"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Monday, March 22, 2010

Prolificacy

I would like to thank Sarahjayne Smythe for awarding me the Prolific Blogger Award.
According to Webster, prolific means "marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity."

So what does it mean in blogspeak, this writer in a state of congitation with the contented dog at her feet? According to the inventor, "A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive...keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content."

And folks! That ain't easy! Do you see the worry etched into her brow?

I don't think I'm very prolific but I do try to post something meaningful at least two or three times a week. The temptation to put up anything is always whispering in my ear, and I'm constantly swatting it away, so I'm grateful, Sarahjayne, for this acknowledgment.

Check out her blog. She, herself, is an extremely gifted and prolific writer.

Now for the rules. No groaning. This one is easy.

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers.

2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.

3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.

4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we can get to know the other winners.

So who are my recipients? I'm glad you asked. I've given a great deal of thought to this, and I know some of you are on a blogging hiatus or don't do awards but that doesn't mean I can't tell you what a great blogger I think you are. No pressure from me....just appreciation and a little bit of a shout-out. You are prodigious, not only on your own blog but with the time you spend commenting and supporting other writers. And you are . . .

1. Tricia at Tailspinning
2. Cat at Words From The Woods
3. JonPaul at SkyMeetsGround
4. Jonas at Twilight
5. Jemi at Just Jemi
6. Andrea at A Blurred History
7. Carol at Carol's Prints
8. Wendy at Musings From Down Under
9. Annie at Quiet Commotion
10. Nessa at The Chrysalis Stage

And there are many more writers I've met along the way who are also worthy of this designation, and I could just keep going but for time constraints. It's time to go to work. And you know what they say about that. "It isn't work unless you'd rather be doing something else." And from the minute I arrive to the minute I leave, I'd rather be doing something else. The best thing about "work" is the 60-minute drive during which time I read my manuscript. Of course I read while I drive. Don't you?

One more thing before I let you leave. I have a question for everyone who is in the query process. Do you include a link to your blog under your name at the bottom of your letter? Should we? Is it like dessert? If the agent wants more they can have it?

Have a great week. Me? I'm going to try to live up to my new handle as I finalize my query and the lucky agents to receive it. (I'm working on my confidence). Optimism breeds success. Onwards and upwards.

21 comments:

Nessa said...

Congratulations on winning this award. You deserve it. I thank you very much for including me in your list of winners. i am honored and I really do appreciate it very much!

MicroFiction Monday - Sh!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Congratulations on winning this award! It's one of the cutest ones, I think. And I'll check out the links to find some new blogs to follow!

Pat Tillett said...

Congrats!!!

sarahjayne smythe said...

Conrarts on the award and the post. :) The award was very well deserved.

Jonas said...

Congratulations, Yvonne!

My goodness, though, I'm feeling somewhat embarrassed and more than a bit flummoxed that you'd pass the honor along to someone the likes of me. I hardly qualify. Although I've been a blogger for almost five years, now, I haven't managed to post even 400 entries. Prolific? Methinks NOT. Plodding...at best.

You've made me blush (not that there's anything wrong with that). I hope to return the favor someday.

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats Yvonne - and thanks so much for passing this along my way! You're a sweetie!

I think I'll include my blog name and link. You never know what'll give you that little extra push :)

Yvonne Osborne said...

Nessa,
Thanks. And you're very welcome. I'll check out your microfiction soon as possible.

Karen,
Thank you so much. It is pretty cute, isn't it?

Pat,
Thanks. I appreciate that very much!

Sarahjayne,
Thanks again for this cute award. I love it!

Jonas,
Actally, you very, very much qualify. I've only been reading your blog for a short time but have been very impressed. Maybe it's not just the frequency but the quality that matters. An abundance of "intellectual" content...maybe that's what matters. At least that's the way I looked at it. So you're welcome and thank you.

Jemi,
You're welcome. You've been an inspiration to me ever since we did our "Giver" discussion. Doesn't that seem like a long time ago?

Andrea Cremer said...

Wow! Thanks, Yvonne :) :) :)

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

You are too too kind, my dear! Thank you for the lovely acknowledgement and appreciation. You are most deserving of this award, and I'm grateful that you've thought to bestow it upon me. I accept it gladly.

As for your question, I've decided not to add my blog link to my query letters that go out with snail mail. But I hadn't thought to link to it under my signature. Perhas that would be a good idea. Although, I think for the most part, agents google potential clients anyway. This might be a good question to ask at #querychat or #askagent on Twitter. I'll ask around and see what others have done.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Andrea,
You're welcome and very deserving.

Carol,
Hi! You're welcome and thank you for all your past encouragement. I appreciate your thoughts on whether or not to add the blog link under name. I can't remember who, maybe Nathan Bransford, who said to do that. I'll check further too. Maybe together we can figure this out! Do keep in touch.

Jon Paul said...

Wow Yvonne! Thanks so very very much. I tell you it's easy to take these things lightly, but the recognition really does mean a lot to me--so I appreciate it.

And congrats yourself! You certainly earned it.

Talli Roland said...

Congrats on the award! I'm relatively new to your blog but I'm looking foward to reading loads more!

Elana Johnson said...

You are prolific! Congrats on your award. And good luck with the query. Yikes!

Unknown said...

Congrats on your award and thank you! So sweet of you to think of me.

When I come out of self-inflicted purgatory I'll get straight onto it. Although I warn you I never play by the rules!

In answer to your question. Yes, I would put a link to my blog. It is, after all, entirely up to them whether they want to click on it or not. Then again, I have been known to change my mind from time to time :)

Thanks once again, Yvonne :)

Wine and Words said...

Thank you for such an honor. I am humbled that you even read my drivel, much less appreciate it :) Sometimes I feel like the best writing is found on blogs, untouched by editors and best seller quests. It's a great ride. Thank you again!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Jon Paul,
Thank you very much. It is easy to take these things lightly but I think a lot of thought goes into the receiving and giving all around, so you're quite welcome.

Talli,
Thanks! I so appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts. Thank you again for joining me.

Elana,
Thank you. That means a lot to me, coming from you, one of the most popular bloggers around these parts. I keep sneaking over hoping some of it rubs off on me! Thanks again for the kinds words.

Wendy,
You're welcome. I think you're very deserving. Do with it what you will...I like to reshape rules myself. Purgatory! That's exactly what this query process feels like.
I think I'm going with the link under my name. Until I change my mind again!

Annie,
You're welcome and thank you! Your writing is wonderful, absolutely stellar and I agree, some of the best writing is found on blogs. Keep doing it!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your award and thanks for passing it along. I enjoy connecting with other bloggers. Also, I'm humbled that you would pass the award along to me. I appreciate it, especially in light of my hit-or-miss blogging lately.

'Nough said.

As to the question of including a link: this is what I've deteremined. Google yourself. If you can find your blog/name in the first page of links, don't include it. An agent or editor will find you without prodding.

If your blog/name doesn't appear within the first five googled pages, feel free to add it without drawing attention to it.

If you frequently bash writers, editors, agents or the mayor or constantly bemoan the fact that you got "yet another rejection" or pen angry words on a regular basis, you may want to quit querying, hide in a hole and legally change your name.

I have heard often that most agents or editors want to know if you have an online presence. They want to see what you're like. Some peek, others don't. No harm no foul--unless you are saying things that make you a risk in the publishing industry

Anonymous said...

Hi! Here's some answers for your question about querying. Sorry about the cut and paste, but I'm not sure how to link it.

http://www.weronikajanczuk.com/2010/03/emailing-yo-query-pages.html

Great blog that is really geared towards helping writers. xx

Yvonne Osborne said...

Cat,
You immediately came to mind for me as a most prolific writer. Thanks for the advice on linkage.
Makes sense. I do try to be very mindful of everything I say, not just on my own blog but on comments everywhere. They kinda follow you for better or worse and I don't want to change my name. I like my name! Thanks so much!

Folding Fields,
Hi! And thanks very much for the info. I'm off to check it out.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Wow, I came home to a nice surprise. Thank you, Yvonne (and congrats to you)! I really like the award picture--it does feel like that sometimes.

I think it is getting to be the norm to include your blog address--they do want to see how you write and present your self to the world. And we're prolific, so that's a good thing. ;)

Yvonne Osborne said...

Hi Tricia,
You're welcome and I'm glad you're back! Missed you around here. Hope you got lots done. I'm sure you did as you are certainly prolific! And thanks for weighing in on my question.