My friend and fellow writer, Faye Rapoport DesPres, recently chose my blog as one of five for what’s known as The Liebster Award. Her own blog was chosen by writer Mariam Kobras.
A lovely feeling of kindness arises in naming ones favorite bloggers in this way; and the kindness grows geometrically, it seems. If only we understood that more often and in more situations in our lives.
According to Faye’s blog, the Liebster Blog Award originated in Germany. Liebster means “favorite” or “dearest,” and the recipient of this award agrees to the following:
1. Show your gratitude to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them. (Thank you, Faye! Visit her blog http://blog.fayerapoportdespres.com/)
2. Reveal your top 5 picks for the award, and let them know. As Faye notes, it’s tough to pick 5 from the many great blogs out there, but here are mine: Joy Castro, Erika Sanders, Natasia Langfelder, Evan Sanders, and Melissa Varnavass
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people in the blogsphere.
5. And last, have fun and spread the karma!
And while I have lifted much of the instruction and very wording from Faye’s own blog, I do want to honor the 5 (and if you count Faye’s blog, the 6) of my favorite and/or dearest blogs out in the blogsphere.
Keep on writing, everyone, giving your magnificent voices to the world.
Congratulations to all bloggers who take the time to show us a little something different about the our lives through their writing eyes. It’s a great new age and medium for communication, when done well. And these bloggers do it well.
The Early Draft 
Nice idea! Almost makes me want to blog. But it’s that nonfiction thing, see; nobody is looking for the next James Frey to come along and lie to them…
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Hi Bridget,
Many fiction writers blog on a variety of topics. They may talk about their writing process, about other writers they admire, help to promote writer friends. Or just talk about landscaping if that’s something they love.
I think we would all do well to move beyond James Frey. Truthful writing is about achieving emotional truth in fiction, nonfiction or any genre. No one promotes out right lying in creative nonfiction. But for every mention of James Frey, we turn our attention away from some of the beautiful memoirs and essays being written today.
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Well, true. I hear examples of that in my own workshops every week, and I do admire the ability to express something real and true in under 60,000 words. I fear that gift is not one of my own, though.
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My real problem with Frey is his cardboard/stereotypical characters. Anyone who’s ever had more than 3 emotions in their life could tell that was fake!
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Hey Natasia,
I have no doubt you’re right. But there are a lot of stupid people out there who will believe anything that’s written. I’ve never read Frey and don’t intend to. There’s too much great writing out there to waste on him or anyone else who isn’t a good writer, regardless of whether they manipulate the facts. Thanks for reading my blog!!!!
xoxoxo
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Thanks Cinnabear! You are the best! xoxoxoxo
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Anything I can do to help promote you and your writing, I will do, Natasia, baby. xoxoxo
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