Win a Copy of The Book That Helps me Blog

One year ago this week, I began blogging at this website … so I thought it would be interesting to look back on some of the activity in the past year.

Three Most Read Posts

When Life Sucks … Renewal is Needed

How Not to be a Jerk When Someone’s Life Changes

Three Most Read Book Reviews

Heaven is For Real by Todd and Colton Burpo

Once Upon a Time – Review of “Love Wins” by Rob Bell

Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans

Dear Everyone in Westboro Baptist Church (except Fred Phelps),

Does Prayer Alone Bring Healing?

One of my Least Read Post

Contradicting Myself

Well-read post I want to write a follow-up for

“Everything Happens for a Reason” – Really?

A fun post that was a breeze to write

Condemn Dragons or Get to Know Them?

Thank you for reading today and the past 365 days!

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I can have a love/hate relationship with blogging … and at times I find every excuse not to do it. One book that has helped me move past that is The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

It’s a short book that can benefit not only writers, but almost anyone that wants to tackle a project. I’m rereading The War of Art this week and looking forward to year two of blogging here.

If you’d like to learn how to beat resistance and overcome fear … this is a great book to read. Leave a comment before August 3th and you could win a copy.

If you are a blogger, leave a link for a post that you wrote in the past year. If you aren’t a blogger, leave your name and/or a link to a post that you’ve read.

One commenter will be randomly selected to win a copy of The War of Art.

UPDATE: Congratulations Cheryl! You are the winner of The War of Art.

Barbaranne Kelly

Happy Anniversary Janet! You say one year at this site- so I assume you had already been blogging elsewhere before that? What, I wonder, is the tipping point between keeping a blog- as I do- and being a “blogger”. I know that friends and family read what I write, but other than that it’s mostly, I assume, random hits. (I did notice that someone from a former Soviet nation hit a post I wrote on the Culinary Institute of America, which I titled with its acronym- CIA… tee hee)

So in the spirit of blogging, here’s a link to a post I wrote on Words.

http://bablogthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-beauty-language.html

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Yes, I blogged (or kept a random online journal) at www.janeto.blogspot.com for a few years prior to having this website.
As for the difference between bloggers … that’s a good question. Since I’m publishing a book, I view blogging as part of my work, so therefore I call myself a blogger. I think it depends what you want it to be and/or how much you promote it to get other readers in.

Love the CIA connection :)

http://shawnsmucker.com Shawn Smucker

Happy one-year anniversary, Janet! I’ve really enjoyed reading your stuff and look forward to your book.

My most-read post of all-time, by quite a considerable margin:

http://shawnsmucker.com/2011/07/05/a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-the-casey-anthony-verdict/

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Thanks Shawn!
I can see why that post is well-read for you … it’s excellent!

http://kclanderson.com KCLAnderson (Karen)

Happy anniversary!! I am so glad I found you :-)

Here’s a post I wrote just a little over a year ago entitled Does God = Trust: http://www.kclanderson.com/does-god-trust

I’ll be interested in your thoughts!

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Thanks Karen!
Have to run now, but look forward to reading your post soon.

http://www.alise-write.com Alise Wright

Oh, I missed this post, but I can’t skip a chance to wish someone a happy blogiversary AND a chance to win this book (that is one that I want to read one way or another!).

And while this isn’t my top most-read post, it’s in the top 10 and is one of my favorites that I’ve written: http://www.alise-write.com/2011/06/day-running-didnt-kill-me.html

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Thanks Alise!
I love that post of yours!

Cheryl

Happy anniversary to you! It’s so fun finding other writers in the least likely places. Love that we’ve connected!

Here’s a link to a post on a relatively new blog I started awhile back entitled No Status Quo in Paris – http://thestoriesinmyhead.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/no-status-quo-in-paris/

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Thanks Cheryl … happy to have connected also.
http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Congrats Cheryl … your comment #8 was selected as the winner. Email me your mailing address – thanks!
JanetOberholtzer@gmail. com

Cheryl

Eeeeek! So excited! I never win anything….well, I guess I can’t say that anymore. :) Thank you so much, really looking forward to this read.

Victoria Noe

Congratulations on your anniversary! I’ve bhttp://www.friendgrief.com/2011/08/paul-mccartney-grieving-for-john-and.htmleen blogging since Feb. 1, and it’s been a great journey so far. This is a link to my post today, which is a followup to yesterday’s post. Both are about Paul McCartney, and how he grieves differently for John Lennon and George Harrison (gratuitous photos of Paul included). ;-)

http://www.friendgrief.com/2011/08/paul-mccartney-grieving-for-john-and.html

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Hi Victoria … thanks for visiting!
You have a meaningful and needed blog … to fully live we need to fully grieve the losses in our lives. Good work!
You might also enjoy my friend’s website … http://www.journey-through-grief.com/

http://www.facebook.com/kristin.nador Kristin Nador

Happy Blogiversary! Saw you over on FB Writers on the Move and thought I’d stop by. I am a brand new blogger since end of May 2011, so I am thoroughly impressed with those who can commit to the discipline of blogging consistently.

This is my most-read post so far and captures my strange twin obsessions with history and pop culture pretty well.

http://kristinnador.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/glee-and-getting-your-historical-research-groove-on/

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Hi Kristin … thanks for visiting!
Love your blog because I love obscure facts also. Haven’t played trivia pursuit in a long time, but when I did, I nailed it :)

http://marypotterkenyon.wordpress.com Mary Potter Kenyon

I, too struggle with writing on my blog sometimes, but I have used many blog entries for articles that later got published. My blog went from 50 viewers one day to 700 the day I wrote about my grandson’s cancer diagnosis.
http://marypotterkenyon.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/jacob-have-i-loved/

http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

Hi Mary … thanks for visiting!
That’s great that your blog posts have been used for articles … good job, way to multi-task.
Read your grandson’s story … I’m sorry for him, you and the family. Hope his body can overcome the cancer.