I can’t believe a post title like this applies to my blog.
But recently Kindredspirit23 included me in his nominations for this award. And then yesterday, I was nominated by SusArtAndFood’s Blog. “Thank you” sounds so insufficient for an award with this name. But anything else might come across like a babbling actor at the Academy Awards who has to be yanked off the stage. So let’s move right ahead.
The Rules
All blog awards carry rules. And most of us happily bend or break them. But this award asks that we don’t. All right, it’s been a while since I included nominees, so I’ll follow the rules for this award.
- Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
- Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award
- Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
- Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
- You can now also join our Facebook page – click the link here ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
- As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars
The Nominees
This was such a difficult decision to make. I enjoy all the blogs I follow for various reasons. Choosing “the best” seems so arbitrary and likely to leave others feeling left out. Would it be better to nominate many blogs or one? The more nominations, though, the more it might “water down” the idea of best—and maybe make more bloggers wonder why they didn’t make the list. Some folks might be creative and organized enough to choose the best of different categories, like “Best Humor” and “Best Travel.” I’m not one of them.
So I decided to go with a single nominee—a blogger who transcends categories and succeeds spectacularly at appealing to a widely diverse audience. My 2012 Blog of the Year nominee is:
No, I’m not presenting the award to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! I just wanted to add a little suspense before you saw the blog nominee.
The Write Transition
Carrie Rubin is a medical professional whose first novel, The Seneca Scourge, was published in September. The book, a medical thriller with a sci-fi twist, has already won USA Book News’ Best Fiction E-book of 2012 award. I’m already looking forward to her next novel.
Carrie and I started following one another last November, when we were both new to Blog Land. Twice a week since then, I’ve watched her posts evolve into confident, witty takes on writing, health, social media, and life with three adolescent males. Oh, wait. Should I include husbands in that category? Um, yeah. I think I have to stick with that.
It didn’t take WordPress long to find her talents, either. Her Birth of a Social Networking Loner was Freshly Pressed in February 2012. Her posts regularly include full conversations in the comments between her and an ever-growing number of followers. Check out the commenters’ blogs and you will quickly discover an incredibly diverse audience spanning the entire political, religious, and social spectra.
Carrie doesn’t blog about hot-button issues. And her humorous but respectful posts and comments bridge the divide that is all too prevalent in today’s American culture. How many people do you know who can successfully do that every week?
Many of my regular readers already follow Carrie’s blog. But if you haven’t yet stopped by The Write Transition, please do so. While you’re busy smiling or laughing as you read a post, you might realize you’ve also learned something in the process.
And, Carrie, you are, of course, under no obligation to accept this award or pass it forward.
Have a great day, everyone!
mskatykins
/ November 24, 2012Wonderful, JM! Congratulations to you both!
I was really fortunate to have been nominated by Maggie last week, I must accept that this weekend. Thankyou for reminding me. You are definitely a very worthy recipient!
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Mskatykins.
It’s quite a badge to add to the blog. It’s hard to accept graciously when I don’t feel worthy of such a moniker! I’m looking forward to seeing your nominees. 
mskatykins
/ November 29, 2012You are well in truly deserving of this, my lovely!
ferragudofan
/ November 24, 2012congratulations on your shiny two stars – and thank you for such a thoughtful nomination
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thank you for creating the award—it’s a lovely one to receive.
SmallHouseBigGarden
/ November 24, 2012Congratulations
(Ps. I’m so happy Meghan didn’t stay away for long!)
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thank you! Sneaky Meghan. Such a sneaky woman.
But I think she’s going to turn into a great main character for these stories.
Carrie Rubin
/ November 24, 2012Here I am, lying in a hotel bed, thinking I should probably read a few blog posts since I’ve been negligent over the holiday weekend. I decide to start with yours, and look what I find. Thank you so much! What a wonderful surprise. Your words have truly warmed my heart.
Trust me, the blog respect is mutual, but since I can’t turn around and nominate you right back, I’ll have to come up with some other blogs. As you say, the choosing will be beyond difficult.
Thanks again, JM. You have made my morning.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012You’re very welcome.
Deciding on whether to go with multiple awardees or a single blog was really the hardest part for me. I ended up thinking that awarding too many could lead to more people feeling left out than if I nominated a single blog.
The downside to posting this today is that a lot of readers might not see it until after the holiday weekend. I suspect views will be low today.
Have no fear—I know you’ll come up with a creative post for your acceptance!
Carrie Rubin
/ November 24, 2012This one is tough though–that no-rule-breaking thing has me sweating.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012I worried about that, too.
But most of the rules are just about linking, which isn’t too bad. And there’s complete freedom in choosing how many blogs to nominate, which I like. Also, we don’t have to come up with various facts about ourselves—that’s the best part!
Carrie Rubin
/ November 24, 2012Good point.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012By the way—I found that when I just copied the rules and pasted them into my draft post, the links came right along with the copy. That helped move things along.
Carrie Rubin
/ November 24, 2012Good to know! Thanks for passing that tidbit on. I’m all about saving time.
kindredspirit23
/ November 24, 2012Well, I find myself wishing I had nominated you…oh wait! I did! You deserve it.
Scott
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Well, many thanks again for the nomination! It’s not a category I would ever expect to fit, but I will try to be gracious (and not too awkward) in my replies!
kindredspirit23
/ November 24, 2012You were fine!
annewoodman
/ November 24, 2012Congrats, JM! And you chose a very worthy blogger as your sole recipient. I love both of your blogs.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving!
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Anne!
This award gave me an idea for an end-of-the-year post that will let me thank my readers and give a shout out to the blogs I enjoy, like yours. 
I should start it soon because it will be a bit of work to pull together!
We did have a great Thanksgiving, and I hope you did, too. (And it’s good to get back into the exercise routine to hold those extra pounds at bay!)
Elliot
/ November 24, 2012Congratulations, and a good choice passing it on to Carrie.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Elliot. I knew I couldn’t go wrong with Carrie. Last November, Carrie and I had only been at this a few months. I’d say she’s come a long way.
Madame Weebles
/ November 24, 2012Hooray for you, and hooray for Carrie, one of my favorites!
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, MW! I think I caught her off-guard this morning, but she deserves it. The award I mean, not getting caught off-guard.
robincoyle
/ November 24, 2012Brilliant choice. I just struggled with the acceptance of this award myself, and bailed on following the rules. Wish I thought of going the way you did.
Congrats to you! And sweet Carrie!
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Robin.
I think as long as we keep in spirit with the various award “rules,” we’re fine. Personally, I prefer the ones with very simple rules. 
But I like the idea of introducing readers to new blogs they may not yet have found. Simpler means less work, and then it’s easier to follow “the rules.” 
robincoyle
/ November 24, 2012Amen to that. This kind of post takes a ton of time when the rules are followed. Find the blog, link the blog, think about what other blogs, write something witty, tag the post, thank the Academy, etc.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Isn’t it funny how we both worked the Academy Awards into our posts?
The awards with “tell us 15 things about yourself and nominate 15 bloggers” really do get more difficult as we spend more time blogging. Any award designers out there? Keep it simple, please!
robincoyle
/ November 24, 2012I have awards I haven’t acknowledge for the very reason you mention. I love the idea of bloggers promoting bloggers, but I’m happy that the “award thing” has died down. There were too many going around. Nice to see a fresh one, but I agree . . . keep it doable.
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ November 24, 2012Ah – see what happens – you poked your head up and got noticed! Couldn’t happen to a nicer blogger. Congrats.
(and have been reading Carrie recently – great choice for nominee!)
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, so much, she says with a blush. (Still feels awkward about accepting awards and being noticed at times.)
You and Carrie were among the first to follow my blog and have stuck with me as I’ve found my way. (Okay, I’m still finding it, but I am moving forward.) You will both be part of my end of the year thank you post!
Vanessa Chapman
/ November 24, 2012Congrats JM! I think you made the right choice there, both in choosing Carrie, and in choosing only one – it’s a strange but true logic, the more people you leave out, the less people feel left out! You gave a good and practical description of Carrie’s blog, without being over-gushing which could sound fake.
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Vanessa.
The last thing I wanted was for anyone to feel left out. So choosing only one blog for the award felt most comfortable to me. And it’s good to hear I didn’t sound gushy or fake—that would have ruined the purpose of the post!
diannegray
/ November 24, 2012Congratulations, J.M.!!! You are a very worthy recipient of this award
I haven’t seen Carrie’s blog, so I’m heading over now to take a look
jmmcdowell
/ November 24, 2012Thanks, Dianne! But it still feels very immodest of me to put my name with such an award.
Carrie’s a fun blogger. She may write medical thrillers, but the blog is full of humor. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Jennifer M Eaton
/ November 24, 2012Awesomeness! Carrie is great, and she is a wonderful choice. Congratulations, Carrie!
And congratulations to you as well. archao-chic. Well deserved!
jmmcdowell
/ November 25, 2012Thanks, Jennifer.
I consider myself lucky to spend time with so many great bloggers. I still feel like the little sister tagging along with her older siblings. 
Only 8 days to go for your release date! Are you ready?!
Jennifer M Eaton
/ November 25, 2012AAAAAAAAAAAA! I have been up until 2:00 AM for the last two nights. Craziness. There is just not enough time to get it all done… and Edits for the January Release came in today. I need one extra day in the week just to sleep. It’s all good, though! Wouldn’t change a thing!
jmmcdowell
/ November 25, 2012It will all be so worth it when the books are out!
4amWriter
/ November 25, 2012Congrats on your nomination; you definitely deserve it. And a great choice with Carrie.
jmmcdowell
/ November 25, 2012Thanks, Kate! I still have a hard time putting my blog in such a category.
As I just said to Jennifer above, I still see myself as the little sister trying to keep up with her bigger brothers and sisters. That might have something to do with being the youngest in my family…. 
Has NaNo sorted out your pirate’s story?! I may have to try it next year if the WIPs aren’t pressing….
Smaktakula
/ November 25, 2012I like “The Write Transition’ as well, even if it does occasionally get too vulgar for my tastes.
Congrats on your nomination. You really have carved out your own niche with your paleomysteries!
jmmcdowell
/ November 25, 2012Thanks, Smak! You know, it would be so ironic if Meghan ended up eclipsing the two novels I’m working on. I don’t think that’s her ulterior motive…. But maybe the characters from the novels should get serious about helping me with revisions—just in case!
Smaktakula
/ November 25, 2012if Meghan ended up eclipsing the two novels I’m working on
I need only look into the smiling face of my children to know that sometimes the best things in life are complete accidents.
jmmcdowell
/ November 26, 2012That is a great outlook on life to have. Sort of like we find what we’re looking in life for when we’re not consciously looking for it.
WomanBitesDog
/ November 26, 2012Congrats! I think the awards are fun!
jmmcdowell
/ November 26, 2012Thanks!
I do, too, even when I “bend” the rules now and again. 
Ravena Guron
/ November 26, 2012Congratulations! And now I must check out this blog you nominated!
jmmcdowell
/ November 26, 2012Thanks, Ravena.
Carrie’s blog is a lot of fun. And funny, but also smart—which is a tough act to pull off!
limebirdwriters
/ November 27, 2012Congrats! Well deserved!! B x
jmmcdowell
/ November 27, 2012Thanks, Beth!
I hope NaNo’s homestretch is going well for you!
limebirdwriters
/ November 28, 2012Thanks JM! I’m nearly there! x
Clowie
/ November 27, 2012Congratulations on your award!
jmmcdowell
/ November 27, 2012Thanks, Clowie! I still feel like I’m a bit of an imposter, though.
Kourtney Heintz
/ November 28, 2012Congrats JM this is a big award! And how lovely that you just picked on blogger to pass it along to. Carrie’s blog is a regular hang out for me as well. She’s terrific!
jmmcdowell
/ November 28, 2012Thanks, Kourtney.
It really came down to thinking that I would hurt fewer feelings if I only nominated one blog. But I’m working on a much broader year-end “Thank You” post for all my regular readers. Without all of you, my blog would be a very lonely place. 