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Writer's Notes - By Jeanne Dininni

 
WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!

Masculine Version of Nice Matters Award

January 30th 2008 22:15

A Nice Matters Award Version I Wasn't Aware Of

A little while back, I awarded the Nice Matters badge to a number of bloggers whom I considered to be some of the more friendly and kind bloggers I'd "met" during the past year that I've been blogging. (See my earlier post, Nice Matters Award: A Blogger's Gift.) At the time, I was aware of only one version of the award--the very feminine-looking version which I have in my blog's sidebar. I therefore made my apologies to the fellas and offered it to them anyway. However, I'm now happy to report that, thanks to Krissy Knox of Sometimes I Think, I now have the masculine version to offer the guys I nominated for the award back then.


The Guys' ReAward, If You Will

I'll repost the list of guys to whom I gave the award, so they can come on by and pick up the new (to me, at least) "Gentlemen's version" of the Nice Matters Award badge.


Here they are, in no particular order:

Dan, at dcr Blogs

Brad Shorr, at Word Sell, Inc.

Robert Hruzek, at Middle Zone Musings

Michael Martin, at Pro Blog Design

K-IntheHouse, at ShanKri-la

Raven, at Alaska Chronicle

Tom Colvin, at Becoming a Writer Seriously


The "New" Badge

Here's the new badge, fellas. Hope you'll like it better than the other one--and hopefully this will mean that those of you who didn't post it to your blogs because of the feminine style/color will be inclined to do so now that you've got a more gentlemanly version.


The Guys' Badge:


Nice Matters Gentlemen's Badge
Here you go, guys!



A Note to My Readers

Be sure to check out the blogs of the above Nice Matters Award recipients. You'll find much to like there--not the least of which will be the bloggers themselves! Also, check out my original Nice Matters post, where you'll find links to the female bloggers to whom I presented this award, as well as those to whom I would have presented it, had they not already received it. Like the guys, these women will make you feel welcome whenever you visit--and also offer you a great deal of "food for thought" to make your visit a pleasant one.

Always remember: Nice Matters!
Jeanne



Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Know of any other similar awards? Have you received them? We'd love to hear about it!



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Another Generous dcrBlogs Gift

January 17th 2008 01:51

The Contest

Wanted to share a gift, of sorts, given to me by Dan at dcrBlogs. Actually it's more of a consolation prize for my non-winning entry to his recent What is This Blog All About? contest. In this contest, Dan asked his writer-readers to write a description of his blog and offered a $10 prize to the blogger whose description he chose as most accurate and well-written. (Entries were left in comments and may be read at the above post.)


The Winner

In a later post, What You Think This Blog is All About, Dan reveals his choice for the winning entry: the one submitted by my blogging friend, Lillie Ammann of A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye. (Congrats, Lillie on a job well-done!)


The Consolation Prize

In the above post Dan generously offers the Good Buzzz Blog Award to the non-winners:



Brad the Blog Bee Award
Good Buzzz Blog Award




This award is “for blogs that have generated a happy hum in the blogosphere. Whether it be for their blog in general, one outstanding, unusual or controversial post, or for something cool the blogger has done. Or even for recognizing some promising, brand-new blogs.” Dan received it back in November, and he's kindly decided to pass it on to us, because he considers our taking the time to submit our entries to the contest to be "cool."


Thanks, Dan!

I'd like to thank Dan for the consolation prize, as well as the lesson learned through my submission of an overly lengthy entry--despite what my intuition tried to tell me! Nevertheless, like Dan, I, too, love Lillie's description and readily concede that the best entry did indeed win! Many congratulations to Lillie Ammann on an excellent description of an excellent blog: dcrBlogs!

Till next time,
Jeanne



How much thought have you given to your blog's description? If your blog is listed on Technorati or anywhere else, that description represents your blog. Does it make people want to visit? Any thoughts to share about this topic?



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Remembering My Commenters

Last month, I started a tradition here at Writer's Notes of writing a post on the first of each month listing the names of all the previous month's commenters, complete with links to their blogs, and I want to welcome you to Volume 2!


September Link Love

It's that time again: time to send some link love out to everyone who commented at Writer's Notes during the month of September. Thanks, everyone! I truly appreciate your feedback!


Here's the list of September commenters, in no particular order:

Yvonne Russell, Grow Your Writing Business

Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts

Lillie Ammann, A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye

Calvin Warr, CalvinWarr.Com

James Rickard, Angling Fish

AmyHuang, Travel String

Louie, Climate Red

Jon, Tech News

Tracy, Movies and Life

Lilla, Enviro Warrior

Danielle, The Bipolar Diaries

Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.

Bob, Every Every Minute

Michael Martin, Pro Blog Design

Sharon Hurley Hall, Get Paid to Write Online

Rosemary, Alpaca Notes

Julee Ann, Write of Passage

JoH, Persistent Parent

PetulaW, It's a Woman's World

AdTracker, AdSense Tracker


Keep Spreading Your Comments Far and Wide!

Thanks for your comments, everyone! Each one is greatly appreciated, and each has helped to make Writer's Notes just that much more interesting for its readers! You've all added so much to the Writer's Notes conversation, and your generosity in doing so is hereby recognized! Thanks again!

You're welcome at Writer's Notes anytime! So be sure to stop by again very soon! And remember to keep visiting as many other blogs as you can and passing along the comment-kindness--not to mention the link love! You'll enjoy it as much as the other blogger will!


Keep those comments coming!
Jeanne







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Join Yvonne and Other Fellow Writers for a Great Time of Sharing Each Weekend!

On Friday, September 7th, Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business, kicked off her new Writers (and Bloggers) Cafe. In her own words, her purpose for instituting this writers' gathering every Friday through Sunday is to share "marvellous mini milestones and super successes," as well as links to writing- or blogging-related articles or websites that might be helpful to your fellow writers, your plans and goals for your writing/blogging--in short, anything relevant to writing or blogging.


For Further Info About the Cafe, Visit Grow Your Writing Business

You may read more about Yvonne's new weekend gathering in her Writers and Bloggers Cafe--Now Open at Grow Your Writing Business post. (Also, check out Share Your Marvellous Mini Milestones and Super Successes, the post in which she first introduces the Writers and Bloggers Cafe.) Sharing these small and large successes will be the focus of the Writers Cafe during the month of September.


Visit Yvonne's Site During the Week, As Well, for Other Helpful Writing-Related Content

There are many other reasons to visit Yvonne's blog, in addition to the Writers and Bloggers Cafe. At Grow Your Writing Business, Yvonne offers a great deal of valuable info and many helpful resources for writers and bloggers that can move you closer to the realization of your writing goals.


What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Why not drop by Grow Your Writing Business this weekend and check out the Writers and Bloggers Cafe? (It starts tomorrow, Friday.) Pull up a chair, grab a muffin and a cup of coffee, and enjoy a great time of fellowship with other likeminded creative people, as you share your own goals, aspirations, and accomplishments, relate to, celebrate, and learn from theirs.

I think you'll enjoy it!

See you there!
Jeanne







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Love Thy Commenter

Mark, at ProBloggers Matrix, penned a post recently, which asked the following question:

How Do You REWARD Your COMMENTERS and Those Who Have BACKLINKED to Your Blog?


August Link Love

In the spirit of giving--and the spirit of Blog Day (which, as many of you may know, was yesterday)--I thought I'd designate today, September 1st, Comment Appreciation Day and send some link love out to everyone who commented at Writer's Notes during the month of August. Thanks, guys and gals! Love you all!

Here's the list of August commenters, in no particular order:

Yvonne Russel, Grow Your Writing Business

Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts

Lillie Ammann, A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye

John Doe, Film & TV on DVD

AmyHuang, Travel String

Kleonaptra, Kalikapsychosis

Fiar, Radioactive Liberty

BigMike, N.A.D.S.

Louie, Climate Red

Jon, Tech News

K-IntheHouse, ShanKri-la

Tracy, Movies and Life

Mandy, Pop! In the Name of Love

Charles Young, Top Site of the Day

Danielle, Musings of a Middle Aged Woman

David, Mind Orgasms

Phil, Contest Blogger

Chic Critique, Fashion.org.au

Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.

Bob, Every Every Minute

Loz, Written Life

Joanna Young, Confident Writing

Chris Kitamura, Dude Check Out My Site

Sylvia C, Sylvia's Insight

Melissa Garrett, A Writer's Woolgatherings

Malathy, Blog Avenues

Lily, Ars Poetica

Ash, Australian Traveller

Faisca, Faisca's Corner

Michael Martin, Pro Blog Design

Sharon, Get Paid to Write Online

Mark-Blogger, ProBloggers Matrix

Mark Goodyear, Good Word Editing

Tavi Nemet, Loop 44

Rosemary, Alpaca Notes

Robert Hruzek, Middle Zone Musings


Keep Spreading the Magic!

Thanks so much for your comments, everyone! They've all been greatly appreciated; and they've helped make Writer's Notes a much more interesting--and far less lonely--place than it would have been otherwise!

Stop back by again to chat anytime! And remember to visit lots of other blogs and continue to pass on the comment-kindness! You'll get as much out of it as the other blogger will!


Keep those comments coming,
Jeanne







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Just thought I'd tell my readers about the latest group writing project, slated to begin on Monday, August 6th, at Middle Zone Musings. To read more about the project, follow this link to Robert Hruzek's post, entitled, Get Those Little Gray Cells Ready!

While Robert is keeping the precise nature of the project somewhat under wraps at this point, I can tell you this much: It will be built around the phrase, "What I Learned From..." Though Robert is currently keeping all of us in suspense as to the actual topic we'll be expected to expound upon, his latest group writing project promises to be every bit as interesting as previous projects at MZM have been.

Which brings me to another project that Robert is running concurrently with his As-Yet-Unknown-Topic group writing project: his latest meme, entitled My Home Town. If you love the town you live in, if you live in an unusual place, or if there are one or more unique characteristics, idiosyncrasies, or unusual tourist attractions in your town, and if you'd enjoy writing about them, you might just want to submit a post to the meme.

Your post should answer the following question, expressed In Robert's own words: "What, in your opinion, is or are the most amazing, unusual, strange or just plain weird things about where you live?"

While he has tagged a few specific folks for this meme, Robert invites anyone who is interested to join in on the fun, stating, "but if you aren’t tagged and feel like jumping in, by all means, go for it!"

So, there's your invitation! Check out Robert's blog for all the specifics for both the My Home Town meme and the upcoming What I Learned From... group writing project.

You may just find that you're having a great time writing your entry, while at the same time creating more widespread exposure for your writing--and perhaps even some valuable links to your website or blog!

Chances are extremely good that you'll also meet a lot of great people and create many online friendships as a result of these projects.

So, why not join the conversation at Middle Zone Musings!

Happy writing!
Jeanne


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Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business, mentioned Blog Carnival in a recent post. Thanks to Yvonne, I checked out this site and found many fascinating opportunities there for bloggers who enjoy writing about almost any topic. So, I thought I'd pass on some info about this site to my readers, so you'll have the opportunity to participate in upcoming--or ongoing--blog carnivals currently being hosted on a number of different blogs.

The above Blog Carnival link should help you keep abreast of the latest carnivals happening around the blogosphere at any given time. So, check the site often, if you'd like to participate in any of these community- and traffic-building projects hosted by various blogs. You may choose the blog carnival categories and topics you prefer to blog, or write, or simply submit previously published posts about, of which there are quite a few different categories. (And, yes, writing is one of them.)

Some of the carnivals listed on this site are outdated, as is so often the case on any site, with the speed of change occurring on the internet today. But many appear to be valid and either current and/or ongoing and have the potential to provide fascinating vehicles through which our creative energies may be channeled, our fondest interests indulged, and our literary labors of love recognized by other likeminded individuals--which sounds like a fairly good deal for all concerned!

Hope you'll find some blog carnivals here that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Happy hunting!
Jeanne


P.S. If you scroll down a bit in my blog's sidebar, you'll find a feed listing some of the recent blog carnivals that can be found on the website. (Blog categories in the feed are random.) NOTE: FEED HAS SINCE BEEN MOVED OUT OF SIDEBAR AND INTO POST ENTITLED BLOG CARNIVAL FEED: FIND BLOG CARNIVALS HERE.



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Back in March, I penned a post called, A Salute to My Fellow Writers--With Links! One of the links I included in that post pointed to the Funds For Writers website, which I felt at the time--and still feel today--to be a very valuable resource for writers.

One of my blogging buddies has confirmed my belief in the significance of Funds for Writers in the freelance writing marketplace by including an article containing some info about the site in a recent post. So I felt this would be the perfect time to write a post centered solely around the site and what it has to offer the aspiring, developing, or practicing writer.

(For more info about Yvonne Russell's Freelance Writing Rates post, mentioned in the previous paragraph, see my June 14th post, entitled, Buzz from the BlogVine: WritersWeekly Raising Rates--or go directly to her post by using the recent post link, above.)

Funds for Writers, generously presented to you by Hope Clark, offers multiple resources that can help writers in a number of different ways. Some of the site's highlights:

-A list of grants for writers

-A list of writing contests (containing competitions both with and without entry fees)

-A (limited) list of writing markets, with more offered in the site's free newsletters

-Several free newsletters

-An annual writing contest

-A list of other beneficial links (including organizations that can help writers in various ways)

-Lists of books and e-books for reference and/or study

-Publication of--and payment for--your articles about the craft or business of writing

Check out the Funds for Writers site! You'll find a great deal there that can help you reach your writing goals!


Happy Reading!
Jeanne


PS. For your convenience, should you later return to my blog and desire to access the site, a link to Funds for Writers can always be found in my Helpful Sites for Writers list, located in the sidebar on the left side of this web page.



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I learned, a few days ago, from reading my friend Yvonne Russell's Grow Your Writing Business blog, that WritersWeekly.Com is raising the rates it pays writers for their work. According to an article, written by Angela Hoy and reproduced in its entirety (with permission) by Yvonne, WritersWeekly is raising its rates 20% for features and 33% for success stories. This is great news for freelancers!

According to Ms. Hoy's article, the 20% increase for feature articles figures to "$60 for around 600 words for non-exclusive electronic rights only," and she adds, "For freelance success stories, we now pay $40 for around 300 words."

Her article is exceptionally interesting reading for freelancers, as it also contains an explanation of the payment history of several other major online publishers of freelance material, as well as several print publishers, giving us a glimpse into their going rates, and letting us know just how long it's been since each has raised its own rates.

Check out this great article on Yvonne's site! You'll find it in her post, entitled, Freelance Writing Rates. The article, entitled, We're Raising Our Freelance Rates, by Angela Hoy, is also posted on the WritersWeekly website.

Thanks, Yvonne for this fascinating and thoroughly helpful info! We can only hope that all the other publishers of freelance material will follow WritersWeekly.Com's shining example of adopting fairer freelance payment rates and thereby engaging in more responsible business practices!


Happy writing!
Jeanne


P.S. You'll want to visit Yvonne's blog often! Through it, she provides lots of great info and many helpful resources for writers! For your convenience, a link to Grow Your Writing Business can always be found in my blog's sidebar in the Helpful Sites for Writers list.

You'll also want to visit WritersWeekly.Com. Their site is packed with articles, market listings, and other resources that will help you reach your writing goals!



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