Amelia, you'll like them. A good lot of folks!

😉 Except of course adding Lori's blog,

Dear Dr. Freelance

I think you already have all my other blog rest stops mentioned, except, of course Words on the Page.

I'm glad to be nominated too because it means someone loves this blog for its contents and experience. Like you, I'm not a fan of blog "awards" because they're subjective and usually based on the blog owner's whims rather than actual content. I don't get you wrong at all – I wholeheartedly agree. I'd much rather "win" placement on someone's list of favorite reads than win because people had to nominate and second. It's nice that they did and I love them for it, but that was my reward – not the actual naming to the list.

My problem with a lot of these "awards" is that they claim they're for writing blogs, but they're for specialized writing blogs — i.e., business writing, not all-encompassing writing. Business writers aren't the only professional writers out there. Novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, journalists, poets, etc. — they are just as much professionals as business writers. One of the reasons the pay rates are so all over the place is that writers segregate themselves. Lit fic writers look down their noses at genre writers; screenwriters think playwrights are a waste of food; business writers act like they're the only ones making a living at this, writers published by the Big Six look shrug off anyone published by a smaller house.

I can't tell you how often people tell me that I'm "not a freelancer." Of course I am. I don't work on salary for someone else's company. Ergo, I am a "free lance" in the original sense of the word.

I'm glad you were nominated for an award — you absolutely deserve it — but so many of these awards are given by people I've never heard of and don't read that, unless someone like you, who I know has a blog of consistent quality and value, is involved, I don't bother. So much of it is cross-networking more than actual votes on quality. Any new readers that find you through the contest are very lucky to come your way, don't get me wrong, but I have a hard time taking self-created awards too seriously, especially when someone I've never heard of sets himself up in judgement of other writers without the track record to merit it.

You're welcome as well, John! Love your blog and your sense of community.

Dana's also on my weekly rounds, Sharon! She's built a very nice blog, hasn't she? And I intend to meet her someday – I visit her town once a year.