or even occasionally – represent potential book buyers.

Blogging helps writers find their voice. I love the fact that blogging allows me to “be me.” I find that as a blogger I’ve developed a much stronger “voice” than I’ve ever had before. I’m much more able to say what I want in a natural manner. This ability is beginning to melt into my other writing – my books, my articles and my essays. I especially see the benefits of my blogging practice when I sit down to write an essay; I can write them more quickly and easily than ever before, and they come across as much more authentic and less stilted. They have a more organic flow to them.

Blogging allows a writer not to write alone.If you can get a readership that actually wants to comment on your blogs, this allows you to leave your lonely writer’s garret occasionally to simply read a comment or post a comment – and you actually haven’t gone anywhere. At least you know, though, that you aren’t alone. You know someone is out there with you…reading what you wrote. And isn’t that really what ever writer wants? For the beginning writer who may not have ever seen his or her writing in print, the fact that their blog has attracted even one reader can be thrilling!

So, is blogging really writing? By all means, I say, blogging is writing. Sometimes it’s good writing and sometimes it’s bad writing. Sometimes it’s drivel and sometimes it’s a meaningful and inspirational masterpiece. Blogging encompasses a myriad of types of writing. Blogging can be a daily writing practice. Blogging can be published writing. Blogging is writing in an authentic voice. Blogging is a way to write a book. Blogging can be a way to make a living as a writer. Blogging can be a continual letter between author and reader. Blogging can be any type of writing you want it to be. You choose…and then begin blogging…begin writing.

(As you think about beginning – or continuing to blog, don’t forget to finish up your Write Nonfiction in November project. This is day # 28. You have two days left. Your fingers may be weary and your eyes bleary (no this isn’t about poetry…), but I can assure you the end is in sight. You can do it!)

Almost every week I find myself having a conversation with one writer or another about why he or she needs to have a website or a blog. I’m getting a bit tired of the discussion, but I keep repeating myself for one reason: I know how important it is in this day and age for every writer to have an Internet presence. Plus, if a writer has dreams of become the author of a book, they almost have to be involved in platform building on the Internet. Additionally, for those nonfiction writers who want to become freelancer journalists or to sell ebooks, a website that showcases their work, credentials and products has become essential in the current marketplace.

To help me stress the need for writers’ websites and blogs, I’ve asked my webmaster and friend Linda Lee to relieve me today and do the honors. Linda offers website and blog coaching and consulting services as well as custom website development. She’s constantly coming up with new ways to do things with websites and blogs, and she’s passionate about writers using the Internet and using it well. So, if you aren’t going to listen to me, listen to Linda!

7 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs to have a Website or a Blog
By Linda Lee

Inernet and Website Coach and Consultant

Website Designer

The Internet has profoundly changed the way people communicate with each other. This has also impacted businesses and altered the way they do business. If you are serious about writing, you need an online presence. Here are seven reasons why.

1. Be easy to find
In today’s world, people find you though the Internet. The Internet has become the yellow pages to the world. People now Google someone they meet or hear about to learn more. You don’t want to miss those opportunities. Each time someone finds your website or blog, you have an opportunity to promote yourself and your product.

2. Showcase your work
Your website or blog serves as your portfolio. This is where you showcase your work and your talent. You can use your website like a resume. Have your biography and a section with samples. You can create your press kit for easy access. You can have your podcasts or any radio show appearances on your site. You also want to list all your contact information.

3. Branding
As writers our name is our brand. This is an opportunity to get your name out there 24/7. The Internet is always “on” and fresh content is a priority for search engines. With your site you have a palette to showcase and present yourself to the world.

4. Marketing
You will want to have your website address on all your written materials. Editors and agents can peruse your work in your sample section. Having you own website or blog gives you the opportunity to promote yourself online, submit your articles to online services like e-zine or join an article submission service for a small monthly fee.  They will distribute your articles for you.  Always place a short line about yourself and a link to your website in all your work. Internet marketers and website owners are starved for content, and as a writer you can provide it. This will stay out there online for years and reap you benefits and new customers or readers long after you have written the article. There are also services you can sign up for where people will hire you to write articles for them, such as elance.

5. Creativity and Fun
To utilize and enjoy your creativity, start a blog. Blogging is a great way to get traffic from the right audience for the right reasons. This is your chance to express yourself while attracting an audience who shares your interests and wants to hear what you have to say. When you add a blog to your website, you instantly will see an increase in traffic. Search engines love fresh content and blogs are an easy and fast way to provide new content.

6. Build a mailing list
This is critical if you want to begin to market and sell yourself and your product.You can offer a monthly or bi monthly newsletter. You can tell your clients and interested parties about products you recommend and you can do this as an affiliate to make money. This is also a potential list of buyers for your books and future books, teleseminars, classes, podcasts and any personal appearances or speaking you may be offering.

7. Monetize your site
Earn a little income back with your site. If you can begin to build some traffic and an audience for your website or blog, you can make money from your site. This involves joining some affiliate programs such as Amazon and Adsense.

Almost every company now offers an affiliate program where if you discuss a product and use your affiliate link to the company, you will earn a commission if the customer buys. Amazon actually will credit you for anything someone buys through your link for up to 24 hours. The commissions run from 2-5 percent.

Most people now use the Internet to find what they are looking for. Don’t miss out by not having a web presence. You don’t have to understand computers or be a techie. There are many great website designers and professionals available to help you get started. Click here for a free quote on a website or a blog for your business.

About Linda Lee

 http://www.askmepc-webdesign.com

http://www.smartwomenstupidcomputers.com

By the way…how’s the writing going? Only nine more days to go! Leave some comments to tell me how your nonfiction projects are panning out. With all this good advice, you should feel stimulated and inspired (and hopefully not overwhelmed) to keep going until the end, which is now in sight.

Welcome to the first day of Write Nonfiction in November! The title of this blog post reminds me of all those timed tests I took in high school.  I hated taking those tests, but hopefully you won’t hate the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge. It’s supposed to be fun, educational and productive all at the same time. I love it, because it forces me to stop procrastinating and actually start and finish a project in just 30 days – something I don’t normally do. (More often than not I either don’t start at all or I start and don’t finish.)

Plus, this year, as I promised, I’ve got some great guest bloggers joining me, so I’ll be learning some new things along with you. Last year I did a massive brain dump and offered up as much nonfiction writing advice and information as I could think of at the time. I still have a bit more in my head to share this year, but it will be nice for me to read what other writing and publishing experts have to say and to gain some new tips from them. Plus, even I can get tired of reading my own writing – or listening to myself speak, as they say.

On that note, I thought I should start off with a bit of a bang and broach a topic that may have brought some readers here to begin with: writing for pay or for free. (If you don’t know what I’m speaking about, check out the post titled “Forced to Blog Before November.”) I did mention that everything that needed to be said about the subject had been said already in the post titled “To Blog for Free or Not to Blog for Free, That’s the Question,” but I really said that in reference only to getting paid to guest blog. And guest blogging seems to be a different animal all together. So, let me tell you what I think about writing for free or for pay when it comes to other types of writing.

Going back to my early beginnings as a writer, or would-be writer, while I was in high school and in college I often wrote for local publications for free. Why? I’m sure you can guess the answer: to obtain those coveted bylines or published clips that would one day get me paying assignments and, hopefully, a full-time job when I graduated from college. Yes, indeed, in the world of journalism, a newbie writer does sometimes (not always) find herself choosing (if not forced) to write for free to show she can write well enough to get a paid gig.

While in college, however, I had a lovely professor named John Keats (not THE John Keats, mind you, although this one wrote some best sellers), who taught me never to write anything unless I knew in advance I was getting paid for it. In other words, always send out a query letter; never write the article first. Always send out a book proposal; never write the nonfiction book first. For many, many, many years I headed his advice. I also didn’t make a lot of money as a freelance journalist. Till this day, however, I won’t write a reported article without a contract from a publication telling me I will get paid for that work.

Yes, it’s true (despite what some might think). I firmly believe that if a writer wants to take on a reported article or a nonfiction book, they should, in fact, know in advance they are getting paid for that work. Why bother going to all the trouble unless you know you will make some money?

The clips I accumulated – both paid and unpaid – helped me land full-time editorial positions on regional magazines right out of college. They also helped me get freelance writing assignments that did pay. However, later on I wanted to branch out into essays, and I found it much harder to land assignments with a query letter. So, I began simply writing the essays and sending them out with a cover letter. I admit it; I did the work and did not know I would get paid for it. This resulted in many more paychecks showing up in the mail. I learned from this experience that it is easier to sell essays when completely written – at least when a publication doesn’t yet know you or your style as a writer. These days, several e-zines, for instance, accept my essay ideas and agree to pay me for them prior to me writing them. When I approach a new magazine or e-zine, though, I still write the whole essay first and risk the rejection, which means no pay for my time and effort.

As I became interested in writing nonfiction books, I soon learned that I needed a “platform” before a publishing house of any size would even consider publishing my work. A platform comes down to how well known you are and how this affects your ability to publicize and market your book. In other words, how easily can you help sell copies of your book once it is published via your mailing list, web site, blog, talks, classes and teleseminars, connections, partnerships, etc.? (We’ll be talking a lot about platform building this month…) I began working on building my platform. The easiest way to do so seemed to be on the Internet by placing articles in e-zines and Internet article directories. This drives traffic to your web site and gives you exposure on line, which results, hopefully, in great Google ranking and increased contacts on your mailing list.

However, while a few e-zines, magazines published on line, do pay writers, many do not. And, as we know, many bloggers are looking for content but won’t pay. The way to get exposure for you as a writer and earn expert status (part of building platform) comes in writing articles – for free – and placing them – at a cost to yourself – in article directories that make them available to anyone who wants them. (For more information on this topic, see my booklet Using the Internet to Build Your PLATFORM One Article at a Time.) Right…They don’t pay you; you pay them. In fact, there are many services that will distribute your articles for you at a cost to you just so that maybe someone somewhere will print it and give you some free publicity. (You may think I’m crazy now, but just wait. You’ll hear more about this from some of the experts who will be blogging here later in the month.)

Of course, then comes blogging. If you think bloggers only blog for fun, think again. Blogging provides great publicity for aspiring authors and writers of all sorts. If you blog a lot, that’s a ton of content for the bots and crawlers (or whatever they are called) to discover, which moves you up in the Google rankings. And that’s what you want. Plus, whole books have been blogged and then discovered by agents and published. And a blog serves as proof that you can write even if you have no published clips. And providing guest blogs exposes you to someone else’s readership, which, in turn, hopefully sends them to your blog (and gets them to sign up for your mailing list, etc.).

But if you think the majority of bloggers – let’s be more specific and say the majority of average writers who blog – get paid for what they do, think some more. The average writer, like me and you, blogs because in this day and age you have to have a website and a blog. It’s part of the publicity you need on the Internet. Period. (Now, if you have enough readers, you could include ads on your blog. If you are lucky and people click on them, you could make some money. But you won’t be getting paid for your writing.)

So, do I believe in writing for pay. By all means, yes, I do. I make my living as a writer and as an editor. I want to get paid for what I write just as much as the next guy or gal, and I want to get paid well. Do I sometimes write for free – and encourage others to write for free? Again, yes, I do. In some cases, writing for free remains a necessary evil, especially in today’s publishing atmosphere.

Okay. That should rouse a few feathers and maybe a few comments. Tomorrow I’ll let one of my guest bloggers have a turn. In the meantime, happy writing. I’m off to figure out what I’m writing during Write Nonfiction in November…booklet or book. I still can’t decide. I want to be sure to finish what I start!

Yesterday someone asked me if they could post a blog about what they plan to write about this year during Write Nonfiction in November. I said, “Sure!” Let’s build some excitement and get people thinking about their ideas. I sent her off to compose her blog.  I want to extend the invitation to other readers out there eagerly waiting to get started with Write Nonfiction in November. If you can send me a short blog post on why you want to do Write Nonfiction in November and what you plan to write about before November 1 (which means in the next 30 hours or so if you are on PST), I’ll post it here tomorrow (Friday, October 31).

I have to confess, I’m not sure what I’m writing this year. Last year my goals was to write my booklet, The Priestess Practice, and that’s what I did. I was going to write another booklet this year – one I’ve been meaning to write for about 4 years now – that seems timely about how to move through fear. I know I could finish that in 30 days. However, then I thought maybe I should work on the full length version of my booklet The Kabbalah of Conscious Creation, which I’m trying to sell. (I have a new agent who has just agreed to read the proposal; I have decided not to use my old agent for this project.) I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish that project if I take it on, though. And then I’ll fail my own challenge. So, I’m still deciding.

By the way, I discovered today that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has some rebels! (I had to get a new password – forgot mine – and sign in to check it out for myself.) Yes, NaNo Rebels, and they are writing nonfiction. I’ve let them know about what we are doing here, and I hope they join us. Another group calls themselves NaNo Nonfiction. I’ve let them know a nonfiction challenge exists as well. If they want to write 50,000 words and let the NaNoWriMo counter count it for them, more power to them.

Now that I’m logged in there, who know, I might use the counter, too, just for kicks. And I’ll surely post something in the forums again to send some people this way. I might even hold a write-in or two. So, if you are in the Bay Area (Northern CA), keep your eyes peeled for notifications. And, if any of you Nano Rebels or Nano Nonfiction people are reading this, “Welcome! Glad to have you aboard!

First, I asked Linda Lee, the owner of Smart Writers, Stupid Computers,a writer, speaker, educator, and expert in website design and on-line promotion and marketing. She also is the expert presenter on websites and online marketing and promotion for writers for the San Francisco Writers Conference and the Writing For Change Conference.She wanted to see the bog post Angela Hoy wrote. Here’s what she had to say after reading it:

“You are going to get website traffic from this article she wrote for years!” (I liked that!)

After quite a few bits of advice on how to capitalize on the “publicity,” she added:

“One more thing, I would say, ‘You Want ME to Write for FREE?! Ha Ha Ha!!! Yes, I will! That’s how you can promote yourself and your career online. I am in the Internet marketing community and they give out teasers, blogs and free articles ALL THE TIME to lead to better sales of other products. So she is wrong. So there!”

(You’ll be reading more from Linda here in November, by the way, when she writes a blog or two for me — for free.)

And then I asked Kevin Smokler, the editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times, the San Francisco Chronicle’s notable book of 2005, and the co-founder and chief evangelist of BookTour.com. (In a previous life, Kevin was the founder of the Virtual Book Tour, and he has been a presenter at the San Francisco Writers Conference several times. While at the conference, he also offers consulting services on platform building and publishing to attendees and donates all the money he earns to the conference’s scholarship program.) I asked him if it was common practice for guest bloggers to get paid for their contributions. He replied, “It is my experience that most blogs, unless run by major media, don’t have the budget for paying guest bloggers. The person asked to provide a blog has the right to say ‘no,’ but they don’t have the right to be offended by the request to blog for free. If the request comes from the NY Times, they might expect to get paid, but not if the request comes from an ordinary person. If it is that outlet’s standard policy to pay for guest blogs and it is making an exception by asking a guest to blog for free, then that is offensive.”

Kevin concluded by reiterating his main point: “It is my experience that, when speaking about someone who writes blogs not as a full-time profession, asking to be paid for that service is unreasonable.”

Do I write blogs as a full-time profession? No. Point made. Point taken?

Enough said. I think we’ve exhausted the topic. No need come November for someone to write on blogging for free or for pay. We’ll have more interesting things to discuss. See you then.

Don’t forget: Look for this blog at http://www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/ in November. This year’s challenge takes place there!

(By the way…the comments have pretty much stopped. I only discarded those three I’ve mentioned already. You’ve seen all the rest. Those three were nasty and not worth publishing. Suffice it to say, they sided with Angela.)

If you are coming here rather than to the old Write Nonfiction in November blog, which is/was hosted on Blogger, you might be missing out on all the action…I was going to say “fun,” but I really don’t think that would be the correct choice of words. Anyway, the comments are all being posted there…So, go to www.writenonficinnov.blogspot.com. Or, if you are too lazy to do that…or too busy writing (the better of the two choices), here’s what’s been going on:

Anonymous said…

Nina Amir said…

Comment deleted

Anonymous said…

Nina Amir said…

Cherrye at My Bella Vita said…

Kate said…

Anonymous said…

Nina Amir said…

Nina Amir said…

For anyone showing up at this blog because of a posting by Angela Hoy at www.WritersWeekly.com, let me inform you that this blog lies dormant, with a few exceptions, except during the month of November. Thus, its name….Write Nonfiction in November. Occasionally, I am prompted to write something newsworthy, as I did when the Amazon/Booksurge issue was all the talk in the publishing world and when I felt the desire to promote a writing conference, which I did in June (my last posting…not in April, as Angela claimed). I feel the need to at least explain that, should you think this blog is “dead,” as she incorrectly reported. It is not dead; it lying in wait until November when the challenge begins again.

As for Angela’s need to make me so wrong, fine.  I have no need to do that.  If she wants to make assumptions about me, fine. If you want to know who I am and what I’m about, read my blog. Then you’ll know the truth. Go to my website, http://www.copywrightcommunications.com/ and read my work or my bio or my resume. Ask my clients and my students what they think of me and my advice and my work. They know the truth. Go to my other website, http://www.purespiritcreations.com/, and learn about me as an author and a person, if you feel so inclined.

Angela doesn’t know me at all. She is basing her judgments on a series of emails and even on my attempt to clarify a statement about writing for free. She says I misread her rudeness. Is it possible she misread anything in our communication or about me?

For more about writing for free, check back in November…when I will have something to say on the subject and some guest bloggers will offer their expertise and knowledge — and their writing — to this blog (for free), because sometimes being of service by supporting other writers is just the right thing to do.

By the way, this blog was formerly hosted by Blogger, and I converted it to WordPress not long ago. In the process, the dates got moved around on the postings from November and the last blog actually got dropped off. These problems will be fixed prior to Write Nonfiction in November 2008’s challenge. If you want to read that post in the meantime, you can find it at http://writenonficinnov.blogspot.com/.

I hope to see you hear again in November!

Just for a brief change of subjects — and an equally brief posting, for the first time ever, Time magazine released its list of the top 25 blogs. Yes, its experts went out to the blogosphere and researched and read who knows how many blogs and chose 25 that they deemed the best of the best. You can find them at http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1725323,00.html. (You can also find the five most overrated blogs there as well!)

With agents trolling around on the web and picking up blogs and turning them into books, blogging has turned into a big deal for authors these days — especially nonfiction authors. (If you don’t know about this, try Googling “Julie and Julia” for a start.) And, as I’ve said before, they are a fabulous way to help you build a platform.

Be carefully, though, not to get caught up in the pressure of blogging. My husband recently showed me an article about two bloggers who died of heart attacks. The reporter attributed their untimely deaths to the stresses of blogging!

I was excited to see my favorite Jewish blogger, the Velveteen Rabbi (http://www.velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/), in the top 25. That gave me some hope of having my other blog — the one related to my books (http://www.purespiritcreations.com/blog/index.htm) — discovered one day!